Researcher biography
Thilak Mallawaarachchi, recently returned to the Group wholly, upon concluding his long and productive association with the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). His research encompasses economic, environmental and social aspects of resource management and focuses on using integrated modelling tools that link scientific data with economic frameworks to facilitate learning and problem solving.
His current work focuses on understaning the motives for adaptation under increasing uncertainty and examining viable pathways to improve agricultural productivity for enhanced food security in smallholder farming systems in east and southern Africa. he received the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society Ph.D award in 2001 for bioeconomic modelling combining mathematical programming and choice modelling. He has published widely on various resource policy issues including water, land use planning, land degradation and the use of choice modelling and geographical information systems for resource policy. Thilak's work in the Group helped extend the Murray-Darling Basin Model to examine adaptation patterns in irrigated farming systems facing reduced water availability in the Basin. Aim is to understand the production-environmental tradeoffs for Basin water uses under different institutional arrangements in particular water trading and salinity mitigation when water supplies are both uncertain and variable across the Basin. His Scopus page is here.
Publications
Book
Quiggin, John, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Chambers, Sarah (2012). Water Policy Reform: Lessons in Sustainability from the Murray–Darling Basin. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd..
Book Chapters
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Tessema, Yohannis Mulu, Loch, Adam and Asafu-Adjaye, John (2020). Economic assessment of no-till farming systems. No-till farming systems for sustainable agriculture: challenges and opportunities. (pp. 357-375) edited by Yash P. Dang, Ram C. Dalal and Neal W. Menzies. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-46409-7_21
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Harris, Michael (2014). Agricultural adaptation: observations and insights. Carbon pricing: early experiences and future prospects. (pp. 145-164) edited by John Quiggin, David Adamson and Daniel Quiggin. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781782547747.00023
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, McClintock, Anthea, Adamson, David and Quiggin, John (2012). Investment as an adaptation response to water scarcity. Water Policy Reform: Lessons in Sustainability from the Murray-Darling Basin. (pp. 101-128) edited by John Quiggin, Thilak Mallawaarachchi and Sarah Chambers. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781781000328.00018
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Adamson, David, Chambers, Sarah, Schrobback, Peggy and Quiggin, John (2012). Variability and uncertainty: implications for water policy impact analysis. Water Policy Reform: Lessons in Sustainability from the Murray-Darling Basin. (pp. 82-100) edited by John Quiggin, Thilak Mallawaarachchi and Sarah Chambers. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781781000328.00017
Journal Articles
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Rahut, Dil Bahadur (2023). Realising rural economic transformation: pathways to inclusive and sustainable prosperity in post-COVID-19 Asia. Economic Analysis and Policy, 77, 1076-1082. doi: 10.1016/j.eap.2023.01.009
Ejaz, Nauman and Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (2023). Disparities in economic achievement across the rural–urban divide in Pakistan: Implications for development planning. Economic Analysis and Policy, 77, 487-512. doi: 10.1016/j.eap.2022.11.023
Ross, Helen and Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (2022). Parochialism, politics and the planet. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 29 (1), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2022.2050100
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Nepal, Rabindra and Ross, Helen (2021). Meeting environmental objectives through energy sector reforms in Asia and the Pacific. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 28 (4), 305-313. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2021.1989009
Snow, Val, Rodriguez, Daniel, Dynes, Robyn, Kaye-Blake, William, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Zydenbos, Sue, Cong, Lei, Obadovic, Irena, Agnew, Rob, Amery, Nicole, Bell, Lindsay, Benson, Cristy, Clinton, Peter, Dreccer, M. Fernanda, Dunningham, Andrew, Gleeson, Madeleine, Harrison, Matthew, Hayward, Alice, Holzworth, Dean, Johnstone, Paul, Meinke, Holger, Mitter, Neena, Mugera, Amin, Pannell, David, Silva, Luis F.P., Roura, Eugeni, Siddharth, Prince, Siddique, Kadambot H.M. and Stevens, David (2021). Resilience achieved via multiple compensating subsystems: The immediate impacts of COVID-19 control measures on the agri-food systems of Australia and New Zealand. Agricultural Systems, 187 103025, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103025
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Auricht, Christopher, Loch, Adam, Adamson, David and Quiggin, John (2020). Water allocation in Australia's Murray–Darling Basin: managing change under heightened uncertainty. Economic Analysis and Policy, 66, 345-369. doi: 10.1016/j.eap.2020.01.001
Orton, Thomas G., Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Pringle, Matthew J., Menzies, Neal W., Dalal, Ram C., Kopittke, Peter M., Searle, Ross, Hochman, Zvi and Dang, Yash P. (2018). Quantifying the economic impact of soil constraints on Australian agriculture: a case study of wheat. Land Degradation & Development, 29 (11), 3866-3875. doi: 10.1002/ldr.3130
Law, Elizabeth A., Bryan, Brett A., Meijaard, Erik, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Struebig, Matthew J., Watts, Matthew E. and Wilson, Kerrie A. (2017). Mixed policies give more options in multifunctionaltropical forest landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54 (1), 51-60. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12666
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Nauges, Céline, Sanders, Orion and Quiggin, John (2017). State-contingent analysis of farmers’ response to weather variability: irrigated dairy farming in the Murray Valley, Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 61 (1), 36-55. doi: 10.1111/1467-8489.12193
Tessema, Yohannis, Asafu-Adjaye, John, Rodriguez, Daniel, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Shiferaw, Bekele (2015). A bio-economic analysis of the benefits of conservation agriculture: the case of smallholder farmers in Adami Tulu district, Ethiopia. Ecological Economics, 120, 164-174. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.10.020
Law, Elizabeth A., Meijaard, Erik, Bryan, Brett A., Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Koh, Lian Pin and Wilson, Kerrie A. (2015). Better land-use allocation outperforms land sparing and land sharing approaches to conservation in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biological Conservation, 186, 276-286. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.03.004
Law, Elizabeth A., Bryan, Brett Anthony, Meijaard, Erik, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Struebig, Matthew J. and Wilson, Kerrie A. (2015). Ecosystem services from a degraded peatland of Central Kalimantan: implications for policy, planning, and management. Ecological Applications, 25 (1), 70-87. doi: 10.1890/13-2014.1
Loch, A., Adamson, D. and Mallawaarachchi, T. (2014). Role of hydrology and economics in water management policy under increasing uncertainty. Journal of Hydrology, 518 (PA), 5-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.10.049
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (2010). Taxes and charges on nature’s bounties. EcoDate, 24 (4), 5-7.
Adamson, D., Mallawaarachchi, T and Quiggin, J. (2009). Declining inflows and more frequent droughts in the Murray-Darling Basin: Climate change, impacts and adaptation. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 53 (3), 345-366. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8489.2009.00451.x
Adamson, D., Mallawaarachchi, T. and Quiggin, J. (2007). Water use and salinity in the Murray-Darling Basin: A state-contingent model. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 51 (3), 263-281. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8489.2007.00380.x
Rolfe, John and Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (2007). Market-based instruments to achieve sustainable land management goals relating to agricultural salinity issues in Australia. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 14 (1), 27-34. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2007.9725147
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Morrison, Mark D. and Blamey, Russell K. (2006). Choice modelling to determine the significance of environmental amenity and production alternatives in the community value of peri-urban land: Sunshine Coast, Australia. Land Use Policy, 23 (3), 323-332. doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2004.11.004
Mallawaarachchi, T, Blamey, RK, Morrison, MD, Johnson, AKL and Bennett, JW (2001). Community values for environmental protection in a cane farming catchment in Northern Australia: A choice modelling study. Journal of Environmental Management, 62 (3), 301-316. doi: 10.1006/jema.2001.0446
Mallawaarachchi, T and Quiggin, J (2001). Modelling socially optimal land allocations for sugar cane growing in North Queensland: a linked mathematical programming and choice modelling study. Australian Journal of Agricultural And Resource Economics, 45 (3), 383-409. doi: 10.1111/1467-8489.00149
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Quiggin, John (2001). Modelling Socially Optimal Land Allocations For Sugar Cane Growing In North Queensland: A Linked Mathematical Programming And Choice Modelling Study. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 45 (3), 411-436.
Walker, Paul A and Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (1998). Disaggregating Agricultural Statistics Using NOAA-AVHRR NDVI. Remote Sensing of Environment, 63 (2), 112-125. doi: 10.1016/s0034-4257(97)00130-2
Mallawaarachchi, T, Walker, PA, Young, MD, Smyth, RE, Lynch, HS and Dudgeon, G (1996). GIS-based integrated modelling systems for natural resource management. Agricultural Systems, 50 (2), 169-189. doi: 10.1016/0308-521X(95)00002-M
Conference Papers
Potgieter, Andries, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Ross, Helen (2012). Determining cropping patterns and intensities through the use of multi-temporal MODIS imagery for the Murray-Darling Basin, Queensland Australia. XXII International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Congress, Melbourme, Australia, 25 August - 1 September 2012. Melbourne, Australia: IPRS.
Beard, Rodney and Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (2011). Threshold effects and international environmental agreements. 18th Annual Conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, Rome, Italy, 29 June - 2 July 2011. Rome, Italy: European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
Adamson, D., Mallawaarachchi, T. and Quiggin, J. (2008). Declining inflows and more frequent droughts in the Murray-Darling Basin: Climate change, impact and adaption. 52nd Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society (AARES 2008), Canberra, Australia, 5-8 February, 2008.
Adamson, D., Mallawaarachchi, T. and Quiggin, J. (2007). Climate change and climate uncertainty in the Murray-Darling Basin. AARES 2007; 51st Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, Queenstown, NZ, 13-16 February 2007.
Adamson, David, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Quiggin, John (2006). State-contingent modelling of the Murray Darling Basin: implications for the design of property rights. The 50th Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, Sydney, 8-10 February, 2006.
Adamson, David, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Quiggin, John (2006). Climate Change, Water Availability and Adaptation in the Murray Darling Basin. 26th Conference of the International Association of Agricultural Economists, Gold Coast, 12–19 August 2006.
Adamson, David, Quiggin, John and Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (2005). Modelling basin level allocation of water in the Murray Darling Basin in a world of uncertainty. AARES 2005. 49th Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, Coffs Harbour, N.S.W., Australia, 7-11 February 2005.
Research Reports
Amede, Tilahun, Auricht, Christopher, Boffa, Jean-Marc, Dixon, John, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Rukuni, Mandi and Teklewold-Deneke, Tilaye (2017). A farming system framework for investment planning and priority setting in Ethiopia. ACIAR technical reports Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research ( ACIAR).
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Adamson, David, Hughes, Neal, O'Donnell, Christopher and Quiggin, John (2011). An economic analysis of the Impact of the National Water Initiative on the efficiency and productivity of water use, Report to Clinet, Risk and Sustainable Management Group, The University of Queensland.
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Adamson, David, Schrobbacck, Peggy and Quiggin, John (2011). An economic analysis of the impact of the national water initiative on the capacity and resilience of Australia’s water management regime : Report to Client. Brisbane, Qld., Australia: University of Queensland, School of Economics.
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Chambers, Sarah, Adamson, David and Schrobback, Peggy (2010). Economic analysis of diversion operations for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan: returns to irrigation under reduced water availability: a commission study for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: UQ Business School Commercial.
Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Hone, Simon, Adamson, David, Yainshet, Alasebu, Oliver, Mark, Kokic, Phil, Quiggin, John and Gooday, Peter (2008). Reduced water availability: impacts on agricultural activities and regional economies in the Murray Darling Basin. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
Adamson, D., Mallawaarachchi, T. and Quiggin, J. C. (2005). Modelling basin level allocation of water in the Murray-Darling Basin in a world of uncertainty, Murray-Darling Program Working Papers WPM05-1, Risk and Sustainable Management Group, 8 February 2005. Australia: The University of Queensland.
Working Papers
Loch, Adam, Adamson, David and Mallawaarachchi, Thilak (2013). Hydrology and Economics in Water Management Policy under Increasing uncertainty. Risk and Sustainable Management Group Working Papers. 156479. School of Economics, University of Queensland.
Adamson, David, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Quiggin, John (2007). Climate change and climate uncertainty in the Murray-Darling Basin. Risk and Sustainable Management Group. WP2M07. School of Economics, University of Queensland.
Adamson , David, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Quiggin, John (2006). Water use and salinity in the Murray-Darling Basin: a state-contingent model. Risk and Sustainable Management Group. WP5M06. School of Economics, University of Queensland.
Adamson, David, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Quiggin, John (2006). State-contingent modelling of the Murray Darling Basin: implications for the design of property rights. Risk and Sustainable Management Group Working Papers. 149856. School of Economics, University of Queensland.
Adamson, David, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Quiggin, John (2006). State-contingent modelling of the Murray Darling Basin: implications for the design of property rights. Murray-Darling Program Working Papers. WP2M06. School of Economics, University of Queensland.