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15 December 2022
Hello friends and alumni
The year has accelerated to its end and has been a positive one for the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UKZN. From celebrating decades of life spent dedicated to training the next generation of agricultural scientists, to welcoming a record number of delegates to our Ukulinga Howard Davis Memorial Symposium, to having our staff contribute their expertise to international institutions, events and national strategies, we've had a lot to be excited about.
2023 is shaping up to a bumper year, and we look forward to sharing with you much of what lies ahead.
We wish you a safe and restful festive season, and thank you for your ongoing support and interest in Friends of UKZN Agriculture.
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Small-Scale Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change Focus of Agricultural Symposium
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UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science partnered with The Adaptation Network to host the fifth Ukulinga Howard Davis Memorial Symposium at the University’s Ukulinga Research Farm.
Focusing on the theme of Small-Scale Farmers and Climate Change Adaptation, the three-day event incorporated the annual Southern African Adaptation Colloquium and featured a variety of presentations from technical issues to topics involving agronomy, water resources management, innovative technologies, sustainability and farmers’ experiences.
First hosted in 2016, the symposium demonstrates theoretical and applied research carried out at UKZN’s Ukulinga Research Farm for the scientific community, agribusiness sector and farming community which facilitate the formation of relationships with agribusinesses and skill development and knowledge transfer for the benefit of emerging and current small-scale community-based farmers.
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The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science partnered with the Adaptation Network to host the fifth Ukulinga Howard David Memorial Symposium at the University’s Ukulinga Research Farm. Focusing on the theme of Small-Scale Farmers and Climate Change Adaptation, the three-day event incorporated the annual Southern African Adaptation Colloquium and featured presentations from the technical to the storytelling on topics related to agronomy, water resources management, innovative technologies, sustainability and farmers’ experiences.
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Fulbright Fellowship Sharpens Plant Pathology Professor’s Gene Editing Skills
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Professor Augustine Gubba of the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES) has spent a nine-month sabbatical at institutions in the United States (US) where he is strengthening research collaborations that will contribute the latest advances in gene-editing technologies to his research into developing plant virus resistance.
Gubba was awarded the Fellowship in 2019, however delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic prevented travel and meant he was only able to start the visit in March this year.
He has spent his time as a Fulbright Research Fellow with Professor Matthew Cuttule of Clemson University’s Coastal Research and Education Center (REC) and Dr Kaishu Ling of the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) at the US Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina.
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UKZN Hosts Quaternary Research Conference in St Lucia’s Wetlands
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UKZN hosted the 23rd Southern African Society for Quaternary Research (SASQUA) biennial conference in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso World Heritage Site.
About 60 delegates from China, Germany, France, Israel, Spain, the United States, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa attended the event at the St Lucia Ecolodge. A significant number of the participants were women and early career researchers.
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UKZN’s Dr Jemma Finch of the Discipline of Geography was the organising chair and co-host, assisting SASQUA president Dr Lynne Quick of the Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha.
‘It was a privilege for our lab to host the SASQUA community here in KwaZulu-Natal, and particularly in the St Lucia area, where we were shown geological evidence of Quaternary processes such as sea level fluctuation, dune formation, and discussed the evolution of the lake itself,’ said Finch.
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Herbal Bush Tea and its Potential Prospects Focus of Inaugural Lecture
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Dean and Head of the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UKZN, Professor Fhatuwani Mudau, used the occasion of his inaugural lecture into the professoriate to expound on his research into herbal teas, especially bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides DC.), and its potential prospects for future industrialisation.
Mudau, who has been researching herbal tea production and the biochemistry of herbal bush tea in South Africa for the past 18 years, focused on its biochemistry, agronomic practices and medicinal properties.
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Our Food. Our Heritage. Our Health.
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As the latest presenter in the popular “What Do Scientists Do” series hosted online by UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, food security specialist, Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi discussed how increasing the production of indigenous crops could aid in the alleviation of hunger.
Mabhaudhi is an Honorary Research Fellow and Co-Director of the Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems (CTAFS) at UKZN, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
Mabhaudhi’s work entails research development, capacity building, civil society, academia, the public and private sectors as well as building partnerships with various communities. The water-energy-food nexus, global environmental change as well as sustainable and resilient food systems are the subjects of his multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. His objective is to conduct dynamic, transformative research and development that has real-world effects on poor communities and informs policy.
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Prof Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi delivers a public lecture on: Our Food, Our Heritage, Our Health. This is part of our Public Lecture Series that sheds light on what scientists do.
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Leading Mycologist Delivers Guest Lecture at UKZN
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Professor Anne Pringle, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the Departments of Botany and Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, visited UKZN to deliver a guest lecture on invasive mycorrhizal fungi as part of her Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute.
Pringle, who was raised in Southeast Asia and West Africa, completed her studies at the University of Chicago and Duke University. She secured a fellowship at the University of California, joining Harvard University before moving to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Pringle has given over 100 invited talks all over the world and has received several awards recognising her excellence in teaching and research. A past President of the Mycological Society of America, her work has been featured in publications including The New York Times.
Co-ordinated by an honorary researcher at UKZN and the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research Dr Bernice Bancole, Pringle’s presentation gave students and researchers in agriculture, forestry and plant pathology insight into mycorrhizal fungi and their role in enabling the growth of certain plants, and in themselves becoming an invasive epidemic.
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Campus-Based Forestry Research Institute Celebrates 75 Years
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This year (2022) marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR), situated on UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg campus where it was first established in 1947 as the Wattle Research Institute in the heart of South Africa’s most cultivated forest region of KwaZulu-Natal.
In 1984, it was renamed ICFR to reflect the broader research focus encompassing all three commercially planted genera, namely Acacia, Eucalyptus and Pinus.
The ICFR was the first forestry research centre in the country, with a major accomplishment being the development of tree germplasm for commercial farmers.
As a non-profit organisation, the ICFR provides project-based research solutions and related services in support of forest management in southern Africa. A dynamic institution, the Institute has evolved to meet the needs of the changing South African forestry sector and focuses on providing research capability and applied research solutions to various funding consortia, addressing sustainable production and tree improvement objectives. The ICFR works closely with other research institutes, universities, and research partners to achieve its goals.
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Prestigious SAYAS Membership for SAEES Academic
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Professor Asanda Mditshwa is among 10 young academics admitted to the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS).
Mditshwa of the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Fort Hare and specialised in post-harvest physiology during his postgraduate studies. He completed his MScAgric at UKZN followed by a PhD in Horticultural Science through Stellenbosch University. He also graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from UKZN with distinction and his commitment to teaching was recognised through the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Department of Higher Education and Training’s Future Professors Programme.
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UKZN Provides Vital Expertise to National Faecal Sludge Management Strategy
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Weighing in on Durban's Water Disaster
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Alumnus and honorary research fellow at UKZN Dr Mark Graham, Director at GroundTruth Consulting, was interviewed in October as part of a Carte Blanche episode on Durban's water disaster.
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What's Happening at COP15?
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For excellent insights into what's happening at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montréal, you can get daily, bite-size, succinct summaries by following Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management (AERRM) alumnus and guest lecturer Dr Kiara Worth on her Facebook or Instagram channels. Kiara is working with the IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin team covering the Rio Conventions Pavilion, focused on addressing the interlinked challenges of land degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss.
Kiara also provided excellent coverage of the recent COP27 in Egypt - you can find those posts on her social media channels too.
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UKZN Touch 2022 Profiles Agricultural Engineering Alumnus
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Have a read of this year's edition of the UKZN Touch alumni magazine, which includes details of UKZN's work on developing resilience to natural disasters and a profile of Agricultural Engineering alumnus and Head of Agriculture (Africa) for Westfalia Fruit, President of the South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers, and non-executive director of the SA Avocado Growers Association Thabo Mavundza.
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Mark Laing Retires After Four Decades at UKZN
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Mark’s education began at Umtali Junior School in Mutare, Zimbabwe, after which he attended the prestigious St George’s College in Harare where his strengths were academics, tennis, table tennis, chess, hockey, debating and woodwork.
Mark enrolled at the University of Natal in 1977 to study biological sciences, encountering the discipline of Plant Pathology where he would make his mark, and serving on the Student Representative Council for two terms and as the President of the Science Students Council for two terms. He completed his Honours in 1980.
Mark began lecturing at the then-University of Natal in 1982 and was appointed a lecturer in 1984. He completed his PhD in 1996 and was promoted to senior lecturer, attaining the rank of Associate Professor in 1998, and Professor and Chair of Plant Pathology in 2000, succeeding Professor Frits Rijkenberg.
Mark has published extensively in the field (over 380 research items and publications) with research interests ranging from biocontrol of pathogens, pests, and nematodes to plant breeding and near-infra-red analysis.
He uses plant breeding, biological control, and silicon fertiliser to manage diseases, pests, and parasitic weeds. His research has extended to animal health, on using bacteriophages to control mastitis, and plant extracts and biocontrol agents to manage liver flukes and gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants.
Mark was among the Top 30 UKZN Researchers in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Mark’s research has been characterised by collaborations and he has supervised postgraduate students from Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Congo, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, India, and South Africa.
Mark is the holder of two full patents and has had two provisional patents granted.
In 1998, together with Dr Mike Morris, Mark founded Plant Health Products (now Andermatt-PHP – a subsidiary of a subsidiary of the global Andermatt Biocontrol based in Switzerland) that develops unique, easy-to-use products based on beneficial fungi and bacteria at factories in Nottingham Road and the Dargle.
Mark served as founder and director of the African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI), established with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and then the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to train the next generation of plant breeders in Africa.
In 2018 Mark was an editor of a publication charting the ACCI’s journey – it has graduated 128 plant breeders at PhD level; these graduates have released over 400 new crop varieties bred to be high yielding and resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses and published over 400 publications. It has also graduated 23 MSc students and mentored 6 postdoctoral fellows.
Mark has trained more than 160 MSc and PhD students, and over 120 Honours students.
In 2022, Mark was elected a Fellow of the South African Society for Plant Pathology (SASPP) – he has been a member of the SASPP since 1983 when he was a postgraduate student and has assisted with redrafting the SASPP constitution and regulations and served as Regional Branch Chair for KZN for 13 years, and President for five years.
For over 40 years Mark was a dedicated partner and spouse to David Moon, who passed away in May 2019.
He co-founded a medicinal plants company (Imiti (Pty) Ltd) and was recently elected as Chairman of the Pietermaritzburg and District Council for the Aged, which manages six retirement facilities in Pietermaritzburg.
His great passion is golf, with a handicap down to 9 in 2022.
Mark is taking the next phase of life in his stride – he has become a vocal advocate for action on the climate crisis, giving presentations on the topic to professional scientific societies, environmental groups, and schoolchildren.
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The Continent's Agricultural Economists are Coming to Durban
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The president of the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE), jointly with the president of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), invites submissions for the 7th African Conference of African Agricultural Economists and the 60th AEASA Conference 2023 to be held from September 18-21, 2023 in Durban, South Africa.
These submissions may include full Contributed Papers and Organised Symposia. The theme of the conference will be; THROUGH CRISIS: BUILDING RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS IN AFRICA. The deadline for all submissions is March 7, 2023.
Corresponding authors will be informed of the outcome of the review and selection process by June 6, 2023. The final call for paper schedule can be downloaded from the Conference website.
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Agricultural Economics Graduate Opportunity
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SA Canegrowers, in partnership with AgriSETA, have a great opportunity for Graduate Agricultural Economists in Eston or Noodsberg, KwaZulu-Natal.
The Graduate will work alongside the Regional Services Staff Member and assist small-scale growers with business skills and economics, whilst promoting the financial products available for farm workers and assist with administrative activities.
Graduate Requirements:
 Cannot have benefited from NASFAS funding
Cannot have benefited from any AgriSETA-funded opportunity
 Completed BCom or BSc in Agricultural Economics
Masters and Honour graduates are preferable
Matric-level Core Mathematics
A valid driver’s license with driving experience is essential
Basic computer literacy
Language preference – isiZulu
Excellent numerical skills
If you have a strong desire to work in an agricultural environment, have good verbal and written communication skills, are a team-player, and can meet strict reporting deadlines, then this opportunity may be for you!
If you are interested, please email your CV, academic results and Senior Certificate to executive.pa@sacanegrowers.co.za and clearly indicate which area you are interested in –Noodsberg or Eston.
Closing date for applications: 3 January 2023
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Vacancy: Postdoctoral Researcher: Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Services and Climate Change (10-month fixed-term appointment)
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The Remote Sensing and the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) groups within the Schools of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Life Sciences at UKZN's Pietermaritzburg Campus are pleased to announce a fixed-term Post-Doctoral Fellowship. The overall objective of the fellowship is to develop integrated research on ecosystem services and climate change effects using remotely sensed datasets and approaches. The focus will be climate-induced heat stress, and how this may be mitigated, within the urban/peri-urban/rural continuum in municipalities. We seek to appoint a dynamic, innovative, and self-motivated professional with a strong background in the adoption of optical and thermal Remote Sensing on urban and peri-urban landscape ecology, urban micro-climate and climate change. The candidate is expected to work in a multidisciplinary environment, supporting postgraduate students and publish research findings in accredited journals. As part of our transdisciplinary team, the successful candidate will be exposed to exciting research challenges and get many opportunities to foster their career growth through innovative solutions. An appointment will be on a 10-month fixed-term contract, but this may be renewed subject to additional funding being secured and satisfactory performance.
The successful applicant will be expected to engage in full-time postdoctoral studies under the supervisory team.
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in Environmental Science, Geography, Remote Sensing/GIS, Ecology, Land/Natural Resources Management, with strong evidence of remote sensing of climate in urban landscapes.
- Analytical GIS and or Remote Sensing with basic programming skills.
- A proven research record as evidenced by some recent publications in peer-reviewed ISI/DHET rated journals.
- Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
- The candidate must have completed his/her PhD within five years of the appointment being made.
The fellowship is funded by the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) grant from the Wellcome Trust, for 10 months, worth R230 000 (R23 000 per month).
Candidates who are self-motivated, rigorous, and responsible with a track record showing ability to conduct independent research and publications in reputable journals are encouraged to apply. The closing date for receipt of applications is 15 December 2022, however, this advert will remain open until the position is filled. Please send your applications to Precious Nciliba - Email: ncilibap@ukzn.ac.za
Enquiries and details regarding the post may be directed to Prof. John Odindi at email: Odindi@ukzn.ac.za Tel: +27 33 260 5539
This appointment will be made in line with the University Guidelines/benchmarks which are available on the University Vacancies website at http://vacancies.ukzn.ac.za/Academic-Process-Proc-Guides.aspx
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