
The Faculty of Science and Agriculture recognises excellence by awarding postgraduate researchers for their outstanding research, offering solutions to challenges faced by communities
By Kgabo Selepe | ulpublications@ul.ac.za
In a bid to bolster research quality amongst its postgraduate students, the University of Limpopo’s (UL) Faculty of Science and Agriculture’s (FSA) annual Postgraduate Research Day 2024 attracts solution-oriented presentations from participants
This event provides a platform for postgraduate students and academic staff to present their research findings and engage in intellectual discourse. The aim is to ensure that students are on the right path with their research, while simultaneously fostering a culture of rigorous, dedicated, and solution-driven inquiry. At its core, the event underscores the vital role that research plays in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges through scientific solutions.

Dr Mary-Jane Bopape delivers a keynote address on the unpredictable environmental challenges faced by society
Held over three days, the event highlighted the importance of research across disciplines, with keynote speaker Dr Mary-Jane Bopape, Managing Director for the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), delivering an address that captivated the audience. Dr Bopape drew attention to the escalating environmental challenges facing society, urging students to explore research in this critical area.
“The challenges we face today, particularly those related to the environment, are immense,” she remarked. She noted that weather and ocean conditions, influenced by geographical factors, are crucial areas where research could have a significant impact. Citing the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Bopape explained how a subtropical system interacting with a mid-latitude system had led to the catastrophic flooding. “Research is essential in understanding these systems and, crucially, in providing timely warnings to help mitigate the devastating impacts such disasters or causalities,” she appealed.
Prof Tebogo Mothiba, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Partnerships at UL, pledged her support to the event’s theme, aligning it with Sustainable Development Goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change. She stressed the broader societal impacts of climate change, including food insecurity, poverty, and diseases, urging researchers to seek solutions that could mitigate its effects on local communities. “As a University that serves rural communities, our research should not just be theoretical but should be rooted in the real challenges that our people face daily,” Prof Mothiba stated. She emphasised UL’s commitment to research that finds answers for Africa’s unique challenges, noting, “This has always been our guiding principle.”
The research day was not only a platform for discussion but also a celebration of academic excellence. Students across various fields showcased their groundbreaking research, demonstrating how theory, when paired with practical application, could yield transformative outcomes.
One student, Koketjo Mnisi, a PhD Candidate presented his research on how biofertilizers can improve the growth and nitrogen-fixing ability of tepary beans. His study looked at using different biofertilizers, like Rhizobium inoculation, Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM), and seaweed extract, to boost the beans’ growth in various locations. His findings stand to help improve sustainable farming in areas with poor soil quality.
Similarly, Thato Mokgotho, a Master’s student in Agricultural Economics, presented an insightful study on broiler farmers’ willingness to adopt chicken enterprise insurance in in parts of Limpopo. Mokgotho’s research revealed that while most broiler farmers are aware of agricultural insurance, the perceived high costs and small farm sizes deter them from adopting it. This study highlights the need for more accessible insurance options tailored to small-scale farmers, an essential consideration for the future of agricultural policy in South Africa.
Lovedonia Kganyago, MSc student in Chemistry, presented on Cellulose-based cobalt-doped copper oxide hydrogel nanocomposites for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions, the study analysed water scarcity as a world-wide problem due to excessive water contamination by synthetic dyes such as methylene blue. “The overall study showed that hydrogel nanocomposite can be employed in water waste treatment plants,” Kganyago explained.
The event also served as a platform to honour the achievements of the postgraduates in the four schools within the faculty. These included the School of Agricultural and Environmental Science, the School of Physical and Mineral Science, the School of Molecular and Life Sciences, and the School of Mathematical and Computer Science. The schools have natured a cohort of postgraduate students whose research excellence has been recognised through honours, master’s, and PhD levels.

Postgraduate students eager to make an impact through the Faculty of Science and Agriculture Postgraduate Research Day