Associate Professor Craig Johns

Associate Professor

School of Economics

College of Business and Law

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Craig’s primary research interest is analysing agribusiness and agroforestry value chains and the resulting value chain improvement activities across the industry. He has global food experience from production to consumption from the perspective of both the private and public sectors. Craig has held roles as a general manager of a successful food production company, a program manager in charge of allocating national value chain funding and a senior business consultant delivering on international value chain projects.Since joining the University in 2011, Craig has been involved in international development projects in various agriculture, marine and forestry sectors across Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, PNG, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. His early training in food technology, quality management and business management, coupled with his appreciation for the roles of industry and government, enable him to understand key constraints and how industry development can lead to wider benefits for all stakeholders.Craig also holds the position of Post Graduate Program Director for the School of Economics and Public Policy and is the CEO of the University Agribusiness Advisory Board. All of these responsibilities have enabled Craig to improve engagement and interaction between the University and leading agribusiness companies for the benefit of research and teaching activities.

0030084798: Changing urban consumer behaviour and the role of different retail outlets in the food industry of Fiji Authored by: Johns C; Lyon P; Stringer R; Umberger W, ASIA PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL Published by: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Published: 2017

0030058691: Evaluating the outcomes of VCA-led improvement projects : a case study of an Australian prawn fishery Authored by: Johns CM; Kimber N; Howieson J; Lawley M, BRITISH FOOD JOURNAL Volume: 118 Issue: 12 Pages: 2997-3011 Published by: Emerald Group Publishing Limited Published: 2016

Date Position Institution name
2015 - ongoing CEO Agribusiness Advisory Board University of Adelaide
2011 - ongoing Associate Director of Agribusiness Innovation University of Adelaide
2007 - 2011 Senior Business Consultant, Food Chain Innovations Rural Solutions SA
2005 - 2007 Program Manager for Value Chains, Market Development National Food Industry Strategy
2001 - 2005 General Manager Australian Pure Fruits Pty Ltd
1995 - 2001 Food Technologist and Quality Manager Australian Pure Fruits Pty Ltd

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2024 Teaching Award SEPP Teaching Excellence Award for Team Teaching University of Adelaide Australia -
2024 Research Award Commendation for Grant Excellence for the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics University of Adelaide Australia -
2024 Teaching Award University Commendation for the Enhancement and Innovation of Student Learning University of Adelaide Australia -
2020 Award Executive Dean Award for Vision, Service, Culture, Excellence in External Engagement University of Adelaide Australia -
2019 Award Executive Dean Award University of Adelaide Australia -
2018 Award Pro Vice Chancellor Internationalisation Excellence Award University of Adelaide Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2012 - 2023 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
1993 - 1993 Flinders University Australia Honours Degree
1990 - 1992 Flinders University Australia Bachelor of Science Degree

Year Citation
2024 Johns, C., Nuberg, I., Paudel, N., Cedamon, E., Karki, R., Pandit, B., . . . Paudel, G. (2024). Enhancing livelihoods from improved forest management in Nepal (FST/2017/037). Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
2022 Mahony, I., Underhill, S., Schouten, C., Simos, T., Manley, M., Addinsall, C., . . . Stice, K. (2022). Pacific Agribusiness Research in Development Initiative Phase 2 - PARDI 2 (AGB/2014/057). Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
2022 Mahony, I., Underhill, S., Schouten, C., Simos, T., Manley, M., Addinsall, C., . . . Stice, K. (2022). Pacific Agribusiness Research in Development Initiative Phase 2 - PARDI 2 (AGB/2014/057). Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
2022 Dumbrell, N., O'Connor, P., Matthews, K., Johns, C., Maier, H., Umberger, W., . . . Cavagnaro, T. (2022). Carbon valorisation : Achieving a carbon neutral farming future in South Australia. University of Adelaide.
2022 Dumbrell, N., O'Connor, P., Matthews, K., Johns, C., Maier, H., Umberger, W., . . . Cavagnaro, T. (2022). Carbon valorisation : Achieving a carbon neutral farming future in South Australia. University of Adelaide.
2021 Wallace, H., Randall, B., Rantes, J., Nass-Komolong, B., Johns, C., Glencross, K., . . . Nagalevu, P. (2021). Enhancing value-added products and environmental benefits from agroforestry systems in the Pacific (FST/2014/067). Australia.
2021 Wallace, H., Randall, B., Rantes, J., Nass-Komolong, B., Johns, C., Glencross, K., . . . Nagalevu, P. (2021). Enhancing value-added products and environmental benefits from agroforestry systems in the Pacific (FST/2014/067). Australia.
2021 Wallace, H., Komolong, B., Nevenimo, T., Waaii, C., Hannett, D., Hannett, G., . . . Jones, K. (2021). Enhancing private sector-led development of the Canarium industry in PNG (FR2021-022). Bruce, ACT, Australia: ACIAR.
2021 Wallace, H., Komolong, B., Nevenimo, T., Waaii, C., Hannett, D., Hannett, G., . . . Jones, K. (2021). Enhancing private sector-led development of the Canarium industry in PNG (FR2021-022). Bruce, ACT, Australia: ACIAR.
2021 Blumfield, T., Daniels, P., & Johns, C. (2021). Improving returns from community teak plantings in the Solomon Islands (FST/2014/066). Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
2021 Blumfield, T., Daniels, P., & Johns, C. (2021). Improving returns from community teak plantings in the Solomon Islands (FST/2014/066). Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
2018 Blumfield, T., Daniels, G., Palmer, G., & Johns, C. (2018). Mid Term Report Improving teak plantings in Solomon Islands (FST/2014/066).
2018 Blumfield, T., Daniels, G., Palmer, G., & Johns, C. (2018). Mid Term Report Improving teak plantings in Solomon Islands (FST/2014/066).
2017 Wallace, H., & Johns, C. (2017). Annual Report Enhancing private sector-­led development of the Canarium
industry in PNG (FST/2014/099).
2017 Wallace, H., & Johns, C. (2017). Annual Report Enhancing private sector-­led development of the Canarium
industry in PNG (FST/2014/099).
2017 Wallace, H., & Johns, C. (2017). Annual Report Enhancing value added products and environmental benefits from agroforestry systems in the Pacific (FST/2014/067).
2017 Wallace, H., & Johns, C. (2017). Annual Report Enhancing value added products and environmental benefits from agroforestry systems in the Pacific (FST/2014/067).
2015 Underhill, S., & Johns, C. (2015). Final Report Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative (PARDI) (AGB/2008/004).
2015 Underhill, S., & Johns, C. (2015). Final Report Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative (PARDI) (AGB/2008/004).

Year Citation
2023 Johns, C. (2023). Exploring consumer-driven food value chain and market opportunities in Pacific SIDS countries. (PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide).

Year Citation
2024 Nepali, B., Johns, C., & Jackson, T. (2024). Exploring the Potential of Agriculture Diversification as a Pathway to Improved Smallholder Livelihood Dietary System in Nepal.
DOI

0001038052: ACIAR - Grant: Promoting sustainable agriculture and agroforestry to replace unproductive land-use in Fiji and Vanuatu; Years: 2014-2015; Johns, Craig Michael; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $3,000

0001038589: ACIAR - Grant: Improving livelihoods and economic progress through rehabilitation of degraded catchments in Fiji and Vanuatu; Years: 2014; Johns, Craig Michael; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $2,400

0001040437: ACIAR - Grant: Enhancing private sector-led development of the canarium industry in Papua New Guinea; Years: 2015-2017; Johns, Craig Michael; Wallace, Helen; Simos, Theo; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $473,291

0006000040: ACIAR - Grant: Enhancing value added products and environmental benefits from agroforestry systems in the Pacific; Years: 2015-2019; Johns, Craig Michael; Ahmed, Sharmina; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $456,955

0006000129: ACIAR - Grant: Improving Returns from Community Teak Plantings in Solomon Islands ; Years: 2016-2019; Johns, Craig Michael; Blumfield, Tim; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $79,000

0006005888: ACIAR - Grant: Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative Phase 2 - PARDI 2; Years: 2018-2020; Umberger, Wendy Jeanne; Johns, Craig Michael; Thomson, Lex; TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED: $119,870

Program Director for Master of Global Food and Agricultural Business and the Master of Agribusiness

Manager of the Centre for Global Food and Resources Internship program

Course Coordinator for AGRIBUS 7059 Experiences and Insights in Agrifood Systems

Course Coordinator for AGRIBUS 7041 Topics in Ag Bus

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor Digital technology adoption of SMEs in agri-food value chains Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Vu Xuan Hoanh Mai
2025 Principal Supervisor “Balancing Environmental, Economic and Social Tensions in Food Production Systems to Ensure Farm Resilience” Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with Doctorate Full Time Ms Lynda McDonald

Date Role Board name Institution name Country
2021 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Ag Institute Ag Institute South Australia Australia
2015 - ongoing Director Agribusiness Advisory Board University of Adelaide Australia

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