John Lindsay Falvey (born 23 May 1950) is an Australian-born international R&D specialist and writes on topics concerning

agricultural Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created f ...

science and

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

religion Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...

international development International development or global development is a broad concept denoting the idea that societies and countries have differing levels of economic development, economic or human development (economics), human development on an international sca ...

and spiritual development. He has been chair of the Board of Trustees the

CGIAR CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) is a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security. CGIAR research aims to reduce rural poverty, increase food ...

Consortium member, the

International Livestock Research Institute The International Livestock Research Institute or ILRI is an international agricultural research institute within the CGIAR – formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research. It was established in 1994 by merger of t ...

from 2013, and is a life member of Clare Hall at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

. He continues as an Honorary Professor, having retired as a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...

at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

where he was

Chair A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. It may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vario ...

of Agriculture, Dean of Land and Food Resources and Dean of Agriculture,

Forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...

and

Horticulture Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

. Falvey is a recipient of national and international awards, has three

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...

s hD (University of Queensland), D. Agr. Sc. (University of Melbourne), D. Agr. Techn. (honoris causa, Thaksin University)">Thaksin University">hD (University of Queensland), D. Agr. Sc. (University of Melbourne), D. Agr. Techn. (honoris causa, Thaksin University)ref name="ILRI" /> reflecting his work in Asia and Australia, is a recipient of the Australian Centenary Medal, and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE).Biography
profdrlindsayfalvey.yolasite.com

Personal life

Falvey was born in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

to Kenneth Robert Leslie Falvey and Dorothy Elizabeth Falvey (née Christopher). He has one brother Russell Leslie Falvey. He attended Deepdene State School and Balwyn High School,

La Trobe University La Trobe University is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora, Victoria, Bundoora. The university was established in 1 ...

and the University of Queensland. From 1971 to 2002, Falvey was married to Janice Patricia Daly; they have two sons, Leslie Kenneth Falvey and Christopher John Falvey. In March 2006 he married Simone Lucie Behr (Bernhardt), an Alsatian

ethnologist Ethnology (from the , meaning 'nation') is an academic field and discipline that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationships between them (compare cultural, social, or sociocultural anthropology). Scien ...

of the

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; , CdE) is an international organisation with the goal of upholding human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. Founded in 1949, it is Europe's oldest intergovernmental organisation, represe ...

Biography

During his initial degree, he took various in-term and vacation jobs, including labouring and mustering

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...

at Douglas-Daly Experiment Station in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

of Australia, while also taking a

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...

''Local

Preaching A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. E ...

qualification Qualification may refer to: Processes * Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS), a competitive contract procurement process established by the United States Congress * Process qualification, ensures that manufacturing and production processes can ...

with The Reverend Dr. A. Harold Wood at Deepdene Methodist Church. He worked for the Federal Government in Darwin, from where he conducted

research Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to ...

and other work on the Douglas-Daly Experiment Station for five years. Disrupted by

Cyclone Tracy Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy was a small but destructive tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia, in December 1974. The small but developing easterly storm was or ...

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...

1974, Falvey entered international development suited to his perceived

vocation A vocation () is an Work (human activity), occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity. ...

of research into farmers raising

livestock Livestock are the Domestication, domesticated animals that are raised in an Agriculture, agricultural setting to provide labour and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, Egg as food, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The t ...

as an alternative to growing

opium Opium (also known as poppy tears, or Lachryma papaveris) is the dried latex obtained from the seed Capsule (fruit), capsules of the opium poppy ''Papaver somniferum''. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid mor ...

in the

northern Thailand Northern Thailand, or more specifically Lanna, is a region of Thailand. It is geographically characterized by several mountain ranges, which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar to Laos, and the river valleys that cut through them. ...

highlands Highland is a broad term for areas of higher elevation, such as a mountain range or mountainous plateau. Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to: Places Africa * Highlands, Johannesburg, South Africa * Highlands, Harare, Zimbab ...

. This research uncovered a primary sodium deficiency through much of the region. After five years Falvey joined a small commercial

cooperative A cooperative (also known as co-operative, coöperative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomy, autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned a ...

delivering

international aid In international relations, aid (also known as international aid, overseas aid, foreign aid, economic aid or foreign assistance) is – from the perspective of governments – a voluntary transfer of resources from one country to another. Th ...

for rural development which became known as ''MPW Australia'', of which he soon became managing director. With contributions from his professional colleagues, MPW grew into a sizeable consulting company which was eventually purchased by the

Australian Securities Exchange Australian Securities Exchange Ltd (ASX) is an Australian public company that operates Australia's primary Exchange (organized market), securities exchange, the Australian Securities Exchange (sometimes referred to outside of Australia as, or c ...

listed Coffey International to become Coffey-MPW, of which he was

Managing Director A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...

until 1993. During this consulting period, he maintained an active

academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

interest and published regularly in

scientific journal In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication designed to further the progress of science by disseminating new research findings to the scientific community. These journals serve as a platform for researchers, schola ...

s, while also working in some 20 countries. His first books, on ''Cattle ... in northern Thailand' and ''Working Animals'' were published in this period. In 1995, he was invited by the

to the role of Dean of a combined faculty over eight

campus A campus traditionally refers to the land and buildings of a college or university. This will often include libraries, lecture halls, student centers and, for residential universities, residence halls and dining halls. By extension, a corp ...

es with the task of merging the six colleges of the Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture with the university's departments related to agriculture and forestry. This "merger" was more of a takeover, and only the Burnley and Dookie campus remained with the university in 2021, with the other campuses being moved to the TAFE sector fairly rapidly after the merger. The merger period was a brutal period for former VCAH staff, with many long-serving staff having their employment terminated because they did not fit the university teaching-research ideal. Many staff felt as if they had been sold-out by VCAH management. After completing the merger, he stepped down as Dean while retaining the Chair of Agriculture. Falvey was awarded a

of agricultural science by the University of Melbourne in 2004 for a 1,500-page combined selection from his books and papers which revealed a new evolving philosophy of international agricultural development over some thirty years. He is a Foundation Director of Hassad Australia, Board Chair of the International Livestock Research Institute, Chair of the Selection Panel for the World Prize in International Integrated Development, and assists Thaksin University in

Songkhla Songkhla (, ), also known as Singgora or Singora (Kelantan-Pattani Malay, Pattani Malay: ซิงกอรอ, Singoro), is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. Songkhla lies ...

, Thailand. His contributions in Thailand have bee
summarized
as สิ่งพิมพ์ของ ศาสตราจารย์ ดร. ลินด์ซีย์ ฟาลวีย์

Publications

20 books: * Lindsay Falvey (2011) ''Re-Cultivating Agricultural Science, or What I’ve Learned in 40 Years of Professional Life''. Pp139. Institute for International Development. * Lindsay Falvey (2010) ''Small Farmers Secure Food: Survival Food Security, the World's Kitchen and the Critical Role of Small Farmers''. Pp 232. Thaksin University Press in association with the Institute for International Development. * Lindsay Falvey (2010) ''An open letter to Lindsay at 60: Five Cycles of Lindsay Falvey''. Pp45. * Lindsay Falvey (2010) ''Buddhist – Christian Dialogue: Four Papers from The Parliament of the World's Religions'', 2–9 December, Melbourne, Australia, Pp45 (with John May, Vincent Pizzuto & Padmasiri de Silva), University Press * Lindsay Falvey (2009) ''Dharma as Man: A Myth of Jesus in Buddhist Lands''. Pp250. University Press, Australia * Lindsay Falvey (2009) ''Pranja Anthology'' (The Book of Ecclesisates rendered into Buddhist concepts in rhyming couplets). Pp38 * Lindsay Falvey (2007) ''Reaching the Top? All Paths are True on the Right Mountain''. Pp68. University Press. * Lindsay Falvey (2005) ''Religion and Agriculture: Sustainability in Christianity and Buddhism.'' Institute for International Development, Silkworm Books.
PDF
* Lindsay Falvey (2004) ''Sustainability: Elusive or Illusory? Wise Environmental Intervention.'' Institute for International Development.
PDF
* Lindsay Falvey (2002) ''The Buddha's Gospel: A Buddhist Interpretation of Jesus' Words.'' Institute for International 108pp. * Lindsay Falvey (2000) ''Thai Agriculture: Golden Cradle of Millennia''. Kasetsart University Press, White Lotus,

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

. . Translated into the

Thai language Thai,In or Central Thai (historically Siamese;Although "Thai" and "Central Thai" have become more common, the older term, "Siamese", is still used by linguists, especially when it is being distinguished from other Tai languages (Diller 2008:6 ...

as ''Karn Kaset Thai'' in 2005 * Charan Chantalakhana, Lindsay Falvey. ''Smallholder Dairying in the Tropics''. International Livestock Research Institute,

Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

. * Barrie Bardsley, Lindsay Falvey, (1997) ''Land and Food: Agricultural and Related Education in the Victorian Colleges and the University of Melbourne'' Institute of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne. * Lindsay Falvey (1996) ''Food Environmental Education: Agricultural Education in Natural Resource Management''. The Crawford Fund and the Institute for International Development. * Lindsay Falvey (1994) ''International Consulting: Providing Services to International Development Agencies''. Institute for International Development, Melbourne. * Lindsay Falvey (1988) ''Introduction to Working Animals''. Falvey Consulting, Melbourne. * Lindsay Falvey (1979) ''Cattle and Sheep in Northern Thailand''. Tiphanetr Press, Thailand.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Falvey, Lindsay Australian non-fiction writers Writers from Melbourne Australian science writers La Trobe University alumni Academic staff of the University of Melbourne 1950 births Living people Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering People from the City of Boroondara University of Queensland alumni