Danny Hunter

Danny Hunter serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research, University of the Sunshine Coast, and as a Principal Scientist with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (CGIAR). With over 25 years of international experience across 30+ countries—including 15 years residing in Asia and the Pacific—he leads multidisciplinary research on food systems, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

His academic credentials include:

• BSc, University of London
• MSc, University of Edinburgh
• PhD in Agriculture, University of Sydney
• Master of International and Community Development, Deakin University
• Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Imperial College London

Hunter specializes in planet-friendly school meals through integrated approaches linking biodiversity-rich school gardens to local agroecological food production and school-based food systems education. His work spans school meals, food systems, public procurement, regenerative agriculture, climate-biodiversity synergies, and rural development, aiming to strengthen school food environments for healthier diets and sustainable food systems.

He received the University of Sydney Faculty of Agriculture Alumni Award for Outstanding International Achievement (2011). The Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition (BFN) project he coordinated was named one of CGIAR's top innovations in 50 years.

Hunter has secured major funding from the European Union, ACIAR, AusAID, NZAID, and the Global Environment Facility. He co-authored the WHO/CBD report Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health (2016) and the School Meals Coalition Research Consortium’s White Paper (2023).

As Convener for the Pacific and leader of the Healthy Landscapes research program at the Alliance of Bioversity International, he focuses on food environment behavior, agrobiodiversity, and gender/youth inclusion within school meal systems.