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04 April 2025 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied
Prof Wayne Truter
Prof Wayne Truter, Research Professor at the UFS Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry, and Executive Management of the UFS Green Futures Hub.

Hosting the South African Circular Agriculture Initiative (SACAI) – an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s (DSTI) – will help position the Green Futures Hub at the University of the Free State (UFS) as a leader in circularity in agriculture.

The UFS Green Futures Hub was selected to host the SACAI from 1 January 2025-31 March 2026. The funding received will be used to conduct workshops with stakeholders to develop a strategy to strengthen South Africa’s science, technology, and innovation for a circular economy in the agriculture sector.

The SACAI, under the leadership of Prof Wayne Truter, Research Professor at the UFS Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry, and Executive Management of the UFS Green Futures Hub, aims to advance the principles of the circular economy and modernise agriculture in line with the South African government's aspirations. These goals are outlined in the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Decadal Plan (2022-2032) and the Circular Economy STI Strategy.

 

Elevating the UFS’ visibility

The UFS Green Future Hub is a virtual platform in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS), to facilitate integration and leverage capabilities to facilitate third stream funding and industry collaboration. It provides an interface and support structure for researchers to engage with funders and partners through the Hub.

Prof Truter says it is a great honour and privilege to have been awarded this initiative. “The funding that comes with SACAI will elevate our visibility in agriculture in the country and will help position Green Futures Hub as a leader in circularity in agriculture. A key objective of SACAI is to leverage science, technology, and innovation to enhance the value of the national system of innovation (NSI) within the agriculture sector. 

“The initiative will align with the priorities set out in the Circular Economy STI Strategy (2024-2034), focusing on resource efficiency, regenerative agriculture, sustainable agro-processing, and biorefinery development in South Africa. Through collaborations with other public research institutions, the hub will drive STI implementation in these critical areas,” says Prof Truter.

 

Objectives of SACAI 

The objective of SACAI is to give effect to the (i) circular economy, and (ii) modernising agriculture, aspirations of the South African government. The SACAI aims to advance the principles of the circular economy and modernise agriculture in line with the South African government’s aspirations. 

Simultaneously, Prof Truter explains, the objectives of the SACAI align with the vision of the UFS Green Futures Hub to be a global leader in advancing the understanding and application of sustainable practices for life with land and water, in developing contexts. By leveraging the latest advancements in research, technology, and innovation, the hub aims to create a thriving future where communities harmonise with natural and agricultural environments, ensuring the well-being of current and future generations, which has a particular focus on modernising agriculture and capacity development. 

Through STI, the SACAI will support the South African agriculture sector to adopt, scale and accelerate circular practices and technology. The SACAI will act through a hub-and-spoke model, to build and strengthen a national system of innovation, and associated capability, and will establish and strengthen strategic regional and international STI partnerships, to directly support industry and other sector stakeholders, serving as a facilitator of relevant research and related outputs.

 

UFS’ Vision 130 

“A South African Circular Agricultural Initiative perfectly aligns with our research-led, student-centred, and regionally engaged university by driving innovation and knowledge production in sustainable agriculture. This initiative will enable the university to contribute to development and social justice by advancing circular farming practices that reduce waste, optimise resources, and promote environmental sustainability, particularly in rural areas. 

“This fosters greater food security and resilience, benefiting marginalised communities, and addressing social inequalities within the agricultural sector. By involving our students, this initiative will directly support the student-centred approach, offering hands-on learning experiences that equip graduates with cutting-edge skills in circular economy principles,” says Prof Truter. 

The university’s Vision 130 focus on diversity, inclusion, and equity is reflected in the initiative’s emphasis on sharing knowledge and resources equitably, ensuring maximum societal impact and advancing a more just and sustainable agricultural system across South Africa.

Prof Vasu Reddy, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, says: “This accolade speaks volumes of the calibre of our scholars and the recognition of our expertise in the agricultural domain. The UFS is exceptionally proud of Prof Truter’s drive, initiatives, vision and foresight. Under his leadership, we will augment and inflect even further our standing and position in the circular economy of agriculture. Reddy added: “We will not simply be the heartland but the growing soul and substance of what agriculture might become through research, implementation and impact. We are watching this space with deep curiosity.”

News Archive

OSM opening concert 2012
2012-03-02

 

The OSM Camerata is going to shine in the very first annual OSM opening concert.
1 March 2012


 

OSM opening concert 2012 with the OSM Camerata
Conductor: Nicholas Nikolaidis
Date: 1 March 2012
Venue: Odeion
Time: 19:30

The OSM opening concert 2012 with the OSM CAMERATA will be streamed live on the internet with the generous support of OSM partner, LA MUSE AUDIO & LIGHTING (www.ufs.ac.za/ufslivestreaming) in collaboration with the UFS LIVE STREAMING UNIT.

The OSM Camerata is going to shine in the very first annual OSM opening concert. The ensemble will be conducted by Nicholas Nikolaidis. The programme includes excerpts from Stabat Mater (Pergolesi), Romanian Folk Dances (Bartók), Pelimannit (Rautavaara), Elegy (Grové) and Purple Haze (Hendrix). since 2011, the Odeion School of Music has embarked on a new, innovative strategy striving towards uncompromising excellence and internationalisation, which includes the A-List scholarship programme and a new flagship chamber ensemble, the OSM Camerata. Talented South African, conductor/tenor Nicholas Nicolaidis, (runner-up in the First National Len van Zyl Orchestral Conducting Competition) will take the stage for the inaugural concert of the OSM.

Nicholas started his conducting career at an early age while still in the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School. Professionally his first conducting post was as choirmaster and conductor of the choir and band at Pridwin Preparatory School (Melrose, Johannesburg) in 1996.

Following his appointment in April 1997 as the Musical Director of Côr Meibion Cymru de Affrig (The Welsh Male Voice Choir of South Africa), he conducted the choir for seven years, producing three albums. One of the highlights was the performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London in October 2000 for the Millennium Festival of Male Voice Choirs.

His orchestral conducting debut was in 1998 at the Johannesburg City Hall where he conducted the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra and the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg in a few items of ‘Last Night of the Proms’. Selected conducting performances include the Chanticleer Singers in a performance of Schubert’s Mass in G at the Holy Trinity Church (Braamfontein, Johannesburg) in 2002, and the Johannesburg Camerata, a chamber orchestra consisting of talented young performers, during their winter season in 2005.

In 2006, Nicholas enrolled at Stellenbosch University for a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting under the direction of the Norwegian pedagogue, Kåre Hanken. During this time, he also conducted the Johannesburg-based chamber choir, Collegium Vocale. He conducted the Johannesburg Chamber Wind Ensemble from 2006 to 2008.

In 2009, he conducted the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra in a programme of music by Leroy Anderson, the vocal ensemble, In Verse, and the Chanticleer Singers during their Christmas season. Nicholas was also the winner of the inaugural Young Choral Conductors Competition held during the Stellenbosch International Choral Conducting Symposium in March 2009.

In February 2010, he was awarded the Silver Medal in the inaugural Len van Zyl Conducting Competition held in conjunction with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. During the Easter period of 2010 he conducted Cantamus Corde in a performance of JS Bach’s St John’s Passion, whilst also singing the role of the Evangelist.

Nicholas has also appeared as guest conductor of the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town in a concert with music by Ramirez and Klatzow. In that year he also conducted the gala Concert of the Brooklyn Theatre (Pretoria).

Refreshments will be on sale before and after the concert.

Admission:
R60 (adults)
R40 (pensioners, students and learners)
Tickets available at Computicket.

Enquiries:
Ninette Pretorius (Tel: +27(0)51 401 2504)


 

 

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