Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 February 2025
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic / International
About the research project
Corporate sustainability is a growing issue for investors who seek not only economic profit but also social good. There are 3 pillars of corporate sustainability: environmental, social responsibility, and economic. Companies can improve their environmental sustainability, for example by reducing their carbon footprint or wasteful practices. Social responsibility needs practices to benefit the company's employees, consumers, and the wider community. Economic (or governance) responsibility requires honest and transparent accounting practices and regulatory compliance. Whilst individual companies have a key role to play in ensuring their corporate sustainability across all 3 pillars, governments also have a significant role, not just in regulation but also in facilitating good practice and opportunities. Tasmania is uniquely placed to provide this sort of leadership for Australia, given that Tasmanian seafood production accounts for approximately 1/3 of the value of the seafood sector nationally.
The sustainability premise behind the circular economy model (CE) is that any byproducts or waste from a particular production process should be utilised as much as possible. For example, most fish processing will produce offal trimmings, frames, skins and even blood. These scraps can be used in a variety of other products, perhaps as ingredients in fertiliser and pet food, or maybe as much more expensive product ingredients such as collagen, calcium or blood protein. Waste from seaweed and microalgae aquaculture can be repurposed for pigments, biofuels, fibre or bioplastics and biodegradable packaging. The potential for the marine bioproducts in the circular economy is significant.
However, although for most primary production streams it is possible to identify many CE opportunities and benefits, in practice it is not always easy to capture these. Not all companies are in the position to diversify and directly take advantage of the full value-chain for their by-products. Hence, they often rely on identifying partners and investors that have an interest in their specific waste streams, and experience has shown that this can be challenging, time, and can significantly slow the development of regional CEs. Strong local partnerships are generally the best outcome and the most sustainable model for a CE, reducing holding and transport costs by building the flow of products and skills at a regional level.
It may be that governments can play a role in supporting CE lifecycle planning, and even market development through generation of interest in product/production investment and through CE supportive policies. As noted in 2022 by Ernst and Young (Dec 2022) the maturity of CE regulations varies greatly... it is imperative for companies to adapt to the growing regulatory requirements", and they go on to note that government action is required to help facilitate this. Key to this is having a clear understanding of the business proposition and the gaps. This needs integrated business planning to understand the market gaps and opportunities i.e. i) relevant feedstock providers, ii) waste streams and valorisation potential, iii) supporting/demonstrating sustainability improvements and credentials, iv) supporting local processing capabilities and seeking to address gaps and v) supporting market development needs.
In 2023, Minister Plibersek stated "The transition to a circular economy will need new ways of thinking and new ways of working" and in Tasmania, there are currently a number of commercial initiatives underway that seek to add value to Tasmanian aquaculture and seafood production wastes. This project will use Tasmania as a case study to look specifically at the elements needed to support a viable circular economy for the Tasmanian seafood and aquaculture sector. It will undertake a business viability analysis for the current production waste streams outlining what is available, and the potential product/market opportunities for those streams (Business Case for Existing Production - Aim 1). It will look at what capabilities already exist to support those CE value chains in Tasmania (i.e. processing, product development and markets), where the gaps are and what might be the most effective way to achieve the outcomes identified in the business case (Gap Analysis - Aim 2). it will identify the overall sustainability improvement from the proposed plan and provide a full value chain assessment of the risks and benefits for Tasmania (Characterise the Opportunity - Aim 3). It will then look at the governance and policy framework in the light of the business objectives and risks and benefits to provide recommendations on where attention might be needed and how to ensure a risks appropriate and supportive governance and policy framework for future investment (CE Governance Alignment - Aim 4). Finally, the project will summarise all of the activities as a template for a strategic planning tool for similar sector support and development elsewhere (CE Development Roadmap - Aim 5).
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Primary Supervisor
Funding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applications are open to domestic, international and onshore applicants.
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Honours degree in a related field e.g. aquaculture, resource management, financial accounting, resource economics.
- Understanding of sustainability as it relates to natural resource management.
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Understanding of current sustainability financial reporting expectations and frameworks.
- Understanding of aquaculture and related industries in Australia and their development opportunities.
- Interest in sustainability as that relates to marine resource management.
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Prof Maree Fudge to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 February 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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