Valuing non-crop vegetation in horticultural landscapes of Australia

By August 7th, 2025

Project overview

Project title

Valuing non-crop vegetation in horticultural landscapes of Australia: increasing biodiversity for profit and cultural value

Project description

This project will explore the extent to which areas on farms such as semi-natural vegetation, tree plantings, woodlands, and shelterbelts benefit producers through ecological mechanisms, such as enhancing pollinators or pest predators along with broader aesthetic and Indigenous cultural benefits. The outcome of this project will provide an improved understanding of the scale and relative importance of these benefits in the agricultural production landscape of northern New South Wales. This project will directly support horticulturalists in the region and guide future policy.

Supervisory team

University

Name of university supervisorDistinguished Professor Geoff Gurr
Name of universityCharles Sturt University
Email addressggurr@csu.edu.au
FacultyFaculty of Science and Health

CSIRO

Name of CSIRO supervisorDr Hazel Parry
Email addresshazel.parry@csiro.au
CSIRO Research UnitAgriculture and Food

Industry

Name of industry supervisorAlan Coates
Name of business/organisationSoilCare
Email addresscoatesagriculture52@gmail.com

Further details

Primary location of studentCSIRO Dutton Park, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park QLD 4102, Australia
Industry engagement component locationSoilCare Incorporated, 1/8 Megan Crescent Lennox Head NSW 2478, Australia
Other locationsCharles Sturt University, Leeds Parade, Orange NSW 2800, Australia
Ideal student skillsetEssential:

BSc (Honours) or MSc in relevant discipline (e.g. Agriculture, Environmental Science, Ecology or Environmental Economics), ideally having completed a project involving some fieldwork.

Capable of traveling to field sites in northern New South Wales to collect data.

Excellent writing and communication skills, and willingness for collaboration.

Good problem-solving skills and interest in landscape ecology and ecosystem services research as well as sustainable agricultural practices.  

Desirable:

Experience with programming/statistics (e.g. Python or R skills).
Application close dateOpen until position filled
ApplyContact Distinguished Professor Geoff Gurr