ZELDA VENTER
The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria (UP) is revolutionising sustainable agriculture with cutting-edge technology that holds promise for curbing methane produced by cattle.
Thanks to an investment from the New Zealand government, researchers at UP’s experimental farm have implemented the latest technology in cattle feed machinery.
The animals are equipped with radio frequency identification tags, which trigger the machines to dispense a specialised feed.
This technology allows researchers to control and monitor the amount of feed consumed by each animal, resulting in a significant reduction in both methane and CO2 emissions.
This research is an important advancement in the fight against global warming, as cattle play an integral role in socio-economic systems in many African cultures, while meat accounts for about 70% of the diet of many African populations.
The research also tackles the issue of data availability in the African context.
The various farming systems and methods used in Africa influence the emissions produced by cattle. Since these systems and methods are unique to the continent, data generated by foreign countries does not allow for an accurate measurement of greenhouse-gas emissions of cattle in Africa.
New Zealand High Commissioner to South Africa Phillip Hewitt’s recent visit to UP’s Future Africa platform was an opportunity to shed light on some of the university’s most impactful research in agriculture.
During a roundtable discussion, several points were raised about greenhouse-gas emissions in the agricultural sectors in South Africa and Africa at large.
The discussion included UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Francis Petersen, and members of the Qinisa Initiative. This is a research programme hosted at Future Africa that centres on climate change, agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions, and food insecurity in Southern Africa and the Sustainable Food Systems project.
“We need to answer Africa's problems using the best methodologies available. We must access the most innovative technologies in the world and apply it to also solve Africa's problems,” Wanda Markotter, Interim Director of UP’s Future Africa Platform said.
In order to effectively transform food systems, the researchers felt that a grassroots approach needs to be taken, which means working directly with farmers across South Africa.
Because cattle are equipped with a digestive system that converts low-level roughage and natural grazing to high-quality, nutrient-rich protein, they form a key part of food systems on the continent.
By involving farmers and connecting science to the community, researchers can address the global warming crisis without jeopardising the livelihoods of local communities.
While South Africa has the capacity to conduct research in terms of equipment, institutions, and expertise, these elements need to be enhanced to effectively address global warming and the part that South Africa’s agricultural sector plays in it.
The role players said regional coordination, institutional collaboration, and research partnerships need to be strengthened to achieve transformation in African and global food systems.
This is being achieved through collaborations between academic and research institutions worldwide, including UP, the Qinisa Initiative, and the Sustainable Food Systems project.
zelda.venter@inl.co.za