Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence
Emeritus Professor

Geoffrey Lawrence

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Background

Geoff is a leading Australian sociologist with interests in rural and regional sociology, globalisation/localisation and agrifood research.

He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney and was School Captain in 1968. He then completed a degree in agricultural economics at Sydney University in 1972. This was followed by a diploma in social science (UNE), Master of Science in Sociology (Wisconisn-Madison) and a PhD (Griffith). In 1992 he became Associate Professor of Sociology and Foundation Director, Centre for Rural Social Research, at Charles Sturt University before moving later that year to Central Queensland University as Foundation Professor of Sociology (1992-2002) and Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (1998-2002). He joined The University of Queensland as Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Science in 2002. He is a Life Member of the Fitzroy Basin Association, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, Life Member of the Australian Sociological Association, and was President of the International Rural Sociology Association (2012-2016). He became Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Queensland in 2014.

His full profile can be seen at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Lawrence_(sociologist)

Availability

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Sociology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney
  • Postgraduate Diploma, University of New England Australia
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Wisconsin
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University

Research interests

  • Agriculture, the Environment and the Politics of Sustainability

    The questions are: To what extent is 'greening' and green politics influencing the course of agricultural development and resulting in policies aimed at reducing ecological destruction? What is the nature of the debates and theorisations regarding productivism/post-productivism in the rural landscapes of advance economies? In a practical sense, how is it possible to ensure that current and future natural resource management will provide sustainable outcomes for society?

  • Globalisation, Localisation and Restructuring of Regional Australia

    This is a broad area whcih includes an examination of the social affects of economic change upon regions and highlights town decline, poverty, unemployment and ill-health - as well as the 'ingredients' for successful community development and the enhancement of social capital. Issues of empowerment and governance are crucial to the understanding of the future of the regions. The issue of global/local relations is also of significance - particularly as Australian governments seek to promote 'self help' and 'partnership' options.

  • Financialisation of Food and Farming

    Finance capital is playing an increasingly important role in food and farming industries. Entities like merchant banks, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and hedge funds are purchasing farmlands and agribusinesses in an effort to increase returns to shareholders. However, some of these activities are speculative and lead to food price distortions; others impact upon traditional owners when so-called 'land grabs' force producers from their farms. 'Financialisation' is seen as being as important as globalisation and neoliberalism in altering the face of food and farming.

Search Professor Geoffrey Lawrence’s works on UQ eSpace

532 works between 1980 and 2022
All (532) Journal Article (163) Book Chapter (110) Conference Publication (218) Book (28) Other Outputs (9) Edited Outputs (4)

61 - 80 of 532 works

2013

Conference Publication

The Performance of Long and Short Food Chains in the Queensland Floods of 2011 - a Preliminary Analysis

Smith, K., Lawrence, G., MacMahon, A., Muller, J. and Brady, M. (2013). The Performance of Long and Short Food Chains in the Queensland Floods of 2011 - a Preliminary Analysis. XX Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 December 2013.

The Performance of Long and Short Food Chains in the Queensland Floods of 2011 - a Preliminary Analysis

2013

Journal Article

Watchdogs and ombudsmen: monitoring the abuse of supermarket power

Burch, David, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Hattersley, Libby (2013). Watchdogs and ombudsmen: monitoring the abuse of supermarket power. Agriculture and Human Values, 30 (2), 259-270. doi: 10.1007/s10460-012-9412-8

Watchdogs and ombudsmen: monitoring the abuse of supermarket power

2013

Journal Article

Introduction to symposium on the changing role of supermarkets in global supply chains: from seedling to supermarket: agri-food supply chains in transition

Burch, David, Dixon, Jane and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2013). Introduction to symposium on the changing role of supermarkets in global supply chains: from seedling to supermarket: agri-food supply chains in transition. Agriculture and Human Values, 30 (2), 215-224. doi: 10.1007/s10460-012-9410-x

Introduction to symposium on the changing role of supermarkets in global supply chains: from seedling to supermarket: agri-food supply chains in transition

2013

Edited Outputs

Agriculture and Human Values

Agriculture and Human Values. (2013). 30 (2)

Agriculture and Human Values

2013

Journal Article

Financialization in agri-food supply chains: private equity and the transformation of the retail sector

Burch, David and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2013). Financialization in agri-food supply chains: private equity and the transformation of the retail sector. Agriculture and Human Values, 30 (2), 247-258. doi: 10.1007/s10460-012-9413-7

Financialization in agri-food supply chains: private equity and the transformation of the retail sector

2013

Journal Article

Retailer-driven agricultural restructuring-Australia, the UK and Norway in comparison

Richards, Carol, Bjorkhaug, Hilde, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Hickman, Emmy (2013). Retailer-driven agricultural restructuring-Australia, the UK and Norway in comparison. Agriculture and Human Values, 30 (2), 235-245. doi: 10.1007/s10460-012-9408-4

Retailer-driven agricultural restructuring-Australia, the UK and Norway in comparison

2013

Other Outputs

Submission to the Senate Committee on Recent Trends in the Preparedness for Extreme Weather Events

MacMahon, Amy, Smith, Kiah, Muller, Jane, Belesky, Paul, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Brady, M. (2013). Submission to the Senate Committee on Recent Trends in the Preparedness for Extreme Weather Events. Federal Standing Committee on Environment and Communications St Lucia, Qld, Australia: The University of Queensland.

Submission to the Senate Committee on Recent Trends in the Preparedness for Extreme Weather Events

2013

Journal Article

Food security in Australia in an era of neoliberalism, productivism and climate change

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Richards, Carol and Lyons, Kristen (2013). Food security in Australia in an era of neoliberalism, productivism and climate change. Journal of Rural Studies, 29, 30-39. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2011.12.005

Food security in Australia in an era of neoliberalism, productivism and climate change

2013

Conference Publication

The resilience of long and short food chains during the Queensland floods of 2011

Smith, K., Lawrence, G., MacMahon, A., Muller, J. and Brady, M. (2013). The resilience of long and short food chains during the Queensland floods of 2011. XX Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Melbourne, Australia, 1-5 December 2013.

The resilience of long and short food chains during the Queensland floods of 2011

2013

Journal Article

Food pricing, extreme weather and the rural/urban divide: a case study of northern NSW, Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Shoebridge, Amanda and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2013). Food pricing, extreme weather and the rural/urban divide: a case study of northern NSW, Australia. Journal of Food Security, 1 (2), 42-48. doi: 10.12691/jfs-1-2-5

Food pricing, extreme weather and the rural/urban divide: a case study of northern NSW, Australia

2013

Conference Publication

Governance of food security in times of climate crisis: insights from the 2011 Queensland Floods

Smith, K., Lawrence, G. and MacMahon, A. (2013). Governance of food security in times of climate crisis: insights from the 2011 Queensland Floods. XX Meeting of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Melbourne, Australia, 1-5 December 2013.

Governance of food security in times of climate crisis: insights from the 2011 Queensland Floods

2013

Book Chapter

The impacts of climate change on Australia's food production and export

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Richards, Carol and Burch, David (2013). The impacts of climate change on Australia's food production and export. Food security in Australia: challenges and prospects for the future. (pp. 173-186) edited by Quentin Farmer-Bowers, Vaughan Higgins and Joanne Millar. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-4484-8_12

The impacts of climate change on Australia's food production and export

2012

Conference Publication

Adapting to Climate Change: Options for Australian Food Producers

Lawrence, G., Gray, I. and Richards, C. (2012). Adapting to Climate Change: Options for Australian Food Producers. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Sydney, NSW Australia, 6-9 December 2012.

Adapting to Climate Change: Options for Australian Food Producers

2012

Journal Article

Agri-political organisations in environmental governance: representing farmer interests in regional partnerships

Taylor, B. M. and Lawrence, G. A . (2012). Agri-political organisations in environmental governance: representing farmer interests in regional partnerships. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 14 (4), 337-359. doi: 10.1080/1523908X.2012.714565

Agri-political organisations in environmental governance: representing farmer interests in regional partnerships

2012

Conference Publication

Governance of Food Supply Chains to Improve Food Security under Climate Change

Muller, J. and Lawrence, G. (2012). Governance of Food Supply Chains to Improve Food Security under Climate Change. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 November 2012.

Governance of Food Supply Chains to Improve Food Security under Climate Change

2012

Journal Article

Farms and finance: Barnaby may not like Cubbie sale, but our agriculture is out for tender

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012, 09 17). Farms and finance: Barnaby may not like Cubbie sale, but our agriculture is out for tender

Farms and finance: Barnaby may not like Cubbie sale, but our agriculture is out for tender

2012

Other Outputs

Local government, mining companies and resource development in regional Australia: meeting the governance challenge: final report

Barclay, Mary Anne, Everingham, Jo-Anne, Cheshire, Lynda, Brereton, David, Pattenden, Cath and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012). Local government, mining companies and resource development in regional Australia: meeting the governance challenge: final report. Brisbane, Australia: CSRM.

Local government, mining companies and resource development in regional Australia: meeting the governance challenge: final report

2012

Journal Article

Productivism, culture and the challenges of sustainable beef production in Australia

Richards, Carol, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Kim, Chul-Kyoo (2012). Productivism, culture and the challenges of sustainable beef production in Australia. Eco, 16 (1), 101-128.

Productivism, culture and the challenges of sustainable beef production in Australia

2012

Journal Article

Review of Bryan McDonald, Food Security. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010, pp. 205, ISBN 978 0 7456 4808 8.

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012). Review of Bryan McDonald, Food Security. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010, pp. 205, ISBN 978 0 7456 4808 8.. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 66 (2), 281-282. doi: 10.1080/10357718.2012.658620

Review of Bryan McDonald, Food Security. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010, pp. 205, ISBN 978 0 7456 4808 8.

2012

Journal Article

A toothless chihuahua? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, neoliberalism and supermarket power in Australia

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Richards, Carol, Loong, Mark and Burch, David (2012). A toothless chihuahua? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, neoliberalism and supermarket power in Australia. Rural Society, 21 (3), 250-263. doi: 10.5172/rsj.2012.21.3.250

A toothless chihuahua? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, neoliberalism and supermarket power in Australia

Past funding

  • 2016 - 2021
    Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Frogs, fuel, finance or food? Cultures, values, ethics, arguments and justifications in the management of agricultural land (FORFOOD)
    Centre for Rural Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Governing Food Security in Australia in an Era of Climate Change: A Sociological Analysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    The New Farm Owners: Finance Companies and the Restructuring of Australian and Global Agriculture
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Local government, mining companies and resources development in regional Australia: meeting the governance challenge
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Globally Engaged? Responses to Neoliberal Globalisation among Family Farmers in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Review of the Community Futures Task Force (Stage 1)
    Community Futures Task Force Unit
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    From Seedling to Supermarket: The Social and Environmental Implications for Australia of the Restructuring of Agri-food Supply Chains
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    ARC Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Science
    ARC Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Organics, environment and sustainability
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Agri-food Applications of Genetically-Modified Organisms: Public Perceptions Risk and Sustainability
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Building sustainable social capital in new communities.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Engaged government: a study of government-community engagement for regional outcomes
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2003
    The social construct of safe foods: Uncertainty, risk and trust in agri-food applications of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2003
    An Analysis of the Patterns of Consumption, Community Impacts and Returns on Investment of Rural Popular Cultural Activities
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2006
    Governance, institutional capacity and regional planning: A Central Queensland case study.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Farmer adoption of sustainable land management practices in the Fitzroy Basin, Central Queensland.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    The Sustainability of Australian Rural Communities
    Academy of Social Sciences
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Students can be involved in work on ARC and other projects exploring:

    Structural change in agriculture; changes power relations along agri-food chains; the financialisation of food and farming.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence directly for media enquiries about:

  • Agriculture - sociology
  • Financialisation
  • Food security
  • Globalisation
  • Neoliberalism
  • Rural Australia

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