From 12 to 15 June 2015, Dr Colleta Gandidzanwa, a researcher in the Department of Agricultural Economics Extension and Rural Development at the University of Pretoria, attended the conference of the International Consortium on Applied Bio-economy Research (ICABR) at the World Bank in Washington DC. Various International Universities and organisations are affiliated to ICABR, which hosts annual conferences to address multiple themes in the bio-economy. This year the theme of the conference was “Disruptive Innovations, Value Chains, and Rural Development”. In addition to the exciting line up of conference papers, the World Bank also conducted a pre-conference workshop on Talent Acquisition for Young Talents.

As a researcher, Dr Gandidzanwa is involved in the data rescue initiative that is run by the Collaborative Centre on Economics of Agricultural Research and Development and the Agricultural Research Council, having a vision to establish growing collaborations in the data rescue process.

Dr Gandidzanwa presented her research results from her recently completed PhD thesis on “Net farm income, exchange rates and tractor prices in South Africa: A cointegration approach” at the ICABR conference. Her presentation was well aligned to the conference theme, as tractor evolution is one of the disruptive technologies discussed by other researchers at the conference. Research and data systems need innovation to adapt to the dynamism of technologies.

Dr. Gandidzanwa in action during the ICABR conference.

Besides discovering touch points with other researchers and organisations in the technology innovation space around the world, Dr Gandidzanwa is now part of a multi-disciplinary research network that was initiated at the conference by the OCP Research LLC. The OCP Group funded all African researchers’ attendance at this conference and established a platform for researchers to provide solutions for African problems in agriculture and development fields. Dr Gandidzanwa will continue to work with other researchers on this network as well as foster future collaborations for future research using this network.

“I am grateful for the direct and indirect opportunities that came from attending the conference to develop my research career. Not only will I use the networks created to further my own research but I will also use my connections to help develop the careers of other young researchers in my department.” ~Dr Colleta Gandidzanwa