SASUF Satellite Events 2024

This satellite hybrid event is open to campus and online attendees and is a part of the Fascination of Plants Day 2024!

Physical registration here - capacity is limited to 30!
Online registration here - unlimited capacity!

Keywords: Innovation, Productivity, pest and diseases, income generation, nutraceuticals, smallholder farmers

Moringa oleifera Lam. Moringaceae is a miracle tree that has been for centuries used by people for food, medicine, fodder, oil and others. The most commonly utilised part as food is leaves and pods rich in essential macro and micronutrients. Most plant parts are also used to prevent and treat various ailments; the leaves are known for several therapeutic benefits, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Dry leaves are traded as nutritional supplements and medicine, while the seeds are a good source of edible oil and biofuel and are excellent flocculant agents for water purification. Given the plant's significant value, a satellite event is created to disseminate additional plant knowledge and link stakeholders interested in the same topic. Moringa’s ability to withstand arid dry conditions and its high nutritional value made it a widely distributed species in tropical region.

The SASUF Sustainability Forum will host a satellite event in association with the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences and the University of Mpumalanga. A one-day interactive workshop on "Connecting Research Priorities: Innovation, sustainability and long-term perspectives in Moringa cultivation” aims to illustrate how M. oleifera contributes to the food, health, and water nexus to combat climate change for smallholder farmers. The satellite seeks to demonstrate the benefits of M. oleifera for health (disease prevention and treatment), product development, nutraceuticals, and commercialization. The satellite will also cover the technology transfer implementation strategies researchers follow in providing technological support (e.g. cultivation practices, primary processing and marketing) to beneficiaries working on Moringa (University of Mpumalanga, Agricultural Research Council, Wits University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences).

The purpose of this event is to identify the gaps, initiate joint research and strengthen the next generation of researchers from Sweden and South Africa by giving early-career researchers, established researchers, research managers, policymakers, and industry experts a platform for engagement and collaboration and to share ideas, pertinent knowledge, and information.

Facilitators: Sajeevan Radha Sivarajan, Anna Maňourová (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU);
please contact anna.manourova@slu.se for more information!

Schedule
8:00 – 8:30 Arrival and registration 
Physical: Plantan Room, Agricum, Slottsvägen 2, Alnarp; Tea/Coffee provided!
8:30 – 8:40 Welcome and Opening: Erik Alexandersson (SLU)
8:40 – 8:50 Event and speakers introduction: Salmina Mokgehle (University of Mpumalanga, South Africa), Anna Maňourová (SLU)
8:50 – 9:20 Keynote Presentation: Analyzing food, energy, and water uses of multifunctional tree: A case of Moringa: Dr Nadia Araya (Agricultural Research Council: South Africa) 
9:20 – 10:20 Session: Climate change - water and soil management
9:20 – 9:40
Modelling Moringa transpiration for optimum water supply under varying climates and stand canopy sizes. Mr Ambroise Ndayakunze: Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
9:40 – 10:00
Moringa stem biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil moisture retention; Mr Simon Maleka: Agricultural Research Council: South Africa
10:00 – 10:20
Water use and crop performance under drip and effect of Self-Regulating, Low Energy, Clay-based Irrigation (SLECI) systems; Ms Hunadi Chaba: Agricultural Research Council: South Africa
10:20 - 10:25 Leg stretch
10:25 – 10:55 Keynote Presentation: Research on Moringa: Current Trends Impact of climate change; Professor Awoke Guadie: Arba Minch University: Ethiopia 
10:55 – 11:35 Session: Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza effects on Moringa
10:55 – 11:15
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Influence on Growth and Development of moringa oleifera under planting density’s stress; Tshephiso Khoza: University of Mpumalanga, South Africa
11:15 – 11:35
Exploring the impact of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza influence on productivity enhancement and saline stress alleviation in Moringa oleifera; Thamia Laka: University of Mpumalanga, South Africa 
11:35 – 12:35 Lunch break
12:35 – 13:05 Keynote Presentation: Overview and importance of research on Moringa: Dr Ashwell Ndhlala; University of Limpopo: South Africa 
13:05 – 13:45 Session: Moringa leaf extract as plant biostimulant
13:05 –13:25
Phytochemical analysis of Moringa Leaf Extracts obtained by green extraction techniques and its effect on plant biostimulation and seed germination; Ms Boitumelo Setati: Wits University: South Africa
13:25 – 13:45
Moringa leaf extracts as plant biostimulants in Africa and beyond: Utilisation, Composition and Efficiency; Silvia Faravelli, SLU
13:45 – 14:05 Coffee break
14:05 – 15:05 Interactive discussions and networking
15:05 – 15:10 Final remarks and closing