Project summary
- Program
- PhD
- Location
- St Lucia
- Research area
- Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences, Earth sciences, Economics, Environmental sciences, Human society
Project description
Over half of the world’s 1.1 billion multidimensionally poor people live in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Pacific, where food insecurity affects 66% and 42% of populations respectively [1,2,3].
Smallholder farmers dominate food production in both regions but face low productivity due to declining soil fertility [4]. Heavy reliance on imported fertilisers (90–100%) exposes them to price shocks and supply disruptions despite SSA’s significant mineral reserves. At the same time, declining development assistance is increasing pressure for locally driven, self-reliant solutions.
You will address the nexus between mineral and food insecurity by exploring the potential of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) to supply locally sourced crushed mineral rocks for soil remineralisation and agricultural productivity. Grounded in the concept of mineral security, this is the first global study to reframe the role of ASM as a supplier of essential farm inputs, contributing to humanity through food security.
[1] UNDP and OPHI, (2024). Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2024. Poverty Amid Conflict. New York.
[2] Wudil, A. H., Usman, M., Rosak-Szyrocka, J., Pilař, L., & Boye, M. (2022). Reversing years for global food security: A review of the food security situation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 14836.
[3] FAO (2022). Asia and the Pacific: Regional overview of food security and nutrition. Statistics and Trends.
[4] Abdul Rahman N., Kotu, B.H., Tetteh, F.M., Karikari, B., Akinseye, F.M., Ansah, T., Mutungi, C. & Kizito, F. (2024) Editorial: Sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 8:1399430.
Research environment
You will be hosted at the Global Centre for Mineral Security at The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).
The Centre is a group of social scientists, economists, geographers, ecologists, geologists, and engineers with hands-on development experience, dedicated to reduce poverty, improve livelihoods, and enhance sustainable development. The Centre works with a wide range of development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, The World Bank, Pacific Community and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
UQ is the ideal institution to undertake the proposed research. UQ has the largest concentration of researchers internationally devoted to minerals and sustainable development and hosts the world-leading SMI, an interdisciplinary group of more than 300 staff and higher degree researchers dedicated to knowledge-based solutions for addressing the sustainability challenges in the global supply of minerals.
Established in 2001 by the Queensland State Government, SMI boasts substantial capability and an excellent research environment for the project, attracting around $50M in research funding per year (>$350M since 2014) and hosting eight dedicated research centres.
Since 2014, SMI has published >3000 publications and graduated more than 180 HDRs. In the past five years SMI researchers have published >50 papers in Nature-indexed or Nature Portfolio journals.
In partnership with Curtin University and James Cook University, UQ hosts the $140M Critical Minerals Trailblazer on behalf of the Australian Government and between 2011 and 2015 hosted the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s flagship $31M International Mining for Development Centre with the University of Western Australia.
Scholarship
This is an Fellowship support scheme scholarship project that aligns with a recently awarded Australian Government grant.
The scholarship includes:
- living stipend of $37,500 per annum tax free (2026 rate), indexed annually
- your tuition fees covered.
Learn more about the Fellowship support scheme scholarship.
Supervisor
Principal supervisor
Preferred educational background
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history.
A working knowledge of the following would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
Technical and domain knowledge and experience (highly desirable):
- Applied research and/or work experience in mining, minerals, and related fields
- Interest in human development, poverty alleviation, with real-world impact
- Artisanal and small-scale mining
Experience working with communities, companies, NGOs, or policymakers in Africa and/or the Pacific
Core skills (essential):
- GIS and geospatial analysis
- Strong academic writing and communication skills in English
- Mixed-methods research design (qualitative and quantitative)
- Field-based qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, surveys)
- [advantage] Econometric or statistical analysis (e.g. Stata, R, Python)
- [advantage] Value chain and cost-benefit analysis
You will demonstrate academic achievement in the fields of geological sciences, agricultural sciences, development economics, development studies, or food systems, and the potential for scholastic success.
A background or knowledge of the following is highly desirable:
- Mineral economics or mineral-development linkages
- Human geography
- Climate-change or environmental science.
You will explore how crushed rock minerals locally sourced from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) can enhance soil fertility in SSA and the Pacific.
You will investigate how these minerals move through local supply chains from mine to farm, identifying barriers and opportunities related to access, affordability, scaling, and sustainable utilisation. The research will adopt a mixed-methods approach and generate novel data-driven insights, combining geospatial mapping of mineral resources and farming activities in poverty hotspots with supply chain analysis.
Findings will inform national, regional, and international policy and program designs across mining, agriculture, and development sectors.
How to apply
This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Quarter 2, 2027. You can start in an earlier research quarter.
You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by the closing date for the research quarter (RQ) you want to start in:
Before you apply
- Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
- Prepare your documentation.
- If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Dr Fitsum Semere Weldegiorgis (f.weldegiorgis@uq.edu.au).
When you apply
To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI
In your EOI, complete the 'Scholarship/Sponsorship' section with the following details:
- Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
- Project: 'Fellowship project scholarship'
- Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: MINERAL-WELDEGIORGIS
- Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/minerals-security-food-security-mapping-asm-based-agricultural-mineral-supply-chains