Jagjit Plahe

I am strongly committed to excellence in teaching and have continuously developed new and innovative approaches to inspire students to learn more, to work diligently and to genuinely enjoy their experience at Monash. My curriculum materials allow students to develop a comprehensive understanding of social justice, egalitarianism and sustainability. My unit evaluations attest to my commitment to excellence in teaching. In recognition of my contribution to teaching, in 2009, 2011 and 2016, I was a recipient of the Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Teaching.

In relation to postgraduate supervision, I have supervised fourteen Masters students, and two doctoral students to completion. I am currently supervising one Masters and two doctoral students.

I am currently Cheif Examiner for the following subjects: 

International Trade Policy: MGF5730

International Institutions and Organisations: MGF5760

I have a strong commitment to research and service that focuses on global justice, egalitarianism and sustainability. In the area of business and management, my main research focus has been on the management and organisation of agri-food systems. I have developed expertise in the areas of international trade policy and food security, global agri-food production networks and the management and organisation of equitable and sustainable food systems. More recently I have focussed on postcolonial analysis of small farmers’ movements in the Asia Pacific. I have published in highly-reputable journals including Third World Quarterly, Journal of Contemporary Asia and South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies and The Contemporary Pacific.

I have demonstrated experience in leading and managing complex interdisciplinary research projects involving external partners in the area of equitable and sustainable food systems. I have been awarded two large grants by DFAT, for which I am the Primary Chief Investigator, totalling $584,326 to work on food security and sustainability in Asia; the first was in 2015, and the second, in 2016. In 2017, I received an ARC discovery grant of $257,000 to work on food security and the governance of local knowledge in India and Indonesia.

 As a public intellectual, I strongly believe in engaging in academic research which makes a demonstrable contribution to people, society and the environment. In all the academic research projects that I have worked on, I have done so collaboratively with community-based organisations. Currently I am working with NGOs and farmers’ movements in India, the Philippines, Kenya and the Pacific Island countries. I have written several policy papers collaboratively with NGOs from these countries.