His research activities cover a number of themes, but remain focused on critical aspects of agricultural policy in South Africa. Prof Kirsten has co-authored a number of papers reviewing agricultural policy in South Africa from a historical, analytical and futuristic perspective. Policy issues in terms of agricultural support, agricultural research, agricultural trade and land reform were covered in refereed papers, book chapters and in a long list of technical reports to a variety of international and local organisations.

Major research focus areas also include a new institutional economic analysis of agribusiness, the commercialisation of small-scale farmers, and bringing black farmers into the mainstream economy of South Africa. In addition, recent topics include the application of experimental economics to understand the ‘credence attributes’ of food products and a research programme evaluating the economic options for establishing geographical indications and related certification schemes in South African agriculture and food markets. The establishment and commercialisation of South Africa’s first non-wine geographical indication (similar to Parma ham and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese), namely ‘Karoo lamb’ is a direct result of this research.