Dr Alba du Toit leads the Research Chair in Innovative Agro-processing for Climate-smart Food Systems, which aims to revolutionise food security in South Africa by building resilience to climate change.
Building on this vision, the initiative focuses on staple crop processing, leveraging innovative technologies and culturally relevant solutions to empower rural small-scale farmers, urban consumers, and all stakeholders in the food system. By prioritising value addition in agri-food processing, it works to transform indigenous, underutilised, and traditionally fodder crops into nutritious, locally appropriate food products. In doing so, it promotes sustainable food systems and enhances household food access by unlocking the potential of crops often overlooked in mainstream processing and consumption.
The key objectives of this research chair include using nixtamalisation as an agro-processing solution to produce safer, nutrient-rich, and more affordable meals. This approach aims to bring more variety to people’s diets by creating new food products and recipes. Consumer-led sensory evaluation methods will guide the creation of nixtamalised or smart-processed products, where traditional methods are enhanced by modern innovations, ensuring that they are suitable for household kitchens through the use of cost-effective ingredients or homegrown crops.
Beyond research, this initiative drives entrepreneurship and promotes inclusive economic growth. By transforming climate challenges into avenues for innovation, the research chair is shaping a future where climate-smart agri-foodprocessing strengthens food security, empowers rural communities to flourish, and contributes to a more resilient agricultural sector in South Africa.
This research chair aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
About the chair holder:
Dr Alba du Toit is Senior Lecturer and Head of the Innovative Agro-processing for Climate-smart Food Systems initiative within the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development at the UFS.
She leads a research team dedicated to developing food solutions that are both responsive to climate change and nutritionally sound. She is committed to advancing future-focused food product development, working with crops such as cactus pear, spekboom, nixtamalised maize, and sorghum. Her research emphasises consumer-led approaches to revolutionise food processing, aiming to deliver true value-adding solutions while addressing food insecurity and malnutrition through innovative food products.
In the news:
Supporting documentation: