EDEN KEYSTER

Tylosema fassoglense, one of the species known as Marama bean or Tamani berry. The Marama bean is an uncultivated legume that only occurs in Africa and has been traditionally gathered by the Khoisan and Black African people of Southern and Eastern Africa. This plant grows in some deserts or grassy woodlands and is capable of surviving long periods of drought. My research aims to determine how the plants’ response to drought correlates molecularly. How has your work contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

FOOD SECURITY/AGRICULTURE

I am Eden Keyster, born and bred in Bellville, Cape Town. Currently a PhD candidate in the Plant Biotechnology Research Group (PBRG) under the supervision of Prof. Ndiko Ludidi.

My current research topic is ‘The molecular characterization of Tylosema fassoglense in response to drought stress’. My journey in science started when I was very young and the passion for science fuelled me to complete my undergraduate and postgraduate studies (Honours and Master’s) at the University of the Western Cape. I have the privilege of being awarded a full scholarship bursary funded by the National Research Foundation.

What is/was your work about?

I’m currently focusing on orphan crops in South Africa. These crops are indigenous and mostly grown by small and marginal farming systems. Most of these crops have a high nutritional profile but are also underutilised and receive little attention in research and breeding. My research focuses on the legume

This approach to crop diversification is to support human nutrition in Africa on orphan crops, which are rich in vitamins and micronutrients. Nutritionists, ecologists, agronomists and crop breeders have come to realise the important role that the strategic promotion of orphan crops may play in enhancing human diets and enabling more efficient and environmentally sustainable food production in Africa. A particular need is to increase the ‘nutritional resilience’ of food systems to the negative effects of climate change on the food supply. My work aims to alleviate poverty by implementing such orphan crops into the food system, especially for small-scale farmers, as such crops require low-input production. In this manner we aim to achieve zero hunger and aim to improve the health of many people who suffer from malnutrition by supporting African consumers’ diets and African farmers’ income. There is a growing recognition that the use of locally available resources such as orphan crops can contribute to adapting to climate variability and change. Importantly, the project will generate some of the essential resources required to develop T. fassoglense into a cultivable crop that will contribute to sustainable food systems and food security in arid and semiarid regions of Africa. Orphan crops could support and strengthen the existing food systems to deliver sustainable diets as they are economically, socially, and environmentally sound. Promoting gender equality and women empowerment is linked to the strengthening of sustainable food systems to fight hunger and malnutrition and improve the livelihoods of rural populations.

How is it impacting your community?

Orphan crops may offer ‘new’ opportunities in the advent of climate change as they are uniquely suited to local harsh environments, provide nutritional diversity, and enhance agrobiodiversity within farmer fields and home gardens. My research can shed light onto the molecular basis of stress response in the Marama bean that may turn it into a cultivable crop and also re-introduce forgotten crops that were once used for traditional and medicinal purposes. Orphan crops could support and strengthen the existing food systems to deliver sustainable diets as they are economically, socially, and environmentally sound. Small communities can utilise the opportunity of understanding and having the freedom of growing their own food. This can also create job opportunities and also aid in improving skills in local farming. My research can also give more insight for future research in indigenous crops and can improve understanding in the type of crops we can utilise to improve food security in Africa.