WSU RESEARCHER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EASTERN CAPE’S LAND AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

To address challenges of productivity in the Eastern Cape’s land and marine ecosystems, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) appointed WSU’s, Professor Albert Modi, to participate in the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Farm Project (Eba-Farm Project).

The project aims to transform smallholder farming systems in South Africa that are vulnerable to climate change impacts, enabling them to produce food and address the country's food insecurity.

In addition to his role as WSU’s Executive Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences ,Modi was selected to participate in the project to represent Eastern Cape as a leading expert with a proven track record in research-led community engagement over many decades.

“This is a timely opportunity for the Faculty of Natural Sciences and WSU in that the Faculty is at advanced stages of finalising plans to introduce a Department of Agricultural Science and Technology with approval by the WSU Council. Consideration of viability by the Department of Higher Education’s Council for Higher Education is the major milestone in our efforts,” said Modi.

Modi added that it is anticipated that the approval and launch of agriculture qualification for WSU within a year from now will benefit from the Eba-Farm Project in that the practical aspects of the agricultural science and technology curriculum require that there be evidence of direct involvement in local and national opportunities for learning, knowledge generation and innovation.

Modi nominated Dr Malixole Soviti, a lecturer in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at WSU to join him as an additional member of the Eba-Farms Project Research Group.

“This project will not only provide new opportunities, but it will enhance the already existing potential in the WSU Faculty of Natural Sciences. The Biology and Environmental Science curriculum at WSU already includes Pest Management and Food Science. WSU already has collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation-South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB) to address food insecurity through a Joint Marine Laboratory located at the Nelson Mandela Drive Mthatha Campus,” said Modi.

Modi said that the current focus of Times Higher Education rankings includes evidence that universities are contributing to a variety of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commitment to addressing pressing challenges such as environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth and partnerships.

He added that in this context, the WSU participation in the Eba-Farm Project will provide multiple benefits for students, researchers, and the people whose lives the university commits to change through its vision, mission and strategic objectives.

“Since the project has an expected lifespan of at least a decade, I expect it to also enhance the Faculty strategic plan of human capacity development and transformation to contribute to the legacy of change which is explained in the university’s Rationalisation and Consolidation programme,” said Modi.

He concluded that this is also a great opportunity for research transformation in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at WSU because the funds will assist both young academics and their mentors to come up with new research projects for collaboration with national and global partners while grooming a pool of postgraduate students to perform relevant research for employability and active citizenship.

The Eba-Farm Project is an initiative of the South African government to respond to the National Development Goals of the Republic of South Africa in the SDG of the United Nations.

By Anita Roji