Dr Md. Ali Akber
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Researcher biography
Dr Md. Ali Akber is a researcher in agribusiness, rural development and economics whose work focuses on making agrifood systems more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive in the face of climate change, market transformation, and environmental pressure. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Queensland, he has built an interdisciplinary research profile spanning sustainable agriculture, food systems transformation, and spatial analysis, with a particular focus on smallholder production systems and value chain development in the Asia-Pacific region. His work covers climate-smart agriculture, sustainable rice and aquaculture systems, peri-urban food systems, and land-use change, with strong regional engagement across Australia and South and Southeast Asia. He has also contributed to the design and delivery of international capacity-building and professional development programs that support leadership, value chain development, and inclusive agrifood systems transformation.
Publications
Book Chapter
Khan, Md. Wahidur Rahman, Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Atikul, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2019). Assessment of ecosystem service value in southwest coastal Bangladesh. The environmental sustainable development goals in Bangladesh. (pp. 132-142) edited by Samiya Ahmed Selim, Shantanu Kumar Saha, Rumana Sultana and Carolyn Roberts. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429463365-10
Journal Articles
Sujan, Md. Hayder Khan, Jiao, Yutao, Akber, Md. Ali, Sarkar, Md Abdur Rouf, McKenzie, Andrew M., Rabin, Mominul Haque, Sultana, Monira and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2026). Understanding rice farmers’ fertilizer application behavior to advance sustainable agricultural practices in Bangladesh: insights from the extended KAP model. Scientific Reports. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-52897-7
Wang, Ziyue, Kiloes, Adhitya Marendra, Akber, Md. Ali, Wiwoho, Bagus Setiabudi and Abdul Aziz, Ammar (2026). A multi-dimensional indicator framework for peri-urban area delineation: insights from equal- and AHP-weighted models in Java, Indonesia. Remote Sensing, 18 (7) 1062. doi: 10.3390/rs18071062
Thai, Van Tinh, Checco, Julia, Mitchell, Jaquie, Garba, Ismail Ibrahim, Akber, Md. Ali and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2026). Producing more rice with fewer emissions: a global meta-analysis. npj Sustainable Agriculture, 4 (1) 27, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s44264-026-00136-x
Sukmawijaya, Adhera, Akber, Md. Ali, Wang, Ziyue, Azizan, Fathin Ayuni, Bell, Michael and Abdul Aziz, Ammar (2026). Spatial assessment of water balance and soil erosion under land-use change in Chieng Hac, Northern Vietnam. Remote Sensing, 18 (7) 998, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/rs18070998
Kotir, Julius H., Checco, Julia, Akber, Md Ali, Kiloes, Adhitya Marendra, Dipu, Mokaddes Ahmed, Yanti Nuraeni Muflikh and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2026). Operationalising systems thinking for Australia’s National Food Security Strategy. Farm Policy Journal, 23 (1) FPJ2301, 100-117.
Zhou, Xi, Checco, Julia, Akber, Md. Ali and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2025). Factors influencing consumer preferences for sustainably produced rice: A systematic review. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 18 100309, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.clrc.2025.100309
Wang, Ziyue, Akber, Md Ali and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2025). Application of remote sensing and geographic information systems for monitoring and managing chili crops: a systematic review. Remote Sensing, 17 (16) 2827, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/rs17162827
Sujan, Md. Hayder Khan, Sarkar, Md Abdur Rouf, Sultana, Monira, Akber, Md. Ali, McKenzie, Andrew M., Kazal, Mohammad Mizanul Haque, Islam, Imrul and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2025). Climate-smart aquaculture practice: Changes in economic viability and efficiency of mud crab fattening in coastal Bangladesh. Climate Risk Management, 49 100726, 1-20. doi: 10.1016/j.crm.2025.100726
Fabinyi, Michael, Belton, Ben, Dressler, Wolfram H., Knudsen, Magne, Adhuri, Dedi S., Abdul Aziz, Ammar, Akber, Md. Ali, Kittitornkool, Jawanit, Kongkaew, Chaturong, Marschke, Melissa, Pido, Michael, Stacey, Natasha, Steenbergen, Dirk J. and Vandergeest, Peter (2022). Coastal transitions: Small-scale fisheries, livelihoods, and maritime zone developments in Southeast Asia. Journal of Rural Studies, 91, 184-194. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.02.006
Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Atikul, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2021). Crop diversification in southwest coastal Bangladesh: insights into farming adaptation. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 46 (2), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/21683565.2021.1989105
Ali, Muhammad Fadzli, Akber, Md. Ali, Smith, Carl and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2021). The dynamics of rubber production in Malaysia: potential impacts, challenges and proposed interventions. Forest Policy and Economics, 127 102449, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102449
Hasan, Shaikh Md. Mahady, Akber, Md. Ali, Bahar, Md. Mezbaul, Islam, Md. Azharul, Akbor, Md. Ahedul, Siddique, Md. Abu Bakar and Islam, Md. Atikul (2021). Chromium contamination from tanning industries and phytoremediation potential of native plants: a study of Savar Tannery Industrial Estate in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 106 (6), 1024-1032. doi: 10.1007/s00128-021-03262-z
Akber, Md. Ali, Aziz, Ammar Abdul and Lovelock, Catherine (2020). Major drivers of coastal aquaculture expansion in Southeast Asia. Ocean and Coastal Management, 198 105364, 105364. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105364
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, M. M. Majedul, Islam, Md. Azharul and Dutta, Mukta (2020). Bacteriological assessment of dug well water in rural areas of Bangladesh. Aqua, 69 (7), 720-732. doi: 10.2166/aqua.2020.044
Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Azharul, Dutta, Mukta, Billah, Shaikh Motasim and Islam, Md. Atikul (2020). Nitrate contamination of water in dug wells and associated health risks of rural communities in southwest Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192 (3) 163, 163. doi: 10.1007/s10661-020-8128-2
Akber, Md. Ali, Rahman, Md. Aminur, Islam, Md. Azharul and Islam, Md. Atikul (2019). Potential ecological risk of metal pollution in lead smelter-contaminated agricultural soils in Khulna, Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191 (6) 351. doi: 10.1007/s10661-019-7483-3
Islam, Md. Azharul, Akber, Md. Ali, Rahman, Md. Bayzidur, Rahman, Md. Aminur, Haque, Md. Aynal and Islam, Md. Atikul (2019). Trace elements in rice grain and agricultural soils: assessment of health risk of inhabitants near a former secondary lead smelter in Khulna, Bangladesh. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 41 (6), 2521-2532. doi: 10.1007/s10653-019-00299-2
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali, Limon, Sharif Hassan, Akbor, Md. Ahedul and Islam, Md. Azharul (2019). Characterization of solid biofuel produced from banana stalk via hydrothermal carbonization. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 9 (4), 651-658. doi: 10.1007/s13399-019-00405-5
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali, Rahman, Md. Aminur, Islam, Md. Azharul and Kabir, Md. Pervez (2019). Evaluation of harvested rainwater quality at primary schools of southwest coastal Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191 (2) 80. doi: 10.1007/s10661-019-7217-6
Islam, Maliva, Akber, Md. Ali and Islam, Md. Atikul (2019). Willingness to pay for improved drinking water in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 19 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.2166/ws.2018.047
Chiba, Yohei, Prabhakar, S.V.R.K., Islam, Md. Atikul and Akber, Md. Ali (2018). Priority practices for addressing non-economic loss and damages caused by cyclones in Bangladesh: case study of Koyra. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 9 (4/5), 333-347. doi: 10.1108/ijdrbe-11-2017-0061
Akber, Md. Ali, Patwary, Muhammad Mainuddin, Islam, Md. Atikul and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2018). Storm protection service of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh. Natural Hazards, 94 (1), 405-418. doi: 10.1007/s11069-018-3395-8
Akber, Md. Ali, Khan, Md. Wahidur Rahman, Islam, Md. Atikul, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2018). Impact of land use change on ecosystem services of southwest coastal Bangladesh. Journal of Land Use Science, 13 (3), 238-250. doi: 10.1080/1747423x.2018.1529832
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali, Ahmed, Munir, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2018). Climate change adaptations of shrimp farmers: a case study from southwest coastal Bangladesh. Climate and Development, 11 (6), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/17565529.2018.1442807
Islam, Md. Atikul, Romić, Davor, Akber, Md. Ali and Romić, Marija (2018). Trace metals accumulation in soil irrigated with polluted water and assessment of human health risk from vegetable consumption in Bangladesh. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 40 (1), 59-85. doi: 10.1007/s10653-017-9907-8
Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali and Ghosh, Prosun Kumar (2017). Water quality of small-scale desalination plants in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 18 (5), ws2017222-1616. doi: 10.2166/ws.2017.222
Ahsan, Md. Sabbir, Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Atikul, Kabir, Md. Pervez and Hoque, Md. Ikramul (2017). Monitoring bacterial contamination of piped water supply in rural coastal Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189 (11) 597. doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-6316-5
Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Atikul, Ahmed, Munir, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2017). Changes of shrimp farming in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Aquaculture International, 25 (5), 1883-1899. doi: 10.1007/s10499-017-0159-5
Kabir, Md. Pervez, Islam, Md. Atikul, Akber, Md. Ali and Ahsan, Md. Sabbir (2016). Bacteriological assessment of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) water in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 6 (2), 231-241. doi: 10.2166/washdev.2016.171
Atikul Islam, Md, Azad, Abul Kalam, Ali Akber, Md, Rahman, Masudur and Sadhu, Indrojit (2015). Effectiveness of solar disinfection (SODIS) in rural coastal Bangladesh. Journal of Water and Health, 13 (4), 1113-1122. doi: 10.2166/wh.2015.186
Akber, Md. Ali and Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad (2015). Land use change and its effect on biodiversity in Chiang Rai province of Thailand. Journal of Land Use Science, 10 (1), 108-128. doi: 10.1080/1747423X.2013.807315
Conference Papers
Mitchell, Jaquie, Checco, Julia, Thai, Tinh Van, Dong, Tung Lam, Tran, Khang, Thanh, Dao Vu Thi, Trinh, Duy, Minh, Luan Ha, Minh, Nguyen Anh, Bui, Ly Chuc, Wood, Shona, Akber, Ali, Muflikh, Yanti Nuraeni, Palaniappan, Gomathy, Prakash, Sangeeta, Ho, Binh, Hong, Tin Nguyen, Quirk, Chris and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2025). Establishing a sustainable, high-quality smallholder rice value chain in the Mekong Delta: progress and key outcomes. TropAg 2025, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11-13 November 2025.
Mitchell, Jaquie, Wood, Shona, Tran, Khang, Thi, Thanh Dao Vu, Trinh, Duy, Ho, Binh, Palaniappan, Gomathy, Aziz, Ammar Abdul, Checco, Julia, Thai, Van Tinh, Nguyen, Hong Tin, Thoa, Nguyen Thi Kim, Ly, Bui Chuc, Nguyen, Minh, Akber, Md Ali, Muflikh, Yanti Nuraeni, Ha, Minh Luan, Tran, Ngoc Thach, Quirk, Chris, Lam, Dong Tung, Nguyen, Ngoc Le, Ngoc, Ho Thi Nhu and Prakash, Sangeeta (2025). Transforming Vietnam’s rice value chain via a market-led sustainable, traceable, high-quality export market product for the Mekong delta – a quality perspective. 75th Australasian Grains Science Association Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 20-22 August 2025.
Sukmawijaya, Adhera, Opena, Jhoana, Akber, Ali, Mitchell, Jaquie and Abdul Aziz, Ammar (2024). Capabilities of hyperspectral spectroradiometer for differentiating rice and rice mimicry weeds on leaf-level measurement. 23rd Australasian Weeds Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 25-29 August 2024.
Checco, Julia, Hall, Howard, Dipu, Mokaddes Ahmed, Thai, Van Tinh, Maryono, Sitompul, Iqbal Saleh, Akber, Md. Ali, Jones, Natalie, Mitchell, Jaquie and Abdul Aziz, Ammar (2023). Commercial engagement in publicly funded agricultural research and development. 6th International Rice Congress 2023, Manilla, Philippines, 16-19 October 2023.
Nguyen, Tin, Mitchell, Jaquie, Wood, Shona, Akber, Ali, Palaniappan, Gomathy, Checco, Julia, Aziz, Ammar Abdul and Bui, Ly (2023). Establishing a sustainable rice value chain using SRP tool, 3Ps and 4Ps models in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. International Rice Congress 2023, Manila, Philippines, 16-19 October 2023. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.10398650
Checco, Julia, Thai, Van Tinh, Muflikh, Yanti Nuraeni, Bui, Chuc Ly, Akber, Ali, Dipu, Mokaddes Ahmed, Nguyen, Hong Tin, Palaniappan, Gomathy, Mitchell, Jaquie and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2023). Establishing a high-quality export rice value chain in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: enablers, disablers, and opportunities. International Rice Congress 2023, Manila, Philippines, 16-19 October 2023. Zenodo. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.10398756
Ahsan, Md. Sabbir, Akber, Md. Ali, Islam, Md. Atikul, Rahman, Md. Munsur and Rahman, Mohammad Rezaur (2018). Shrimp farmers’ competence and training needs on climate change adaptation: a case study from southwest coastal Bangladesh. International Conference on Climate Change, Washington, DC USA, March 2017. Pitakotte, Sri Lanka: The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM). doi: 10.17501/iccc.2017.1201
Thesis
Akber, Md. Ali (2022). Sustainability pathways for coastal aquaculture in Southeast Asia. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/26d80d3
Research Reports
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2025). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #11. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2025). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #10. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2024). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #8. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2024). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #9. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2024). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #7. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2024). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #6. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #5. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #4. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Akber, Md. Ali and Mitchell, Jaquie (2023). ACIAR-SunRice-UQ public private partnership – project newsletter #3. Gatton, QLD Australia: Mekong Sustainable Rice.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #2. Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Mitchell, Jaquie, Wood, Shona and Akber, Md. Ali (2023). ACIAR in Vietnam - Connecting smallholder rice farmers to premium export markets. Hanoi, Vietnam: ACIAR Vietnam.
Mitchell, Jaquie and Akber, Md. Ali (2022). Mekong sustainable rice – project newsletter #1. 1 Gatton, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.