Sowing seeds of support

Global food security concerns are growing, stirred by climate change, biodiversity loss, depletion of soil nutrients and over-exploitation of water sources. If we want a future that sustains the world, we must learn to serve nature first.

As the middle-daughter of natural therapies practitioners and the Faculty of Medicine’s UQ Graduate of the Year nominee, Ms Kerri-Anne Gill understands this well. She is using her PhD to investigate the needs of small-scale farmers and how government policies globally can make life easier for them.    

“This research is important to me simply because I like to eat well, and I like other people to eat well too,” Kerri confesses. 

“The nutritional value of food is being eroded by ultra-processing and long supply chains that transport produce across vast distances between producers and consumers.

“On top of this, almost one third of the food produced globally is wasted when nearly one billion people don’t have enough food or aren’t properly nourished by what they eat.”

Kerri points out that policies have favoured large-scale industrial farming aimed at export markets. However, the majority of Australian farms are small-scale operations that occupy a minority of farmland. 

She highlights that when COVID-19 and extreme weather events wreaked havoc on global supply chains, it was small-scale local food systems that proved to be more resilient. 

“In some food categories, Australia is already supplementing local produce with imports,” Kerri explains.  

“This does put us at risk, especially when other countries face similar challenges as they try to feed their own populations while reducing their impacts on climate and ecosystems.” 

Kerri is determined to plough ahead, reaping achievements along the way.

“People tell me I must be very proud of my accolades - one University Medal, seven Dean’s Awards and named Faculty Graduate of the Year for my Honours work in 2021,“ Kerri says. 

“Those things certainly make my family proud, but using what I've learned to inspire others is what makes me feel the best. 

“I teach permaculture at a local community college and use my UQ learnings to enhance how I explain concepts. 

“When people tell me that they finally understand something, or that they have gained valuable new insight, that gives me a real sense of achievement.

“I used to work in rehabilitation and the corporate sector providing coaching services, career guidance and leading organisational change after completing my first degree in psychology,” Kerri reveals.

“In 2010, I gave up my psychologist registration and made a Tasmanian tree-change, which I absolutely loved because it enabled me to live close to nature, connect with my food source and be part of a farming community. 

“I returned to study and earned a UQ degree in nutrition and an Honours in food system policy.

“I feel incredibly grateful for the privilege to be part of the Faculty of Medicine. The lecturers, tutors, librarians and support staff have all provide me amazing support, especially my PhD Supervisor, Dr Katherine Cullerton.”

Kerri hopes her research will encourage policymakers to support local food producers and find ways to garner broader support for them.

“Farmers around the world, particularly smallholders, are essential for feeding people and caring for the land, and they need community and government support. 

“I hope my research challenges assumptions, such as that large-scale industrial farming is more productive than small-scale operations,” Kerri explains. 

“Large monoculture systems may produce more of one crop, but they need a lot of energy and inputs to do so.

“Small, mixed farms, on the other hand, rely heavily on human labour, which creates jobs and livelihoods, and natural services such as pollination, pest control, rainwater irrigation and fertile healthy soils.

“I encourage everyone to learn about where your food comes from and grow some at home, school or in a community garden.”

UQ School of Public Health PhD candidate Kerri-Ann Gill with Supervisor Dr Katherine Cullerton