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29 July 2022
Good day friends and alumni
We hope the end of this month finds you well, and are eagerly anticipating many exciting things coming up on our calendar!
Enjoy these brief news snippets and invitations to upcoming events.
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UKZN Marks World Environment Day with Save Soil Initiative
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At a celebration of World Environment Day at UKZN, hosted by UKZN InQubate in partnership with Conscious Planet, several UKZN Agriculture staff and alumni took part in a programme designed to create awareness around climate change contributors.
The event examined soil desertification as one of the biggest threats to food security and economic stability.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (AES) Professor Albert Modi...noted how agriculture was an important part of livelihoods and how the degradation of soil, loss of ecosystems and organic matter had impacted on that negatively.
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[Alumnus] Dr Brigid Letty of the Institute of Natural Resources...discussed the linkages of rangelands, livestock and soil. Drawing on past experiences in projects that her organisation was involved in, Letty gave examples of initiatives that promoted reducing soil loss, building soil carbon and improving the livelihoods of people.
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[Another alumnus] General Manager of AGT Cover Crops & Forages Mr Simon Hodgson evaluated the use of soil and the future of farming as a business. Commenting on the importance of investing in long-term soil health and biodiversity as a necessity, he listed the negative impacts of agricultural farming as: erosion, compaction, reduced biodiversity, decreased water infiltration, decreased water holding capacity, nutrient mining, pollution of groundwater, and increased pest pressure.
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UKZN’s Chair of Agronomy and Rural Development Professor Paramu Mafongoya examined the significance of soil health and soil security in the drive to realise the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Inaugural Lecture Focuses on Ruminant Nutrition
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Professor of Animal Science Ignatius Nsahlai shared his decades of experience in assessing ruminant nutrition at his inaugural lecture on the nature of diet intake by ruminants, unpacking useful models to estimate the energy available to livestock from their nutrition.
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Internationally recognised for his research and teaching in livestock production, Nsahlai’s presentation captured significant milestones in his research career, focusing on three studies where he examined Digestible Organic Matter (DOM) intake as a proxy for dietary available energy. With his research team, he developed a model to estimate DOM intake by sheep, that suggests that animals from the hot, humid tropics may have decreased maintenance needs and/or highly efficient usage of metabolisable energy.
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Masters Graduate Presents Research to the Seed Industry
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Master’s graduate in Crop Science Ms Sithembile Kunene was one of eight students selected from around South Africa to present their research at the South African National Seed Organization (SANSOR) Annual Congress.
The only UKZN representative chosen to present after entering SANSOR’s research poster competition, Kunene’s work for her master’s degree comprised an evaluation of Bambara groundnut genotypes for drought tolerance and yield performance using agro-morphological and physiological traits.
The leguminous plant that originated in West Africa provides balanced nutrients and can play a role in improving food security when included in diets of low-income groups as it is a cheap source of protein, carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids. Its resistance to climate change and drought, and the fact that it does not need fertilisers to produce a good yield, make it suitable for production in low-input agricultural production systems, such as those of smallholder farmers. It also fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, improving soil health.
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UKZN Students and Alumnus Among M&G Top 200 Young South Africans
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Four UKZN students and an alumnus of the University are included in the Mail&Guardian 2022 Top Young South Africans list, a prestigious initiative that recognises future leaders.
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PhD candidate in Crop Science Ms Anne Chisa’s transdisciplinary research adopts a biophysical and social science approach. Her podcast series, The Root of the Science Podcast that she founded during the COVID-19 pandemic to profile diverse, accomplished African scientists and promote careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among young Africans has been nominated for a science, technology and innovation award from the Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists.
Dr Nomali Ngobese is the Deputy Head of the Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology at the University of Johannesburg. She completed all of her degrees at UKZN, and her PhD in bioresources systems investigated the suitability of nine European potato cultivars cultivated in South Africa for processing into frozen French fries.
A plant physiologist, Ngobese is passionate about linking her knowledge of indigenous plants to social development and enhanced food security. She aims to highlight underutilised crops and the potential of unconventional plants as alternative food sources and drivers of economic development for rural communities. Her research has investigated the nutritional value of plants like monkey oranges and wild mangoes, using scientific evidence to promote their commercialisation and the use of postharvest processing technologies to extend the shelf-life of popular crops. She is also investigating agricultural practices that will improve crop yields and nutritional value, focusing on potatoes.
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UKZN's World Environment Day 2022 Video
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UKZN’s World Environment Day 2022 event at its Pietermaritzburg campus was a true celebration of the earth, focusing on the issue of soil desertification, which threatens food security, potentially leading to famines and civil strife. Academic and business leaders at the event called for a focus on supporting smallholder farmers and technologies focusing on soil health.
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Fifth Ukulinga Howard Davis Memorial Symposium - First Call for Submissions
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It has been three years since we last gathered at UKZN’s Ukulinga Research Farm for the Ukulinga Howard Davis Memorial Symposium and we are pleased to confirm that this event is going ahead once again in 2022!
This year we are partnering with the Adaptation Network and the event will incoporate the Southern African Adaptation Colloquium.
The theme of the event is Small Scale Farmers and Climate Change Adaptation and the Symposium will be held on 12, 13 and 14 October 2022, with further details on the programme to follow.
We welcome participation through submission of an abstract for an oral, poster, practical or creative presentation if your work has relevance to this theme and the areas mentioned in the attached, and also invite you to participate simply through attendance or even through an exhibit if your organisation is doing work relevant to this topic.
Please make submissions to Christine for inclusion in the programme or exhibits by 31 August 2022.
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Workshop: Mainstreaming indigenous fruit trees and food crops for building resilient food systems
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Interest in indigenous fruit trees and food crops has increased in recent years, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where water has become severely scarce. The promotion of indigenous fruit trees and food crops in water-scarce regions is motivated by the fact that they are adapted to local harsh climatic conditions and offer more ecologically friendly forms of agriculture. Yet, the major commercial crops are increasingly becoming less resilient to worsening climatic conditions. Previous research by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and its strategic partners has shown that indigenous fruit trees and food crops are nutrient-dense, use less water, and contribute to food and nutrition security. Given the need to increase food production by 50% by 2050 under climate change and population growth, current major food crops may not be able to meet projected future food demand. Thus, the need to develop innovative strategies that broaden the current food basket and contribute to future food security in water-scarce regions.
Date: 26 August 2022
Time: 09:00-16:00
Venue: Research Conference Centre, University of Venda
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53rd South African Society for Animal Science Congress Comes to Pietermaritzburg
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After a 3 year absence, come and reconnect with your friends and colleagues again, meet new colleagues and network, make new friends and networking connections at the 53rd SASAS Congress in the KZN Midlands from 26-28 September 2022.
The KZN Midlands is well known for livestock production off pasture, particularly dairying. Cedara in the KZN Midlands specialises in Livestock Production of cultivated pastures, most significantly dairying on pasture. The University of KwaZulu-Natal, in Pietermaritzburg, has a reputation for Poultry and Animal Science Research as well as Pasture and Veld Management Research.
The theme of the congress is:
Changing paradigms in livestock production – confronting a new reality.
Our world has been changing ever faster with global warming and then the upheaval of the pandemic and the influence of social media. Global warming is making an impact on our continent, and according to ILRI by 2050 heat stress induced by climate change may drastically alter livestock production in Africa.
The congress will focus on some of these issues, with international experts invited to speak on these issues. International experts have been invited to address some of these issues at the congress.
The congress will be a hybrid event incorporating in-person attendance with live-streaming only of the main venue. Parallel sessions will be available on the virtual platform for viewing at your leisure. Parallel sessions will not be live-streamed due to the costs involved.
Invited speakers include:
Dr John Roche, the chief scientific advisor to the Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand, on critical issues facing livestock production. John was a regular speaker at the SA Large Herds Conference.
Dr Gavin Whitelaw of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum on the “Early Farmers in KwaZulu-Natal: the archaeological evidence”. Those of you who watched the documentary series Shoreline will remember Gavin.
Johann Zietsmann, a livestock consultant on Cattle Production off Veld, based in Zimbabwe, who will speak on; Livestock production on veld: Challenging conventional wisdom. Johann studied at the University of Pretoria under Professor Jan Bonsma, and graduated with a BSc (Agric) in Animal Science in the early 1970s. He then he started farming in Zimbabwe. He has extensive experience as a hands-on cattleman and consultant. He is currently based in Chinhoyi in Zimbabwe where he runs his consultancy. He regularly travels to South Africa, other parts of Africa and the world to help cattle farmers achieve optimal veld management and cattle production and achieve maximum, sustainable profit per hectare. Johann now farms in Zambia and for the last 10 years has been consulting in the USA and Latin America (mainly Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador).
Prof Norman Maiwashe of the ARC at Irene will address the issue of breeding adapted livestock for production off veld alone with a paper on “Practical application of BLUP/EBV’s in grazing livestock systems”.
Dr Florence Nherera-Chokuda, the CEO of NERPO will touch on the constraints and challenges involved in improving rural/communal livestock production.
Dr S Mbizeni from UNISA will discuss the potential impact of increasing environmental temperatures on the geographical expansion of existing diseases, the re-emergence of old diseases, such as Nagana in KZN, and the potential for new emerging diseases to South Africa with global warming.
Prof Neil Duncan, formerly from Onderstepoort will address the issue of Biosecurity in the livestock industry, as the disease challenges are expected to increase with climate change.
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Save the Date for UKZN's Postgraduate Research & Innovation Symposium
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The Postgraduate Research and Innovation Symposium (PRIS) is one of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science's (CAES) flagship initiatives whereby it gives its postgraduate students an opportunity to showcase their research work. Students at master's and doctoral levels present their research findings (in either an oral or poster presentation), giving members of both the university and the public an opportunity to learn more about the College and its research endeavours.
The College awards the best presenters according to the scientific content, its applicability and impact on society. In addition, the industry partners are able to exhibit their services (products, scholarships, bursaries) to our students. PRIS also gives industry and research institutions a platform to participate as judges.
CAES hosted the first PRIS in 2012 which was held at John Bews Lecture Complex on the Pietermaritzburg campus. There were 36 oral presentations and 31 poster presentations with an overall attendance of over 100 attendees. Over the years the event has grown in popularity and in 2019, there were 60 oral presentations and 190 poster presentations with an overall attendance of 800 attendees.
In 2020, CAES hosted the first successful online PRIS event which culminated over 2 days (10 and 11 December). There were 60 oral presentations, 135 flash presentations with and overall 1009 registered attendees.
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Potatoes SA's bursary call is open to:
- South African citizens
- Studying in the agricultural fields of: Agronomy, Plant Production, Soil Science, & Agricultural Production
- Undergraduate studies: eligible from the second year of study
- Postgraduate studies: Honours, Master's and PhD with a potato-related topic
Application forms are available here.
Applications close on 31 October 2022 for the 2023 academic year.
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