Overview
Background
Dr Md. Ali Akber is a researcher in agribusiness, rural development and economics whose work focuses on making agrifood systems more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive in the face of climate change, market transformation, and environmental pressure. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Queensland, he has built an interdisciplinary research profile spanning sustainable agriculture, food systems transformation, and spatial analysis, with a particular focus on smallholder production systems and value chain development in the Asia-Pacific region. His work covers climate-smart agriculture, sustainable rice and aquaculture systems, peri-urban food systems, and land-use change, with strong regional engagement across Australia and South and Southeast Asia. He has also contributed to the design and delivery of international capacity-building and professional development programs that support leadership, value chain development, and inclusive agrifood systems transformation.
Availability
- Dr Md. Ali Akber is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Environmental Science, Khulna University
- Masters (Research) of Natural Resource Management, Asian Institute of Technology Thailand
- Doctor of Philosophy of Agriculture, Land and Farm Management, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Agribusiness
Research on agribusiness systems, market linkages, and value chain development, with a focus on improving the performance, inclusiveness, and sustainability of agrifood sectors. This work examines how businesses, farmers, and institutions interact to create stronger market opportunities and more resilient rural economies.
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Rural Development
Research on rural development pathways that strengthen livelihoods, resilience, and inclusive growth in farming communities. This includes work on smallholder livelihoods, institutional engagement, and development challenges shaped by climate change, environmental pressures, and changing market conditions.
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Food Systems Transformation
Research on how food systems can be transformed to become more sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive. This work focuses on agrifood transitions, policy-relevant evidence, and practical strategies that improve food security, environmental outcomes, and the performance of food value chains.
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Smallholder Farming Systems
Research on smallholder farming systems, particularly in coastal and transitional environments, with attention to productivity, livelihoods, adaptation, and sustainability. This work explores how farming households respond to environmental and economic change and how stronger value chains can support more resilient production systems.
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Systems Thinking
Research and capacity-building that apply systems thinking to understand complexity in agrifood systems and rural development. This approach helps identify interconnections, trade-offs, and leverage points for improving policy, leadership, and decision-making in sustainable agriculture and food systems transformation.
Works
Search Professor Md. Ali Akber’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Other Outputs
Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #5
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #5. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
2023
Other Outputs
Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #4
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #4. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
2023
Other Outputs
ACIAR-SunRice-UQ public private partnership – project newsletter #3
Akber, Md. Ali and Mitchell, Jaquie (2023). ACIAR-SunRice-UQ public private partnership – project newsletter #3. Gatton, QLD Australia: Mekong Sustainable Rice.
2023
Other Outputs
ACIAR in Vietnam - Connecting smallholder rice farmers to premium export markets
Mitchell, Jaquie, Wood, Shona and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). ACIAR in Vietnam - Connecting smallholder rice farmers to premium export markets. Hanoi, Vietnam: ACIAR Vietnam.
2023
Other Outputs
Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #2
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #2. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
2022
Other Outputs
Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #1
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2022). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #1. 1 Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
2022
Other Outputs
Sustainability pathways for coastal aquaculture in Southeast Asia
Akber, Md. Ali (2022). Sustainability pathways for coastal aquaculture in Southeast Asia. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/26d80d3
2022
Journal Article
Coastal transitions: Small-scale fisheries, livelihoods, and maritime zone developments in Southeast Asia
Fabinyi, Michael, Belton, Ben, Dressler, Wolfram H., Knudsen, Magne, Adhuri, Dedi S., Abdul Aziz, Ammar, Akber, Md. Ali, Kittitornkool, Jawanit, Kongkaew, Chaturong, Marschke, Melissa, Pido, Michael, Stacey, Natasha, Steenbergen, Dirk J. and Vandergeest, Peter (2022). Coastal transitions: Small-scale fisheries, livelihoods, and maritime zone developments in Southeast Asia. Journal of Rural Studies, 91, 184-194. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.02.006
2021
Journal Article
Crop diversification in southwest coastal Bangladesh: insights into farming adaptation
Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Atikul, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2021). Crop diversification in southwest coastal Bangladesh: insights into farming adaptation. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 46 (2), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/21683565.2021.1989105
2021
Journal Article
The dynamics of rubber production in Malaysia: potential impacts, challenges and proposed interventions
Ali, Muhammad Fadzli, Akber, Md. Ali, Smith, Carl and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2021). The dynamics of rubber production in Malaysia: potential impacts, challenges and proposed interventions. Forest Policy and Economics, 127 102449, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102449
2021
Journal Article
Chromium contamination from tanning industries and phytoremediation potential of native plants: a study of Savar Tannery Industrial Estate in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Hasan, Shaikh Md. Mahady, Akber, Md. Ali, Bahar, Md. Mezbaul, Islam, Md. Azharul, Akbor, Md. Ahedul, Siddique, Md. Abu Bakar and Islam, Md. Atikul (2021). Chromium contamination from tanning industries and phytoremediation potential of native plants: a study of Savar Tannery Industrial Estate in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 106 (6), 1024-1032. doi: 10.1007/s00128-021-03262-z
2020
Journal Article
Major drivers of coastal aquaculture expansion in Southeast Asia
Akber, Md. Ali, Aziz, Ammar Abdul and Lovelock, Catherine (2020). Major drivers of coastal aquaculture expansion in Southeast Asia. Ocean and Coastal Management, 198 105364, 105364. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105364
2020
Journal Article
Bacteriological assessment of dug well water in rural areas of Bangladesh
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, M. M. Majedul, Islam, Md. Azharul and Dutta, Mukta (2020). Bacteriological assessment of dug well water in rural areas of Bangladesh. Aqua, 69 (7), 720-732. doi: 10.2166/aqua.2020.044
2020
Journal Article
Nitrate contamination of water in dug wells and associated health risks of rural communities in southwest Bangladesh
Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Azharul, Dutta, Mukta, Billah, Shaikh Motasim and Islam, Md. Atikul (2020). Nitrate contamination of water in dug wells and associated health risks of rural communities in southwest Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192 (3) 163, 163. doi: 10.1007/s10661-020-8128-2
2019
Journal Article
Potential ecological risk of metal pollution in lead smelter-contaminated agricultural soils in Khulna, Bangladesh
Akber, Md. Ali, Rahman, Md. Aminur, Islam, Md. Azharul and Islam, Md. Atikul (2019). Potential ecological risk of metal pollution in lead smelter-contaminated agricultural soils in Khulna, Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191 (6) 351. doi: 10.1007/s10661-019-7483-3
2019
Journal Article
Trace elements in rice grain and agricultural soils: assessment of health risk of inhabitants near a former secondary lead smelter in Khulna, Bangladesh
Islam, Md. Azharul, Akber, Md. Ali, Rahman, Md. Bayzidur, Rahman, Md. Aminur, Haque, Md. Aynal and Islam, Md. Atikul (2019). Trace elements in rice grain and agricultural soils: assessment of health risk of inhabitants near a former secondary lead smelter in Khulna, Bangladesh. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 41 (6), 2521-2532. doi: 10.1007/s10653-019-00299-2
2019
Journal Article
Characterization of solid biofuel produced from banana stalk via hydrothermal carbonization
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali, Limon, Sharif Hassan, Akbor, Md. Ahedul and Islam, Md. Azharul (2019). Characterization of solid biofuel produced from banana stalk via hydrothermal carbonization. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 9 (4), 651-658. doi: 10.1007/s13399-019-00405-5
2019
Journal Article
Evaluation of harvested rainwater quality at primary schools of southwest coastal Bangladesh
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali, Rahman, Md. Aminur, Islam, Md. Azharul and Kabir, Md. Pervez (2019). Evaluation of harvested rainwater quality at primary schools of southwest coastal Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191 (2) 80. doi: 10.1007/s10661-019-7217-6
2019
Journal Article
Willingness to pay for improved drinking water in southwest coastal Bangladesh
Islam, Maliva, Akber, Md. Ali and Islam, Md. Atikul (2019). Willingness to pay for improved drinking water in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 19 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.2166/ws.2018.047
2019
Book Chapter
Assessment of ecosystem service value in southwest coastal Bangladesh
Khan, Md. Wahidur Rahman, Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Atikul, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2019). Assessment of ecosystem service value in southwest coastal Bangladesh. The environmental sustainable development goals in Bangladesh. (pp. 132-142) edited by Samiya Ahmed Selim, Shantanu Kumar Saha, Rumana Sultana and Carolyn Roberts. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429463365-10
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Md. Ali Akber is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Ensuring Halal Integrity in Indonesia: A Case Study on Halal Supply Chain Assurance in Micro and Small Enterprises
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz, Associate Professor Risti Permani
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Doctor Philosophy
Adoption dynamics and impact of cropping pattern diversification to mitigate the climate-vulnerabilities in coastal Bangladesh
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Julius Kotir, Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
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Doctor Philosophy
GIS and remote sensing for improved weed management in direct seeded rice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jaquie Mitchell, Dr Jhoana Opena, Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
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Doctor Philosophy
A remote sensing approach to understanding agricultural prodcution dynamics in developing countries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Qiaomin Chen, Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the sustainability of rice value chain in Mekong Delta
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jaquie Mitchell, Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the Capacity of Smallholder Farmers to Adopt Carbon-neutral Agriculture in Indonesia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz, Associate Professor Risti Permani
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The role of linkages between peri-urban agriculture and urban food systems in farmers' adoption of certified farming practices in the vegetable value chains in Hanoi, Vietnam
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rajendra Adhikari, Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
Media
Enquiries
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