CONCLUSION

WHAT IS UWC DOING TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AS A NICHE AREA FOR UWC AND WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN FOR US?

Prof Marshall Keyster

Prof Marshall Keyster the current HOD in the Department of Biotechnology at UWC has been actively researching in the area of Plant Science. His expertise is recognised as an associate editor for the journal Plant Molecular Biology Reporter and reviewer for several other plant science journals.

Marshall conducts research in the Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS) at the UWC and his research aim is to understand how soil contaminants, mostly heavy metals, specific to South Africa (mostly produced by mining) impacts on important food and animal feed crops. Specific aims would be the deciphering of molecular pathways involved in plant responses to heavy metal stress, especially the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-antioxidant enzyme system which is an important mechanism for coping under heavy metal stress. Other goals would be the identification of novel growth promoting bacteria and fungi that can be applied to crops (plant roots) in order to assist these crops during heavy metal stress and other soil contaminants, and identifying proteins and molecules involved in metal binding in order to change these metals into less toxic forms. Identifying various lipid signalling molecules which increase plant tolerance to heavy metal stress and deciphering the pathways by which these lipid signalling molecules play a role in mitigating the effects of heavy metals on plants is also an important part of this research. Because heavy metals are also a human health risk Marshall has expanded his research into the “One health” theme and one of his long-term goals is to develop an environmental biotechnology teaching module that would encompass microorganisms, animals, plants and humans, which he will link to sustainable agriculture for improved food safety and security.

As we drive Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security at UWC, the university has invested in growing a cohort of researchers in the field of sustainable agriculture through supporting Masters and PhD students. As the cohort of researchers grow, the university will develop academic programmes that support this developing niche area.

In conclusion, only a multiplex approach, which involves utilising multiple strategies to address food security, has the potential to be an effective solution to eradicate poverty (SDG1) and reduce hunger (SDG2) in South Africa. Food security is a complex issue that is influenced by various factors, such as climate change, economic inequality, and political instability. Therefore, a multifaceted approach is likely to be more successful than a single solution. Some possible components of a multiplex approach to build a resilient food system include: (1) Increasing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable farming practices to improve food production and reduce waste. (2) Providing financial assistance and technical support to small-scale farmers to help them increase their yields and access markets. (3) Improving food distribution systems to ensure that food reaches those who need it most, particularly in areas with poor infrastructure. (3) Addressing economic inequality and improving access to education and healthcare, which can help to reduce malnutrition and improve overall health. (4) Developing stress-resistant crops and other climate-smart agriculture practices to adapt to the effects of climate change on food production. Therefore, by combining these and other strategies, a multiplex approach has the potential to significantly improve food security, particularly in regions that are most vulnerable to food insecurity. However, it will require sustained efforts and investment from governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to be successful.