Qaim has research and project experience in Europe, the USA, and numerous countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Much of his research focuses on sustainable food systems, agricultural development, and the reduction of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. He has over 250 academic publications, mostly in top disciplinary and interdisciplinary science journals, including Science, various Nature Group Journals, and PNAS. He has been recognized as "Highly Cited Researcher" (Top 0.1%) in 2021.

Qaim is member of the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina), Fellow of the American Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), and President-Elect of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). He has served on different high-level expert committees, including for the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, FAO, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the European Commission, The Royal Society, and the German Federal Government and Parliament.