Beating hunger: How aeroponics could provide the solution to feeding 10 billion people

Posted on October 16, 2019

By 2050, we will need to produce at least 50% more food than we do currently to feed 10 billion people. However, over half the land in the world is already used to produce food, and agriculture has a significant negative impact on the environment.

Prof Barend Erasmus appointed as new Dean for NAS

Posted on October 02, 2019

Professor Barend Erasmus has been appointed as the Dean in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS) at the University of Pretoria (UP) from 1 October 2019.

Global award a ‘career highlight’ for UP seed scientist

Posted on July 23, 2019

Prof Terry Aveling from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Pretoria recently won the award for the best paper presentation at the 32nd International Seed Testing Association Congress in Hyderabad, India.

First Soapbox at NAS with two renowned academics

Posted on April 05, 2019

Two seasoned academics from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS), Prof Jan Verschoor (Biochemistry) and Prof Wentzel Schoeman (Chemistry) recently gave their own unique flavour to the term ‘soapbox’.

Master’s student in Horticulture off to Australia

Posted on March 29, 2019

Ms Elmien Coetser, an MSc Agric(Horticulture) candidate at the University of Pretoria (UP) has been chosen by the member delegates at the recent International Plant Propagator's Society (IPPS) Southern Africa Region’s Annual Conference to go to Australia on the Australia/Southern Africa...

President’s Award for Dr Eyob Tesfamariam

Posted on February 14, 2019

Dr Eyob Tesfamariam, from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Pretoria (UP), recently received the President’s Award from the Soil Science Society of South Africa (SSSSA) for the best oral presentation at the Combined Congress of the SSSSA, the South African...

PhD student awarded for her presentation at annual botanist congress

Posted on February 07, 2019

A PhD student in Medicinal Plant Sciences Ms Analike Blom van Staden was recently awarded for the best oral presentation by a PhD student at the 45th Annual Congress of the South African Association of Botanists.

Best poster award for Ofentse Mathibela

Posted on February 05, 2019

Ms Ofentse Mathibela, an honours student in plant science at the University of Pretoria (UP), was named as the winner of the Best poster in Physiology/Ecophysiology/Biotechnology at the 45th Annual Congress of the South African Association of Botanists in early January 2019.