You’re Invited!

Join us for the Annual Research Day of the Department of Animal Sciences!

Theme: The Future of Higher Education in Agriculture
Date: 14 November 2024
Time: 9:00 – 16:00
Location: Neelsie Cinema, Stellenbosch University Main Campus

Come explore innovative ideas and research that will shape the future of agricultural education. Engage with faculty, students, and industry experts as we discuss challenges, opportunities, and advancements in our field.

Highlights of the Day:

• Keynote speakers:
• Research presentations
• Panel discussions
• Networking opportunities

Your participation is vital to fostering a vibrant dialogue about the future of our discipline. We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP by: 7 November 2024 @ https://forms.office.com/r/NZDA35HwWF Contact: Talitha Mostert (talitha@sun.ac.za)

Let’s shape the future together!

If you want to keep up to date with literature in your field and find others working on similar work, look no further than Research Rabbit! Research Rabbit relies on linked data sets to find similar articles from other authors, and to showcase different citation networks of authors. It is easy to use as you only need to input an article’s title and get started with discovering your topic. This free tool is available here: https://www.researchrabbit.ai/

Research Assistant now launched on SU Library and Information Service Catalogue!
The Primo Research Assistant has launched on the SU Library catalogue. This tool enables users to research a topic, using the library and expanded resources to summarise the most pertinent information from five articles that can answer your question. It allows you to expand into more results and find more verified sources to assist in your research. Access this tool by logging in on the library catalogue (restricted to current SU staff and students only).

The Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) 2024 conference, held in Gqeberha from 9 to 11 September, saw remarkable contributions from Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agricultural Economics. Of the eleven awards presented, the Department walked away with five.

Mkhanyisi Tyelo received the award for the Best Master’s Thesis with his work on “The impact of livestock improvement on the South African economy: A policy analysis using a dynamic computable general equilibrium model”. He was supervised by Dr. Cecilia Punt, senior lecturer in the Department. His research offers significant insights into how livestock policy improvements can shape the future of South Africa’s agricultural economy.

The Department also received accolades for research published in leading professional journals. Marlise Piek (Bureau for Economic Research), Dieter von Fintel (Department of Economics, SU), and Johann Kirsten (Bureau for Economic Research and Professor in the Department) earned 2nd place for their paper “Impact of agricultural minimum wages on worker flows in South Africa,” published in the South African Journal of Economics. In Agrekon, the department’s strength was further highlighted, with Kandas Cloete (BFAP and research fellow in the Department), Anke Horing, and Siphe Zantsi (Agricultural Research Council) taking 2nd place for “Modelling the exiting of South African producers from commercial agricultural production – an agent-based model”. The 1st prize for the best paper in Agrekon was awarded to Jana-Mart van der Merwe (former student), Nick Vink (Emeritus Professor at the Department), and Kandas Cloete (BFAP and research fellow in the Department) for their paper on “The competitiveness of South African table grape exports in the European markets: Threats from Peru and Chile”. These research awards not only reflect the Department’s excellence in research but also highlight the Department’s collaborative research efforts.

The association also awarded the best research presented at the conference. For the poster “Evaluating AI’s Ability to Distinguish Accurate Climate Information from Distractors”, Luther Chipembere secured 2nd place in the category of Best Poster. It is worth noting that Luther was the sole author of this work, which is a remarkable achievement for a student who only recently graduated with a master’s in Agricultural Economics.

Lastly, AEASA also honours the best final-year students from each South African University offering Agricultural Economics degrees. This year, Christien Langenhoven received that award. Awards like these testify to the association’s commitment to nurturing young talent.

The department’s contributions underscore its pivotal role in shaping the future of agricultural economics, demonstrating its continued commitment to impactful research.

From L to R: Melissa van der Merwe (AEASA Past President and senior lecturer at SU), Johann Kirsten (BER and professor at SU), Luther Chipembere (postgraduate student), André Jooste (professor at SU), Christien Langenhoven (postgraduate student), Nick Vink (emeritus professor at SU), and Khwezi Mbongwe (postgraduate student)

Stellenbosch University was recently represented at two International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) regional Forums, in their capacity as a member of the IUCN Academy. The Academy, launched in September 2021, consists of a select group of seven global academic partners representing each continent who support the IUCN in the development of innovative and qualitative training in the broad field of nature conservation, taking a multidisciplinary and integrated approach on the topic. The Academy is one of IUCN’s initiatives to strengthen the mandate and contributions of biodiversity science to within the IUCN. Stellenbosch University, represented by Dist. Prof. Karen Esler (Dept. Conservation Ecology & Entomology), participates along with representatives from globally top-ranked universities – California University Berkley (USA), Cambridge University (Britain), University of Campinas (Brazil), Tsinghua University (China), ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and Australia National University (Australia).

The IUCN held its first Africa Forum in Kenya at the end of June 2024. This historically significant meeting was the first time African IUCN member governments, NGOs and research institutions collectively met to share their vision for nature conservation and to set a united agenda ahead of the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. Up to this point, a unified African voice on the global conservation agenda has not been possible. The regional Forum provided a first opportunity for Africa to forge collaborations, initiate stakeholder dialogue and to set and influence the global nature conservation agenda. This was a significant step for our vulnerable, yet biodiversity rich continent to rectify N-S imbalances in conservation agendas. In attendance was former South African Minister of Environment and former president of the IUCN, Vali Moosa. Significantly, he spoke about the need for our continent to reduce its dependency on foreign funding and to increase national contributions to conservation institutions and authorities. He recognized Africa’s precious biodiversity and rich human resources (including leading conservationists) as assets in this push to regain control. Financing was a recurrent theme throughout the meeting as were Joint solutions for people and nature; equity and justice, including stronger participation from local and indigenous peoples; climate change and links to sustainable and restorative agriculture. Of significance to our institution, where Conservation Ecology resides within the Faculty of Agrisciences, was a session on ‘Sustainable Agriculture and Ecosystem Restoration through Nature Based Solutions in Africa’. Traditionally, the IUCN and FAO have retained their separate agendas, but very clearly and importantly, these sectors now have an imperative to unite to ensure solutions for both people and biodiversity.

The second meeting was held in early September 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the 8th IUCN Asia Regional Conservation Forum, gathering around 600 conservation leaders under the theme “Reimagining Conservation in Asia: A Nature Positive Future”. As with the African event, the Academy presented a three-day dedicated ‘Learning Zone” event, designed to share knowledge and IUCN tools and inspire new thinking for nature and biodiversity conservation. At both learning zones, Prof. Esler presented a well-received talk on “How green spaces influence our wellbeing”.

The IUCN Regional Conservation Fora are held every four years across regions of the world and help to initiate a year-long process for IUCN Members to submit their motions on important conservation priorities for the respective regions. These are then taken to the IUCN World Congress (a quadrennial statutory IUCN event) where they are shared, debated and adopted, guiding the Strategic Vision for the Union. The next IUCN World Congress will take place in October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Photo: The Learning Zone received much attention in Bangkok; Stellenbosch University’s contribution was acknowledged in the closing ceremony of the Asia Regional Conservation Forum.

Written by Karen Esler, kje@sun.ac.za

Prof Pieter Gouws, Jacques Olivier and Michelle Gouws recently represented the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) at the Food Micro 2024 Conference held in Burgos, Spain, where their research was presented. The conference was hosted by the International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH) which discussed global, relevant topics in the field of food microbiology.

Various workshops were hosted at the conference, of which the CFS team attended the Microplastics & Microbiome Interaction sessions. Prof Adreja Rajkovic, from Ghent University in Belgium, hosted the session and facilitated insightful discussions on Microplastics as a vector for pathogens in the food chain, as well as its newly described influence on the development of antimicrobial resistance.

From left to right: Michelle Gouws (PhD Student), Jacques Olivier (MSc Student), Prof. Adreja Rajkovic (ICFMH President, Ghent University), Prof. Pieter Gouws (CFS, Stellenbosch University)

A workshop hosted by Prof Luca Cocolin and Joanna Aldred, shed light on publishing with Elsevier. The workshop was geared towards postgraduate students and young scientists. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in scientific writing was highlighted as one of the key concerns in publishing and brought valuable insights on the ethical use thereof.

Michelle Gouws (left) and Jacques Olivier (right) with the poster of MSc Graduate Karlene Lambrechts, Prof. Pieter Gouws and Dr. Diane Rip.

Three CFS posters were presented at the Conference:

1. Genetic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes from the fish industry in the Western Cape, South Africa using whole genome sequencing
2. The efficacy of metal-free photocatalysts for the solar-driven elimination of Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes from water
3. The influence of essential oil compounds in animal feed on the presence of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli after continued exposure to subtherapeutic antimicrobials within food production systems

The conference enabled dynamic conversations between academia, the food industry and international agencies such as the World Health Organization paving the way for future collaboration.

Highlights of the conference include learning about the latest science-based trends for safe food production as well as conversations regarding One-Health with keynote speaker, Prof Bruno González Zorn, who will now be visiting South Africa in September.

Article supplied by: Prof Pieter Gouws

From August 19 to 21, the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) had the privilege of hosting a delegation from Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), led by Prof. Rogerio Chiulele. The visit marked a significant step forward in the partnership between the two institutions, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on capacity building and research in food systems.

The partnership is already showing promising results, with co-supervised PhD students in agricultural economics. This collaboration is expected to expand into other agricultural disciplines, bolstered by UEM’s World Bank-funded Centre of Excellence and a mutual commitment to exploring areas of synergy.

During the visit, discussions focused on sustainable production systems for grains, small stock, livestock, wildlife, and vegetables in the region. Both institutions also identified areas of interest along the value chain, particularly in non-invasive food safety techniques and post-harvest technologies, which they aim to develop further. Additionally, the group explored opportunities for collaboration on agricultural policy and policy enablers to enhance market access and trade.

From left to right: Dr Williams, Prof Zavale, Prof Tchama, Prof Tivana and Prof Chiulele in the Food Science laboratory.

We extend our gratitude to the Centre for African Collaboration for funding the visit, which made these productive meetings possible. A special thank you also goes to UEM for their time, as well as their sponsorship of staff travel and accommodation, which contributed to a fruitful period of planning for future research and collaboration.

From 26 to 28 August 2024, the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) hosted a delegation from the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), marking a significant milestone in their ongoing collaboration. The visit was a pivotal moment to review and expand upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between SU and CCARDESA in October 2021.

CCARDESA, the research and development arm of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), is a key strategic partner for the University. The MoU, established for an initial period of five years, aligns with SU’s position as the top-ranked AgriScience institution on the African continent. With the MoU at its halfway mark, this visit served two primary purposes: to review the activities and achievements thus far and to explore opportunities for expanding the scope of collaboration.

Given that CCARDESA has become a crucial conduit for donor funds into the region, the visit also provided an opportunity to discuss how Stellenbosch University could position itself as a technical partner to access these funds, thereby enhancing its impact on agricultural research and development in Southern Africa.

The visiting delegation was led by Prof Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini, the Executive Director and Head of Mission at CCARDESA, accompanied by Mirjam Taapopi, the Environmental & Social Safeguards Officer. Their roles are instrumental in driving the strategic initiatives of CCARDESA across the SADC region. Prof Kennedy Dzama, Vice Dean of Research, Postgraduate Studies, and Innovation at the Faculty of AgriSciences, played a central role in the discussions and emphasised the importance of this partnership for SU.

Prof Dzama highlighted the mutual benefits of the collaboration, stating, “Through this partnership, SU is able to benefit from CCARDESA’s vast network in Southern Africa, and in so doing contribute to efforts to improve the agricultural sector in Africa, and to work towards ensuring food security and fighting poverty among the people of our continent. We will be striving to exchange scientific information, knowledge, innovation, and technologies that are ready to take to scale, and learn from each other in terms of development processes and lessons learned.”

The visit involved the entire Faculty of AgriSciences, underscoring the significance of CCARDESA as a strategic partner. The collaboration between SU and CCARDESA is expected to yield long-term benefits, including enhanced research collaboration, postgraduate training opportunities, and the development of large-scale grant initiatives.

This partnership aligns with Stellenbosch University’s broader mission and strategic plan, particularly its Africa initiative, which focuses on addressing African challenges through purposeful networks and relevant partnerships. The collaboration is expected to facilitate the transfer of research into policy and practice, contributing to sustainable agricultural development in the region.

As the relationship between SU and CCARDESA continues to strengthen, the focus will be on expanding the activities under the MoU. Key areas of collaboration include joint research and publications, exchange of scientific information, and capacity development through training and coaching. The visit set the stage for future projects that will leverage CCARDESA’s vast network in Southern Africa and enhance SU’s role in improving agricultural practices, ensuring food security, and combating poverty across the continent.

With the groundwork laid during the visit, both institutions are positioned to capitalise on upcoming opportunities, particularly in securing large pan-African grants that require robust partnerships. The ongoing collaboration promises to yield significant contributions to the agricultural sector in Southern Africa, aligning with the shared vision of fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

Article compiled by Precious Canham

Master’s student Jamie-Lee Carle, under the supervision of Professor Alison Leslie and Dr Katy Williams, and in collaboration with the Cape Leopard Trust, conducted a study on predicted leopard movement corridors in the Western Cape using a socio-ecological approach. The research involved camera trap surveys to verify whether leopards use these predicted corridors. Additionally, interviews with landowners were carried out to gain insights into local attitudes towards leopards and to identify potential threats to their survival in the area. Jamie-Lee recently presented her findings to the relevant landowners and stakeholders at her study sites. The results of her study not only confirmed that leopards are indeed using the predicted corridors but also highlighted significant threats, such as snaring and lethal predator control measures, which endanger leopards and other wildlife in these areas.

This project sought to establish a foundation for landowners and stakeholders to connect and engage in meaningful dialogue, addressing the challenges faced by landowners and exploring how they can be better supported by stakeholders and organisations like the Cape Leopard Trust, especially in areas of human-wildlife conflict. The feedback presentations to landowners serve as a crucial step in building trust and fostering meaningful relationships for future initiatives. Ultimately, these corridors must offer safe passage for leopards in a fragmented landscape, while simultaneously supporting the livelihoods of landowners.

Jamie-Lee will also be presenting her findings at the Southern African Wildlife Management Association conference in Namibia in October, courtesy of a travel grant awarded by the post graduate office of Stellenbosch University.

Photo 1. MSc student Jamie-Lee Carle showing locations of predicted leopard movement corridors across the Western Cape, South Africa

Photo 2. MSc student Jamie-Lee Carle presenting interview findings to the landowners she interviewed in Villiersdorp, Western Cape, South Africa.

Photo Above: left to right: Esmé Louw (HORT434 module coordinator and lecturer, Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University), Dr Keanu Martin (pre-harvest researcher, Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University), Schalk Reynolds (Marketing and Technical Manager, Philago SA), Dr Nigel Cook (Cook Horticultural (Pty) Ltd) and Dr Elke Crouch (Chair of the Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University).

Horticultural science is more than just cultivating crops; it’s a blend of science, art, and passion instilled in every undergraduate student at the Department of Horticultural Science. Access to quality resources is vital for nurturing this next generation of horticulturists. This past semester, the journey of each Horticulture 434 student was enriched by the receipt of sponsored copies of “Fundamentals of Temperate Zone Tree Fruit Production” (Editors Tromp, Webster & Wertheim, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 2005).

This textbook, a successor to the esteemed Dutch publication “Grondslagen van de Fruitteelt” (“Fundamentals of Fruit Production”) from 1976, features contributions from fruit researchers across the Netherlands, Belgium, and South Africa. Its comprehensive coverage of topics related to temperate pome and stone fruit production, spanning fundamental principles to applied methodologies, renders it a revered resource in the field.

Tailored to complement the rigorous curriculum of the HORT434 module, aimed at providing final-year students with a profound understanding of physiological principles behind pre-harvest horticultural practices, these textbook promises to enrich the academic experience of the students.

The sponsorship of these textbooks was made possible through the collaboration of Dr. Nigel Cook of Cook Horticultural (Pty) Ltd. and Philagro SA (Pty), a supplier of plant nutrition products to the South African agricultural industry. Their joint initiative ensured that each fourth-year Horticulture student received a copy of this invaluable resource, empowering them to delve deeper into the intricacies of fruit production.

The Department of Horticultural Science extends its gratitude to Dr Cook and Philagro SA for their support. This sponsorship not only underscores the department’s commitment to fostering industry-academia partnerships but also signifies a crucial investment in building human capacity for the fruit industry.

Article supplied by: Dr Esme Louw, Dr Elke Crouch
Photo credit: Kyra-Kay Rensburg; Hortgro

On Friday, 16 August 2024, the South African Wine Industry Professional Body (SAWIPB) hosted a successful Knowledge Donation Day at the L’Avenir Wine Estate. This event, designed to enrich the educational experience of students from Stellenbosch University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and Elsenburg Agricultural College, brought together future leaders of the wine industry in a day of learning, competition, and networking.

The highlight of the day was the Pruning Competition, where students showcased their skills and knowledge in viticulture. In a thrilling display of precision and expertise, a student from Stellenbosch University’s Department of Viticulture and Oenology claimed the top spot, taking first place with an outstanding performance. The competition was closely contested, with two students from Elsenburg College securing second and third places, respectively.

In addition to the competition, the Knowledge Donation Day featured insightful presentations from industry experts. Kachne Ross of SA Wine provided an overview of current trends and challenges in the wine industry, while Deborah Isaacs, a viticulturist at Anthonij Rupert Wines and an alumna of Elsenburg College, shared her journey from student to professional. Mabatho Selebeli from M3 Human Capital Management offered valuable advice on structuring a CV, career development and opportunities within the wine sector.

The event was made possible by the generous support of various sponsors, with a special thank you extended to L’Avenir Wine Estate for providing the venue. Their contribution ensured a successful and memorable day for all involved.

The Knowledge Donation Day proved to be an invaluable experience for the students, offering them a chance to connect with industry professionals and gain practical insights into their future careers. SAWIPB’s commitment to fostering the growth and development of the next generation of wine industry professionals was evident throughout the day, and the success of the event highlights the importance of such initiatives in the educational landscape..

Congratulations to all the participants and winners, and a heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors for making this day a resounding success.

Article supplied by Ms Precious Canham