Lindsay Falvey
Encyclopedia
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
who writes on topics concerning agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
science and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, international development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
and more lately spiritual development. He is a member for life of Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character...
, at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and is retired as a full Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where he was previously Chair of Agriculture, Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Land and Food Resources, Dean of Agriculture, Forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and Horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
(now Faculty of Land and Evironment). He is a recipient of national and international awards, has three doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
s [Ph.D., D.Agr.Sc., D.Agr.Techn. (honoris causa)] reflecting his work in Asia and Australia, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE).
Personal life
Falvey was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
of Kenneth Robert Leslie Falvey and Dorothy Elizabeth Falvey (née Christopher). He has one brother Russell Leslie Falvey. 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
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
ethnologist of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. His parents encouraged education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from their working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
origins and after completing schooling at Deepdene State School and Balwyn High School
Balwyn High School
Balwyn High School is a state-run high school in the suburb of Balwyn North, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1954. As of 2009 it has some 2,000 students and over 180 staff, making it one of the largest schools in the inner-eastern suburbs of Melbourne or the third largest...
, Falvey studied agricultural science
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
at the newly established La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
in suburban Melbourne.
Summary of Works
During his initial degree, he took various in-term and vacation jobs, including labouringLaborer
A Laborer or labourer - see variation in english spelling - is one of the construction trades, traditionally considered unskilled manual labor, as opposed to skilled labor. In the division of labor, laborers have all blasting, hand tools, power tools, air tools, and small heavy equipment, and act...
and mustering
Herder
A herder is a worker who lives a possibly semi-nomadic life, caring for various domestic animals, in places where these animals wander pasture lands....
cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
at Douglas-Daly Experiment Station
Douglas-Daly Experiment Station
The Douglas-Daly Experiment Station was an extensive research site of the Northern Territory Administration of the Government of Australia and, after statehood, of the Northern Territory Government. It formed part of a string of similar research sites in northern Australia...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
of Australia, while also taking a Methodist Local Preaching qualification with The Reverend Dr. A. Harold Wood
A. Harold Wood
Rev. Dr A. Harold Wood OBE was a 20th-century Australian churchman, educator, writer, hymnologist and advocate of church union.Born Alfred Harold Wood in Geelong on 4 May 1896, the son of Salvation Army officers, Wood was educated in Sydney...
at Deepdene Methodist Church. He was supported through his studies by his parents and a cadetship from the Government of the Northern Territory
Government of the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom...
. He then moved to work for that government in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, from where he conducted research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
and other work on the Douglas-Daly Experiment Station
Douglas-Daly Experiment Station
The Douglas-Daly Experiment Station was an extensive research site of the Northern Territory Administration of the Government of Australia and, after statehood, of the Northern Territory Government. It formed part of a string of similar research sites in northern Australia...
for five years to the beginning of 1976.
During those years, his research was awarded a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
through La Trobe University. Disrupted by Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
of 1974, Falvey began searching for international development positions that suited his perceived vocation
Vocation
A vocation , is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially 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.-Senses:...
, and was appointed to research livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
as an alternative to opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
production in the northern Thailand
Northern Thailand
Thailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
highlands
Highland (geography)
The term highland or upland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, the term upland tends to be used for ranges of hills, typically up to 500-600m, and highland for ranges of low mountains.The Scottish Highlands refers to the mountainous...
. The research uncovered a primary sodium deficiency
Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal. In the vast majority of cases, hyponatremia occurs as a result of excess body water diluting the serum sodium and is not due to sodium deficiency. Sodium is the dominant extracellular...
through much of the region and this part of his research novely integrated with sociological research formed the basis of his Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, which was granted by the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
in 1980.
Falvey then joined a small commercial cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
delivering international aid 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 sizable consulting company and was eventually purchased by the stock-exchange-listed Coffey International to become Coffey-MPW, of which he was Managing Director until 1993. During this consulting period, he maintained an active academic interest and published regularly in scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
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 asked by the University of Melbourne to assume the role of Dean of a combined faculty of eight campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
es with the task of merging the six colleges of the Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture
Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture
The Victorian College of Agriculture & Horticulture, abbreviated VCAH, was a grouping of the agricultural colleges of the State of Victoria in Australia. Formed in 1983, it was later incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in 1991...
with the university's ongoing departments related to agriculture and forestry. Completing the merger task and setting in place the adjustments required by the merger, he stepped down as Dean while retaining the position of Chair of Agriculture. Falvey was awarded a higher doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
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 has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering since 1997, of his profession's institute (Australian Institute of Agricultural Science) since 1971, and in 2003 was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his services to rural development internationally and at home.
His most significant writing began during his term as Dean. An evolution of thought is evident from his work on Food, Environment, Education, through his joint book with Barry Bardsley on Agricultural Education in Victoria ('Land and Food'), to his acclaimed work on Thai Agriculture. This last work includes the influence of his Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
-related philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
applied to the agriculture of developing nations, a theme expanded in his subsequent book 'Sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
Elusive or Illusory' and his 2005 text 'Agriculture and Religion: Sustainability in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Buddhism.
Falvey presents essential agriculture and food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
as something conceptually separate from all other non-basic needs and hence requiring different mindset
Mindset
In decision theory and general systems theory, a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods or notations held by one or more people or groups of people which is so established that it creates a powerful incentive within these people or groups to continue to adopt or accept prior behaviors, choices,...
s for development planning and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, and hence policy, as included in his book on Sustainability. He relates his teachings of Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
and Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
including an interpretation of the Christian gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
s into Buddhist language in his book, The Buddha's Gospel. He also relates religion and personal spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
to the natural environment using agriculture, the most widespread human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
intervention
Neolithic Revolution
The Neolithic Revolution was the first agricultural revolution. It was the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement. Archaeological data indicates that various forms of plants and animal domestication evolved independently in 6 separate locations worldwide circa...
in nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
, as the example to draw from ancient scriptures and modern philosophy - as detailed in his book Religion and Agriculture, which has led into a consideration of agricultural spiritualism
Agricultural spiritualism
Agricultural spiritualism or the Spirit of Agriculture refers to the idea that the concepts of food production and consumption and the essential spiritual nature of humanity are linked. It assumes that spirituality is inherent to human consciousness, is perhaps a product of it and is accessible to...
. In additional to his writings he is a poetaster and some of his works may be found on the web. His most recent book is a spiritual allegory, ['[Reaching the Top? All Paths are True on the Correct Mountain]http://lindsay.falvey.googlepages.com/reachingthetop%3Fallpathsaretrueontheright2']. His recent books include: a) 'Dharma as Man' published 2008 - a brave interpretation of the Christian Gospels in Buddhist language and concepts that represents interpretations of the meaning of both traditions; b) 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), Uni-versity Press (2010); c) An open letter to Lindsay at 60: Five Cycles of Lindsay Falvey. Pp45. (2010); d) 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. (2010), and e) Re-Cultivating Agricultural Science, or What I’ve Learned in 40 Years of Professional Life. Pp139. Institute for International Development. (2011). Most books are accessible gratis online at iid.org or google books.
Selected publications
- Lindsay Falvey (2011) Re-Cultivating Agricultural Science, or What I’ve Learned in 40 Years of Professional Life. Pp139. Institute for International Development. (2011)*
- 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. (2010)*
- Lindsay Falvey (2010) An open letter to Lindsay at 60: Five Cycles of Lindsay Falvey. Pp45. (2010)
- 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), Uni-versity Press (2010)
- Lindsay Falvey (2009) Dharma as Man: A Myth of Jesus in Buddhist Lands. Pp250. Uni-versity Press, Australia (2009)*
- Lindsay Falvey (2009) Pranja Anthology (The Book of Ecclesisates rendered into Buddhist concepts in rhyming couplets). Pp38 (2009)*
- Lindsay Falvey (2007) Reaching the Top? All Paths are True on the Right Mountain. Pp68. Uni-versity Press. (2007)*
- Lindsay Falvey, (2005). Religion and Agriculture: Sustainability in Christianity and Buddhism. Institute for International Development, Silkworm Books. ISBN 0-9751000-2-5 PDF
- Lindsay Falvey, (2004). Sustainability: Elusive or Illusory? Wise Environmental Intervention. Institute for International Development. ISBN 0-9751000-1-7 PDF
- Lindsay Falvey, (2002). The Buddha's Gospel: A Buddhist Interpretation of Jesus' Words. Institute for International 108pp. ISBN 0-646-42071-2
- Lindsay Falvey, (2000). Thai Agriculture: Golden Cradle of Millennia. Kasetsart University Press, White Lotus, BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. ISBN 974-553-816-7. Translated into the Thai languageThai languageThai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
as Karn Kaset Thai in 2005 - Charan Chantalakhana, Lindsay Falvey. Smallholder Dairying in the Tropics. International Livestock Research Institute, NairobiNairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. ISBN 0-7340-1432-5 - 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. ISBN 0732515564
- 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. ISBN 1-86252-992-2
- Lindsay Falvey, (1979). Cattle and Sheep in Northern Thailand. Tiphanetr Press, Thailand.