Overview
Background
Marguerite Renouf BSc(Hons)/BA, PhD (Env Man) UQ is a Research Fellow at the School of Chemical Engineering's Water-Energy-Carbon Research Group (www.chemeng.uq.edu.au/water-energy-carbon).
She has worked in environmental research at UQ for 20 years, with a particular interest in the environmental evaluation of production systems and urban systems using environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), urban metabolism evaluation and eco-efficiency analysis. She is interested how we can produce and consume with less drain on the environment.
Since completing a PhD in 2011, she has driven a stream of research that evaluates the environmental performance of agri-based product supply chains and products (bio-fuels, bio-materials, food, beverages) using LCA. She has collaborated with industries and researchers in Australia and overseas to develop LCA tools for industry to support the identification of more environmentally-friendly production practices and processes.
Prior to this, her research was concerned with eco-efficiency in manufacturing industries (food processing, metal industries, retail and tourism sectors) and was a long-term contributor to UQ’s Working Group for Cleaner Production (now operating as the Eco-Efficienc Group), and its Director for three years (2009-2012).
Currently, Marguerite is a lead researcher with the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, develop methods and metrics for quantifiying the water water-sensitive performance of Australian cities, using urban metabolism approaches. In this work she collaborates cloesely with urban planners, water manager and architects.
Availability
- Dr Marguerite Renouf is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science/Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) methods for agri-food and bio-production
Refining methodologies for characterising and quantifying the environmental impacts of agriculture in 'life cycle assessment' (LCA). This is needed to ensure an accurate representation of the environmental impacts agriculture, for use in studies of food and bio-products. The environmental impacts of most interest are water quality impacts (eutrophication, eco-toxicity), water resource depletion as well as global warming potential.
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Environmental sustainability of food systems
Quantifying the environmental performance of food products and food systems using the 'life cycle assessment' (LCA) method. This is used to understand priority areas for improving the environmental sustainability of agriculture, food processing and distribution and retail.
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Water metabolism of cities
Developing and applying evaluation methods that quantify how efficiently water is used and managed in urban areas (cities, precincts, catchments). This is used to help urban planners and water managers make strategic and innovative decisions about how water systems are desgined, particularly in fast-growing cities.
Research impacts
Marguerite's PhD research used life cycle assessment (LCA) to test the environmental benefits of using sugarcane as feedstock for bio-energy, bio-fuels and bio-materials. This work has helped understand the consequences of agriculture's changing role as a provider of energy and materials in addition to food and fibre. For example, the Queensland Government policy on bio-fuels drew on Dr Renouf’s research and data about sugarcane ethanol.
An extension of this was industry-funded research to develop the CaneLCA eco-efficiency tool for susugarcane producers (available at eshop.uniquest.com.au). It has been used by researchers and agricultural extension personnel to inform about more sustainable sugarcane growing practices. For example, a sugar-industry project used the tool to validate the environmental benefits of improved sugarcane growing practices to protect water quality in the Great Barrier Reef. A tool of viticulture (VitLCA) has also been developed in collaboration with an agricultural University in France, which is being used to teach vineyard apprentices about sustainable viticulture practices.
Marguerite has influenced LCA developments in Australia. She has been an active member of the Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society (ALCAS), including a Board Member (2013-2017), Chair of the Australian Life Cycle Inventory (AusLCI) Database Agriculture Working Group (2008-2014) and the ALCAS Impact Assessment Committee (2013-ongoing), and on the conference organising committee (2013, 2015).
Her past contributions to UQ’s Working Group for Cleaner Production (1997 - 2012) helped support the Queensland Government's promotion of sustainable practices to Queensland manufacturing sectors (food processing, foundries, metal finishing, marine construction and general manufacturing). This included high-quality eco-efficiency information resources about (www.ecoefficiency.com.au), which continue to be a primary source of technical guidance for implementing eco-efficiency in these industries.
Works
Search Professor Marguerite Renouf’s works on UQ eSpace
2007
Conference Publication
Life cycle assessment (LCA) of diversified crop systems for bio-products
Marguerite Renouf (2007). Life cycle assessment (LCA) of diversified crop systems for bio-products. Bioenergy Australia 2007, Gold Coast, 26- 27 November 2007. Canberra, Australia: Bioenergy Australia.
2007
Conference Publication
Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of sugarcane production and processing in Australia
Marguerite Renouf and Wegener, Malcolm K. (2007). Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of sugarcane production and processing in Australia. 29th Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Cairns, 8-11May 2007. Brisbane: Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
2006
Conference Publication
LCA of Queensland cane sugar - lessonsfor the application of LCA to cropping systems in Australia
Renouf, M A (2006). LCA of Queensland cane sugar - lessonsfor the application of LCA to cropping systems in Australia. 5th Australian Conference on Life Cycle Assessment, Langham Hotel, Southbank, Melbourne, 22-24 November, 2006. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society Inc.
2005
Conference Publication
Sustainability and organic sugar production in Australia
Antony, G., Smith, D.M., Biggs, J., Renouf, M. A. and Webster, T. (2005). Sustainability and organic sugar production in Australia. AgSIP 13 Resource Economics Workshop, Rockhampton, 28 October 2005. Brisbane: Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society Inc.
2005
Conference Publication
Comparative environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of organic and conventional sugarcane growing in Queensland
Renouf, M. A., Antony, G. and Wegener, M. K. (2005). Comparative environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of organic and conventional sugarcane growing in Queensland. 27th Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Tech., Bundaberg, 3-6 May, 2005. Brisbane: Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
2005
Conference Publication
Organic sugar production in Australia: Grassroots reform to improved financial and environmental sustainability
Antony, G., Smith, D.M., Biggs, J. C., Park, S., Renouf, M. A. and Webster, T. (2005). Organic sugar production in Australia: Grassroots reform to improved financial and environmental sustainability. 7th International Conference on Linking Systems Thinking, Maribor, Slovenia, 23-26 June, 2004. Maribor, Slovenia: University of Maribor.
2004
Conference Publication
A critical Analysis of Cleaner Production in Queensland’s Food Industry – Past Efforts and Future Opportunities
Prasad, P., Pagan, R. and Renouf, M. (2004). A critical Analysis of Cleaner Production in Queensland’s Food Industry – Past Efforts and Future Opportunities. Asia Pacific Roundtable for Cleaner Production Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 15-18 March 2004.
2003
Other Outputs
Cleaner production opportunities in coal processing and utilisation
Pagan, R. J., Diniz da Costa, J. C., Prasad, P. and Renouf, M. A. (2003). Cleaner production opportunities in coal processing and utilisation. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Centre for Coal in Sustainable Development.
2002
Conference Publication
Preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Electricity Generation from Bagasse
Renouf, M. A. (2002). Preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Electricity Generation from Bagasse. ASSCT 24th Conference, Cairns 2002, Cairns, 29th April - 2nd May, 2002. Brisbane: Australian Sugar Cane Technologists.
2002
Book
Eco-efficiency Manual for Meat Processing
Pagan, R. J., Renouf, M. A. and Prasad, P. (2002). Eco-efficiency Manual for Meat Processing. Sydney: Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd.
1999
Conference Publication
Promoting managerial efficiency through cleaner production: A bakery case study
Renouf, M. A., Pullar, S. and Pagan, R. J. (1999). Promoting managerial efficiency through cleaner production: A bakery case study. 2nd Asia Pacific Cleaner Production Roundtable, Brisbane Convention Cen., 21st - 23rd April, 1999. Brisbane: Australia Cleaner Production.
1999
Journal Article
A whole of life approach to sustainable food production
Pagan, R. J. and Renouf, M. A. (1999). A whole of life approach to sustainable food production. Industry and Environment, 22 (2-3), 13-17.
1999
Conference Publication
Energy recovery from wet wastes: A viable cleaner production option?
Renouf, M. A., Pullar, S. and Pagan, R. J. (1999). Energy recovery from wet wastes: A viable cleaner production option?. 2nd Asia Pacific Cleaner Production Roundtable, Brisbane, Convention Centre, 21st - 23rd April, 1999. Brisbane: Australia Cleaner Production.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Marguerite Renouf is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Contribution of alternative water sources to urban water security
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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Doctor Philosophy
Framework for Integrated urban water management for infill development with limited dependency on urban infrastructure.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
Completed supervision
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2024
Master Philosophy
Contribution of Alternative Water Sources to Urban Water Security (UWS) in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the relationship between urban water management and liveability: conceptualisations and opportunities for assessment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Water performance evaluation of infill development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the food-water-energy-greenhouse gas emissions nexus in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental Consequences of Land use Changes for Bioenergy Crop Production at a Regional Scale
Associate Advisor
Media
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