The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) launched the South Africa-Germany Bilateral Research Chair in Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems (SARChI SuReFoodS) on Monday, September 7.

Led by Prof Lembe Magwaza, SARChI SuReFoodS will advance interdisciplinary research, postgraduate training and innovation aimed at strengthening sustainable and resilient food systems to address challenges such as climate change, food insecurity and postharvest losses.

Research must drive societal change

The vice-chancellor, Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, emphasised the importance of ensuring that research translates into meaningful change for society.

Magwaza highlighted the need to move beyond food security towards nutritional security and strengthen the resilience of food systems in the face of climate change and other global challenges.

ALSO READ: Two Mpumalanga schools head to national road safety finals

The initiative forms part of the African-German Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science, strengthening collaboration between African and German institutions.

Inauguration marks data-driven future

The event also marked the professorial inauguration of Magwaza, a professor in horticultural sciences at UMP.

Delivering his inaugural address, ‘Beyond the Naked Eye: Seeing the Future of Food Security through Plant Physiology, Postharvest Science, Digital Innovations and Data Science’, Magwaza showcased how science, technology and data-driven innovation can transform how food systems are understood and strengthened.

ALSO READ: Mpumalanga launches real estate learnership for 200 youth in Steve Tshwete

His research explores innovative technologies and machine learning to improve food quality, reduce postharvest losses, strengthen food safety and build resilient agricultural systems.