Get it to grow: FIU shares agricultural knowledge with farmers in South Africa

South Africa is on a mission to improve its national soil health, and FIU is helping lead the charge. 

Over the summer, the agroecology program hosted a series of soil health workshops at leading South African universities, including the University of Venda, the University of Limpopo, the University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria.

Led by Professors Maruthi Sridhar Balaji Bhaskar and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, the workshops brought together about 100 students and faculty to explore soil degradation, its consequences and best practices for sustainable management.

The initiative was made possible through a USDA Scientific Cooperation Research Program grant titled Training and Education for Agricultural Management (TEAM) to Promote Soil Health and Crop Productivity in South Africa. The project was conceived in summer 2023, when Jude Odhiambo, professor of soil science at the University of Venda, visited FIU as a Fulbright Scholar in Jayachandran’s lab.

Jayachandran, distinguished university professor, researcher in the Institute of Environment and co-founding director of the agroecology program, highlights the grant’s importance, noting that it supports sustainable agriculture, food security and climate resilience at a time when soil degradation — the decline in soil quality and productivity due to natural or human activities — is worsening, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

To address these challenges, the workshops promoted practices such as nutrient cycling, improved water retention and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers. Students and faculty also received hands-on training with more than $10,000 worth of soil health instrumentation provided to South African universities. The equipment included devices to measure chlorophyll levels in plants, soil moisture, electrical conductivity and pH, along with texture analyzers and GPS units for field data collection.

“Students are using this equipment for graduate research, and faculty are incorporating it into course modules,” Bhaskar said. “Faculty and students are also extending this knowledge to local communities and farmers, fostering long-term improvements in soil health and sustainable agriculture.”

Aligned with South Africa’s national goal of achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030, the workshops combined fieldwork, lab exercises and interactive discussions with experts from FIU, the University of Venda and the University of Limpopo. Participants gained practical skills in assessing, monitoring and improving soil health through adaptive, data-driven strategies.

The program is expected to have a lasting global impact by strengthening agricultural resilience, enhancing soil health and equipping the next generation of scientists and farmers in South Africa with the tools for sustainable land management. It also contributes to global food security by helping communities boost productivity, build resilience and manage agricultural resources more effectively.

The collaboration doesn’t end there. During the workshops, students from FIU and South Africa exchanged research findings and ideas, laying the groundwork for ongoing partnerships. Plans are already in place for follow-up activities, continued research exchanges and expanded collaborations between FIU and South African universities.

In addition to their work in Africa, FIU students recently explored agricultural innovations in Colombia. Supported by another USDA grant, four agroecology students visited the Alliance of Biodiversity International, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and Colombia’s national coffee (CENICAFE) and sugarcane (CENICANA) research centers, gaining hands-on experience with digital technologies that improve farming efficiency and sustainability.