Prof Linus Franke leads the Research Chair in Climate Change and Agriculture, which focuses on holistic and interdisciplinary research to explore the complex relationships between climate change and the agricultural sector. This work contributes to both climate change adaptation and mitigation within agriculture, supports the development and implementation of relevant policies, and helps shape public discussions around climate change and sustainable farming.
The chair focuses on four key areas:
To better understand how climate change affects agriculture and to explore practical options for adapting to its impacts: This is based on climate projections, crop and livestock production models, micro-meteorological field studies, remote sensing technologies, and improved understanding into how farmers, both in large-scale commercial and smallholder systems, are currently responding to extreme weather conditions.
Carbon footprint of agricultural production: Measuring the carbon footprint of agricultural activities is an important first step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the sector. Accurate quantification provides the foundation for effective action, including the design and implementation of policies such as the extension of South Africa’s carbon tax to agriculture. In addition, reliable data and realistic models are important for governments to report on their emission reduction efforts to international bodies.
To enhance carbon sequestration through improved agricultural land management: This involves practices such as conservation agriculture and improved grazing management, which help to store carbon in soils. Such approaches are gaining considerable global attention which led to the development of carbon credit schemes. Such schemes allow farmers to benefit financially from increasing carbon storage in their soils, in addition to the ecological advantages soil carbon provides such as improved soil health, and enhanced landscape hydrology. For these initiatives to be effective and credible, they must be grounded in empirical data and reliable models of soil carbon dynamics.
To play an important role in creating awareness in society on climate change: The chair aims to help society better understand the large impacts climate change has and will continue to have on agriculture.
The research chair will assist in placing the UFS and the ARC regionally and nationally at the forefront of this field and contribute substantially to scientific and societal debates on the relationship between climate change and agriculture.
This work aligns closely with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
About the chair holder:
Prof Linus Franke, heading the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the UFS, is a leading researcher in crop production, food security, climate change, and agricultural sustainability. His work spans a wide array of topics, with a strong focus on connecting detailed crop-level research to broader questions around rural development, sustainability, and climate adaptation. He applies a combination of field experiments, farmer surveys, crop and farm simulation modelling, and advanced data analysis in his research.
He leads several projects, including studies on soil carbon dynamics in agricultural lands, resource-use efficiency in irrigated crop production, and smallholder farming systems across Africa. He is also the coordinator of an intra-Africa mobility grant that facilitates student exchanges among universities on the continent, helping to strengthen academic networks and research capacity.
As an NRF C1-rated researcher, he has authored 138 articles and reports and has an h-index of 34 on Google Scholar.
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