Justin Erasmus graduated from the Department of Forest and Wood Science in 2020 with a PhD focused on how silvicultural prescriptions might affect wood properties in pine. Since then, he has been on a sojourn between the forestry areas of Mpumalanga and the Western Cape. Justin now re-joins the department as a postdoctoral researcher. His main research will focus on using remote and proximal methods to assess timber harvesting residues on the ground, considering their size distribution and location on site.

Harvesting residues primarily consist of tree branches and tops, which can either impede or promote activities such as site preparation and re-planting, fire risk, soil organic matter and biogeochemical cycles, CO2 accounting, pest and pathogens, and bioenergy feedstocks. The project will also evaluate residue treatment methods, like mulching or windrowing, and their efficacy using similar remote sensing methods. His project is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and administered through Forestry South Africa (FSA).

Article and Photo supplied by Prof Bruce Talbot

Agriscience staff from multiple departments traveled to Norway to attend a week-long workshop at the Inland Norwegian University of Applied Sciences (INN). The workshop was part of the EU Erasmus+ project, Forest21, a joint initiative to strengthen capacity in South African higher education. While the packed program focused mainly on climate-smart forestry, it also emphasized the project’s two other thematic areas: entrepreneurial innovation and the promotion of problem-based learning methods in the pedagogical toolbox.

The workshop provided an excellent framework for discussion and interaction among all participants. In addition to our own agriscientists, colleagues from the University of Venda, Nelson Mandela University (Saasveld), and Fort Cox Agricultural and Forestry College were also represented. The European partners included the Finnish coordinator HAMK, Aalto University, and INN, whose beautiful campus setting on the banks of the Glomma River set the scene for this constructive interaction. Additionally, the local Forest Owners Association provided essential context for the discussions. It turned out that the issues facing the forest sector in the far north are very similar to those we face at home.

Image: from left to right: Bruce Talbot, Albert Strever, Brand Wessels, Barbara van Asch, James Pryke

Article and Photos supplied by Prof Bruce Talbot

Congratulations to recent alumna Ms. Almé Jonker, who received an award from the Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF). The award, which includes a book prize and a one-year SAIF membership, was given in recognition of her academic achievements as the top-performing Forestry (BSc Forest and Natural Resource Science) graduate in 2023. Almé’s accomplishment was acknowledged during the SAIF’s online AGM, held on 20 June 2024.

The top-performing graduates from other higher education institutions offering forestry programs, including the University of Venda, Nelson Mandela University (George campus), and Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry College, also received awards at the same event. Congratulations also to Sappi Southern Africa, where Almé is now employed near Nelspruit/Mbombela as a Forest Engineer in Training.

Dr. Keanu Martin is honored to serve as Africa’s early career representative on the inaugural International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Young Minds Committee (2022-2026). This prestigious group consists of 12 selected members from around the globe. In his role, Dr Martin is dedicated to achieving the committee’s ambitious goals aimed at fostering the development of the next generation of horticulturists.

These objectives include establishing a hub filled with opportunities for training, mentorship, internships, and exchanges to enhance professional growth and strengthen connections. He is also involved in organising year-round activities such as webinars, deep-dive meetings, networking events, and mentorship programs that facilitate meaningful interactions with industry partners and explore potential career pathways.

Additionally, Dr Martin plays a pivotal role in enriching the experience of participants at large symposia and congresses by organising social events and promoting engagement in ISHS through incentives like awards, special recognitions for best papers and presentations, and opportunities for publication in Chronica Horticulturae. His commitment is to lay a robust foundation that will inspire and empower young minds in horticulture for years to come.

Prof. Clint Rhode from the Department of Genetics, and the incumbent president of the South African Genetics Society (SAGS), led a multi-institutional delegation to bid on behalf of South Africa to host the International Genetics Federation’s premier conference, the International Congress of Genetics (ICG). The event is held every five years in different cities across the globe, and the last meeting was hosted by Melbourne, Australia, under the theme: “Genetics & Genomics: Linking Life & Society” in 2023. The conference is now set to come to the African continent for the first time in 2028 and will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The selection committee of the IGF executive was resolute in awarding the bid to South Africa, with the SA team outcompeting two other impressive bids from China and Argentina. Prof. Rhode remarked that hosting the ICG in 2028 will be especially meaningful for the SAGS as the society will be celebrating its 70th anniversary since being formally constituted in 1958. The bid team was supported by Stellenbosch University’s Central Events and Conferencing Office (Mrs Madeleine Mitchell) with the full endorsement of Prof. Sibusiso Moyo (DVC Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies) and the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau (Mr Adriaan Fourie) (with endorsement from the Western Cape Premier’s Office).

Concerted efforts are needed to mitigate widespread impacts of human activity on the planet’s ecosystems. However, figuring out how to restore biodiversity to degraded ecosystems at scale takes a monumental collaborative effort.

In early June 2024, a team of highly motivated individuals and organizations, led by Profs. Karen Esler and Pat Holmes of the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, completed the active planting of 20 ecological restoration plots across 4 hectares in a threatened habitat. This phase focused on species of conservation concern and those that have proved challenging to reintroduce in the past.

It sounds simple, but there has been much behind the scenes to get to this point.

First, dense alien trees had to be removed. The team received assistance from VULA Environmental Services (a landscape restoration and rehabilitation company) and the City of Cape Town (which manages Blaauwberg Nature Reserve).

Second, areas needed to be pre-prepared and pre-sown with habitat companion species (all hand collected by the project participants, over several months).

Third (and this takes time and its own set of complexities) tricky rare Cape Flats Sand Fynbos species were propagated at scale using different methods. Since 2022, propagation has occurred across three nurseries: VULA, FynbosLIFE (an NPO concerned with Cape ecosystem recovery), and Stellenbosch University’s Botanical Garden.

Fourth, with the help of enthusiastic students, thousands of these plants were transported to the site, counted, planted, and watered.

Fifth, we will wait and watch. By doing so, we hope to develop best-practice guidelines for recovering this precious ecosystem.

Collaborative projects that link research and its application are key to scaling up ecological restoration efforts, as they ensure that best-practice applied work gets done. These collaborations combine the resourcefulness, creativity, and context-specific knowledge of natural resource decision-makers, managers, and practitioners with the research process, making the outcomes more likely to have traction. However, actionable research in the context of such long-term collaborations is rare. This makes the collaborative research in Sand Fynbos vegetation at Blaauwberg Nature Reserve a relatively unique endeavor. The partnership between Profs. Esler and Holmes at Stellenbosch University and the City of Cape Town has been underway since 2012.

Funding from the Anglo-American Nature Positive Fund (2022-2025), represents the third phase of this collaborative operational and academic research focused primarily on Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, a protected area north of the City. The reserve encompasses 1500 hectares of lowland vegetation including 500 hectares of critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, the majority of which is highly degraded by dense stands of the alien Australian wattle, Acacia saligna.

For more information about the collaboration, contact kje@sun.ac.za

Article and Photos supplied by Prof Karen Esler

In May 2024, college lecturers from Elangeni, Capricorn, Coastal, Esayidi, Majuba, Mnambithi, Orbit and Vhembe continued their participation in training that focused on the successful production of horticultural crops under protected structures, at Elangeni TVET College (Mpumalanga Campus, in KwaZulu-Natal). The five days included topics of plant propagation, the importance of seed and substrates to establish a plant nursery, and the main aspects to consider when selecting a crop for a greenhouse.

Crop management and labour according to the phenological stages of a plant was also discussed in detail. In addition, the training included visits to agri-companies to understand how these businesses operate in South Africa. The training was facilitated by Miss Kholosa Nakani (Stellenbosch University) and Dr. Gracia Ribas (HAS University of Applied Sciences).

Article and photo supplied by: Stellenbosch University Platform of Vocational Excellence in Water

In June 2024, Marco Appel had an opportunity to participate in the Sun City AgBiz student case competition. Held in Sun City, this prestigious event brought together students from various universities to tackle real-world agricultural business challenges. The competition featured a case study regarding the South African Wine Industry. The topic of the case study was: “The Vine’s Winding Path: Navigating Change in the South African Wine Industry.” The focus of the case study was to present the CEO of SA Wine, Rico Basson, a strategy that would strengthen the brand identity of South African Wine and support the wine industry.

Competing for a spot in the final round and delivering a presentation in front of the entire congress, the competition was intellectually challenging and competitive, involving four teams of four students each. The teams were given six hours to prepare a 20-minute presentation regarding their own unique business strategy. Each team member brought unique skills to the table, from market analysis to financial modeling, and their collaboration was key to their success. The preparation for the presentations was stressful and challenging, especially when working outside their comfort zones and collaborating with different students who had their own ideas and ways of doing things.

Their presentation focused on enhancing the South African wine industry’s market share and customer trust through strategic marketing and the adoption of blockchain technology. It outlined objectives such as optimizing supply chain efficiency, gaining a competitive advantage, and leveraging data-driven marketing to boost sales and revenue. Key initiatives included expanding into major foreign markets, utilizing algorithms for targeted marketing, and engaging consumers through social media and influencers.

Their hard work paid off when they were awarded first place in the competition. This achievement was a testament to their dedication and teamwork. Marco gained a deeper understanding of the South African Wine Industry and honed his problem-solving skills. This opportunity gave him the ability to network with business owners, industry role players, and other students. He is excited to apply the skills and knowledge gained from this experience to his future endeavors. Marco extends his heartfelt thanks to AgBiz, who gave students the platform to showcase their talents. He highly encourages other students to participate in similar competitions, as they offer unparalleled learning experiences and opportunities for personal growth.

Article and photos supplied by: Marco Appel

Dr Malizukiswe Vincent Vacu is the recipient of a PhD in Genetics from Stellenbosch University,for research about the genes involved in photosynthesis in pigeon peas.
His 88-year-old grandmother, who raised, him, will be guest of honour at his graduation on 26 March 2024. She lives near Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape.

Just as plants need sunlight to photosynthesize and grow, so people need support, nurturing and motivation to blossom. For Stellenbosch University (SU) PhD graduate Dr Malizukiswe Vincent Vacu, his source of inspiration has always been his 88-year-old grandmother, Thembakazi MaKhuboni Vacu. That is why they just had to take an epic 1200km road trip together from the Eastern Cape to Stellenbosch, so that she could be guest of honour when he receives his doctorate in Genetics on 26 March 2024 during the annual SU March graduation ceremony. It was his grandmother’s first visit to the Cape region.

For his PhD in Genetics, the 36-year-old Dr Vacu identified and characterized which genes in pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) are important to improve photosynthesis, and could subsequently be manipulated to improve the yield of this hardy legume crop.

He has since 2023 lectured in plant breeding and genetics in the Department of Plant Production, Soil Science, and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Limpopo in Polokwane. He enjoys the position thoroughly, as it allows him to pay forward many of the kindnesses shown to him over the years, by helping to chart the academic course of a next generation of scholars.

“I can pursue a career in academia because others before me made the decision to do the same. For that I am thankful. I want to help others to realise their goals too,” says the student-centred lecturer.

Earlier this year, he was appointed as a ministerial representative to the board of the South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (SACTA) by the national Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development. SACTA is a national agency committed to ensuring food security through the development of new genetics and technology for open-pollinated crops.

Leadership roles seem to come naturally to Dr Vacu, who was Chairperson of the Science and Agriculture Student Society at Fort Hare in 2011, and who at SU served as a writing consultant at the Language Centre and is a former postgraduate representative of the SU AgriSciences Student Association (ASA).

“It’s probably because I am the eldest of four siblings. They often tell me that I’m very strict,” he reveals.

Family life

Their grandmother has been their constant pillar of strength, but especially so after their mother fell ill when Dr Vacu was still attending Mpindweni Junior Secondary School in Mpindweni village in Mount Frere. Money was always tight, with his grandmother working at a preprimary school before qualifying for a state-funded old age grant. She tried her best to raise them well according to her Christian principles, and to provide in their needs.

While Dr Vacu is the first among his siblings to complete a postgraduate degree, both of his brothers hold university degrees. His sister, the youngest, is currently completing her studies at Walter Sisulu University.

His academic life had a rocky start. First he went to school later than most – and then failed Grade 1. Through his grandmother’s support and motivation, he soon tackled schoolwork with flying colours, so much so that as a learner at Manzamnyama Senior Secondary he started dreaming of university. A magazine story he read while still a youngster, about the versatility of Malawi’s former president, Hastings Banda, further fuelled his aspirations and dreams.

Studies

Thanks to the financial support of a cousin, Masivuye Yaphi, who had already completed university studies, he could tackle his first year as a BSc Crop/Soil Sciences student at the University of Fort Hare. A NSFAS living allowance followed. Today Dr Vacu is paying this kindness forward too by supporting his three siblings’ respective university studies.

His decision to follow a career in agricultural sciences was motivated by conversations with an agricultural extension officer of the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture who worked in Mpindweni and other villages around Mount Frere.

“To achieve optimal crop production, one must understand soils and to understand soils in an agricultural setup one must understand crops,” he says about the interplay between soils and crops.

Dr Vacu received his B.Sc. Crop/Soil Sciences degree cum laude from the University of Fort Hare in 2014.

“Given my family situation back home, I realized that I had no other choice but to study very hard,” says Dr Vacu, who always has a Plan A, B and Z ready when planning his life. “I early on realized that gaining a good education is the only sustainable solution to improve one’s position, and that you can very seldom move forward by merely trying to find a job after school.”

A bursary from the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) in 2015 took him to the northeastern parts of China where at the Jilin Agricultural University he completed a MSc in Crops Genetics and Breeding in 2018. His studies into the chilling tolerance of groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) provided him with his first insights into ways to better breed legumes, and into plant genetics in general.

Pigeon pea research

He believes that classic breeding techniques that select for traits to be taken forward to improve aspects such as yield have reached a plateau, but that much can still be done by embracing the genetic aspects of plant biotechnology.

“New breeding technologies offer a targeted approach to crop improvement by precisely modifying crop genomes, ranging from single DNA base-pair alterations to the insertion or removal of multiple genes. One such option focuses on enhancing photosynthesis to increase crop yield, creating more water and nitrogen-efficient plant varieties,” Dr Vacu notes.

In 2020 he joined the ranks of the Institute for Plant Biotechnology (IPB) at the Department of Genetics in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University to study the latter aspect in pigeon peas. He completed his PhD degree under the guidance of Dr Shaun Peters and Dr Bianke Loedolff.

His studies were funded by the National Research Foundation, as part of a project looking into ways to improve pigeon pea cultivation amid an increasingly warming world and growing global population. It is not yet farmed commercially in South Africa. He is already the 8th postgraduate student at SU to graduate thanks to this programme.

“Through our research, we want to show that there’s more to this hardy legume than we know at present. This pulse crop is eaten widely in Asia, the Caribbean and parts of Africa. It is also used as a forage or cover crop. It is called an ‘orphan crop’, because not much has yet been done in terms of research to understand which traits might be of importance to agriculture, food security and nutrition. Since its genome was sequenced, new avenues of research have opened up,” says Dr Peters, who is director of the SU IPB.

For media enquiries, please contact Dr Vacu at: + 2776 965 7551

Photo credit: Stefan Els

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This press release was written by Engela Duvenage, on behalf of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University.

Figure 1: (Anika and Tristan walking in the orchard): Anika Kock and Tristan Dorfling recently completed their MSc degrees on the genotype-by-environment studies during the establishment years of the plum (Anika) and apple (Tristan) trees of the PHEPP. Photo: Provided by Provar.

In the light of climate change and sustainable fruit production, the Department of Horticultural Science has joined hands with Hortgro (SA’s deciduous fruit industry body) and Provar (independent cultivar evaluation company) to study the adaptability of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees to contrasting climatic conditions. Deciduous trees need exposure to sufficient low temperatures in winter for synchronized flowering in spring. If winter chill is inadequate, many aspects of the tree physiology are affected leading to delayed and decreased bud break affecting tree architecture and growth, and a protracted bloom period that culminates in lower yields and fruit quality. Producers have to rely on chemical rest breaking and special pruning techniques to ensure sustainable production. Deciduous fruit tree cultivars have varying degrees of response to environmental conditions and understanding this variability will assist producers in selecting cultivars that are better adapted to their specific growing conditions.

To study the adaptability of deciduous fruit trees under South African growing conditions, the ProHort-Ecophysiology Platform (PHEPP) was established as a multi-environmental field laboratory where the genotype-by-environment interactions can be studied. In 2019, ten different genotypes from each of the crop type (apple, pear, plum and cherry) were planted in three contrasting climatic areas. All phenotypical aspects of these trees are measured and quantified to generate a database from which the answers to many fundamental and applied questions can be mined. Hortgro serves as the funder and enabler for the PHEPP, while Provar is responsible for managing the data collection and mentoring of the student researchers.

Figure 2: (Apple adaptability sign)

PHEPP is a field laboratory created through the collaboration of academia and the deciduous fruit industry to study the adaptability of apple, pear, plum and cherry cultivars. Photo: Esmé Louw

The Department of Horticultural Science lead the academic footprint while training the postgraduate students. Currently there are six MSc students involved in the project. To date this collaboration has resulted in the graduation of four cum laude MSc students, presentations at national and international symposia and several feed-back sessions to the deciduous fruit industry. Recently, this project has also attracted the interest of international researchers with Prof Lee Kalcsits (Washington State University) completing a three-month sabbatical in the Department collaborating on a Hortgro-funded project utilizing the PHEPP to study the development of apple sunburn. In 2025, Prof Stefano Musacchi (Washington State University) hope to join the Department of Horticultural Science on a six-month sabbatical to investigate how climate influences tree architecture with a special focus on alternate bearing behaviour and the extinction of fruiting positions.

Figure 3: (Chad, Esme and Karel graduation): Chad van Wyk and Karel Vahrmeijer with their MSc supervisor, Dr Esme Louw, at their graduation.

Chad and Karel investigated the genotype-by-environment interactions of sweet cherry trees to diverse climatic conditions. Photo: Elke Crouch

As the trees are now coming into full bearing, the research will expand to include the complexities of producing high volumes of top-quality fruit in a changing and increasingly challenging environment. The establishment of the PHEPP is a success story with high impact made possible by the joining of hands of academia and industry to create a better future in agriculture.