In my strife to further develop my professional acumen and my passion for making a difference in people’s lives, lead me to join the University of the Free State in 2015.

Currently, I am a senior lecturer and researcher affiliated to the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension at the University of the Free State. 

My field of expertise include agriculture economics, where I correspondingly developed a new curriculum for Masters and Honors students, food security and urban agriculture.

Furthermore, I am managing all third-stream and community projects of the Centre and assisting the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences with business planning.

The past few years brought many achievements, which include being part of an African team that won the International Advanced Case Study Competition in Miami, Florida in 2017; serving on the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee; the writing of many successful business plans and research proposals for finance and grants; filling the role of Assistant Editor of the South African Journal of Agricultural Extension (SAJAE), a highly acclaimed journal for agricultural extension all over the world; presenting a keynote presentation at an international conference; and I participated for Team South Africa at the Duathlon World Championships in Spain in 2016.

In all my endeavors, I adopted immense knowledge of the economy, finance and business and project management, in both the macro as well as micro levels. 

I am passionate about making a difference to the food insecurity situation in the world by focusing on sustainable rural and urban agricultural and social development.

I hold the following degrees from University of the Free State:

•          MSc in Animal Production - 2006;

•          MBA in General Management - 2014;

•          PhD in Food Security and Urban Agriculture - 2017; and

•          Post Graduate Diploma in Certified Financial Planning - 2020.

Publications

Jepthas, G.  and Swanepoel, J. W. 2019. Implications of the environmental impact assessment regulations on the agricultural sector in the Overberg District in the Western Cape for emerging farmers. S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext. Vol. 47 No. 2, 2019: 128 – 139. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2019/v47n2a509

Bastian, R. M. , Swanepoel, J. W.  and Van Niekerk, J. A. 2019. Effectiveness of the implementation of the mechanization programme for emerging farmers in the Overberg and Eden Districts of the Western Cape. S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext. Vol. 47 No. 2, 2019: 58 – 71 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2019/v47n2a503

Swanepoel, J.W., Van Niekerk, J.A. and D’Haese, L. S. 2017. The socio economic profile of urban farming and non-farming households in the informal settlement area of the Cape Town metropole of South Africa. S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext., Vol. 45, No. 1, 2017: 131 –140. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2017/v45n1a447

Swanepoel, J. W. , Van Niekerk, J. A. , and Van Rooyen, C. J.  2017. An analysis of the indicators affecting urban household food insecurity in the informal settlement area of the Cape Town metropole of South Africa. S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext., Vol. 46, No. 1, 2018

Swanepoel, J.W. , and Van Niekerk, J.A. 2017. The level of household food security of urban farming and non-farming households in the informal settlement area of the Cape Town metropole of South Africa. S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext., Vol. 46, No. 2, 2018

Swanepoel, J.W.; Van Wyk, J.B.; Cloete, S.W.P.; Delport, G.J. 2007. Inbreeding in the Dohne Merino breed in South Africa: short communication, South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 37 (3) 2007: pp.176-179.

Van Wyk, J.B.; Swanepoel, J.W.; Cloete, S.W.P.; Olivier, J.J.; Delport, G.J. 2008. Across flock genetic parameter estimation for yearling body weight and fleece traits in the South African Dohne Merino population. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 38 (1) 2008: pp. 31-37.

Van Wyk, J.B., Swanepoel, J.W., Delport, G.J., Cloete, S.W.P. 2006. Estimates of genetic parameters for yearling body weight and fleece traits in the South African Dohne Merino population. Poc. 8th Wrld. Congr. Gen. Appl. Livest. Prod. 13-18.3.

Conference Papers

Reaching the plate – Success stories of South African agriculture through extension and advisory systems: South African Society of Agricultural Extension (SASAE) Conference, Durban, South Africa, 2017

Assessing Household Food Security in the Cape Town Metropole, with Reference to the Role of Urban Agriculture: South African Society of Agricultural Extension (SASAE) Conference, Durban, South Africa, 2017

Improving Agribusiness and Access to Markets of Smallholder Farmers – How good management practices in pluralistic advisory systems can make a difference: Northern Cape Extension Conference, Kimberly, South Africa, 2017

Analysing urban agriculture as a strategy to improve household food security in the Cape Town Metropole of South Africa: Western Cape Extension Conference, Langebaan, South Africa, 2017

Improving Agribusiness and Access to Markets of Smallholder Farmers – How good management practices in pluralistic advisory systems can make a difference: Western Cape Extension Conference, Langebaan, South Africa, 2017

The role of Extension in Food Security: Free State Extension Conference, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2016

Improving agribusiness of emerging small scale farmers through good management practices in pluralistic advisory systems - Success stories due to advisory services in the Western Cape: CFS43 – side event, Rome, Italy, 2016

Good management practices in agricultural extension: A Western Cape case study. South African Society of Agricultural Extension (SASAE) Conference, 2016

Genetic Parameters for yearling traits in the South African Dohne Merino population, South African Journal of Animal Science, 41st Congress, 2006

Exceptional rural-urban migration is taking place in developing countries all over the world.  The rate of urbanisation is however not concurrent with the rate of economic growth and as a result rates of urban poverty is worsening.  Food insecurity is a direct result of urban poverty, causing urban populations to depend on urban food production.  When considering all dimensions of food insecurity, it is evident that many households in urban areas are severely affected by this phenomenon. 

My current research is based on a comprehensive investigation of successful urban farming and processing systems, in developed as well as developing countries. The aim to design sustainable urban farming and processing systems that may have the ability to enable households to create an income and significantly alleviate food insecurity.

We have already implemented pilot studies concerning vegetable production and wool farming and processing, whereby many community development, training and research initiatives are conducted.

The outcome of this research initiatives may result in households to improve their food security status and for policy makers to include our frameworks in urban agriculture and make calculated funding decisions regarding this challenge.

Sustainable Agriculture

Urban Agriculture

Food Security

Development Economics

Agriculture Extension

Agribusiness

Business Planning

Sustainable Agriculture

Urban Agriculture

Food Security

Development Economics

Agriculture Extension

Agribusiness

Business Planning

Agricultural Economics in Sustainable Agriculture (Masters) – SAEC7906

Agricultural Economics in Sustainable Agriculture (Pg Dip) – SAEC5806