From left: Mr. Laurance Sedibe, Mr. Ntiseng Sedibe (father of Professor Sedibe), Prof Sedibe, Ms. Palesa Morobi and Mr. Walter Sedibe

On 22 May 2025, the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), proudly celebrated the promotion of Professor Moosa Sedibe to the esteemed rank of full professor. This significant milestone in his academic journey was marked by an inaugural lecture, a powerful testament to his career dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture and food security.

His inaugural lecture, a celebration of his promotion to full professor, highlighted the depth and impact of his scholarly contributions. More importantly, it provided a platform for him to share his research vision, rooted in international collaboration and indigenous knowledge systems, and to stress the need for a collective commitment to address critical challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

Delivering his inaugural address titled "Synergies Between Agronomy and Global Research: A Pathway to Sustainable Food Systems," Prof. Sedibe shared insights from over a decade of impactful research and cross-border partnerships in the agronomy sector. His address highlighted how these collaborative efforts have reshaped agricultural practices to be more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive, instilling hope for a better future.

“Agronomy is the brain and heart behind Sustainable Development Goal 2. We cannot achieve this goal, nor can humanity survive, without sustainable agriculture,” he said.

Despite South Africa’s strong agricultural output, he pointed out that food insecurity remains a persistent challenge, driven by poverty, unemployment, climate change, inequality, and food waste. He emphasised that addressing these systemic issues requires a shift in how research is conducted, moving away from isolated efforts and toward collaborative, community-engaged research that integrates local knowledge and global expertise.

A central theme of his address was the strategic importance of indigenous African crops. He advocated for their broader adoption, enlightening the audience about their natural adaptation to local climates, their role in preserving biodiversity, and their potential to improve nutrition and drive economic development.

“To achieve SDG 2, we must focus on indigenous crops. These crops are naturally adapted to our climate, support biodiversity, and preserve traditional knowledge,” he said.

He further emphasised the need to diversify agriculture through these crops, which would enhance food and nutrition security and contribute to sustainable food systems and the protection of cultural heritage.

“We need to diversify agriculture using indigenous crops. This will enhance food and nutrition security, promote sustainable food systems, and protect both biodiversity and traditional knowledge,” he added.

Left: Prof.  Laetus Lategan, acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Prof. David Ngidi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Prof. Moosa Sedibe and Prof. Pamela Dube, Vice-Chancellor and Principal