By Prof Upenyu Marume

The world’s population is growing at an exponential rate and is expected to reach 9,7 billion by 2050. Feeding the fast-growing population while enhancing their health are therefore top priorities. The human body consists of 17% protein, and much of that protein is obtained from animal-based products such as meat, fish, eggs and milk. The global annual meat consumption is expected to reach 373 million metric tons by 2030, and 465 million metric tons by 2050. Regular assessment of animal production and sustainability is therefore required. Broilers are generally regarded as one of the cheapest protein sources – albeit the most nutritious – for humans. Broiler production over the years has been enhanced through significant genetic progress as well as the use of antibiotics to improve feed and general production efficiency. Nevertheless, the inclusion of biological, chemical and aetiological additives – antibiotics in particular – in animal feeds can affect the quality and safety of animal-based food products and cause potential risks to human health. Ultimately, innovation continues to be a key determinant in providing effective and safe animal nutrition. Moreover, regulatory and corporate responsibilities are critical in protecting animal and human health. The lecture will highlight some of the key issues on the use of antibiotics and possible alternatives in broiler production systems, research conducted and some future perspectives on the possible use of alternative feed additives in broiler production and their potential contribution to the production of safe, wholesome and healthy meat for the benefit of consumers.

By Prof Hannalene du Plessis

Food security is threatened by pests and diseases. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a holistic approach to controlling pests. It is a decision-support system for the selection and use of pest control tactics, singly or harmoniously coordinated into a management strategy that is based on cost-benefit analyses. This strategy considers the interests of and impact on producers, society and the environment. In practice, IPM shifts the focus from a single pest species population in a restricted area to a whole ecosystem focus that includes communities of pests and other organisms in a larger area. It therefore requires integration of IPM and integrated crop management on a landscape level.

By Prof Oladapo Aremu

There is an increasing awareness of and concern with the accelerating rate of change on our planet, which has a significant effect on biodiversity, including plants. In addition, the need to value, document and protect indigenous knowledge about plants and nature cannot be overemphasised. The lecture focused on the research of the past decade, particularly among the Batswana of South Africa, who have actively contributed to the documentation of plant resources with the goal of ensuring their sustainable utilisation and conservation to meet the needs of humans. These plants possess diverse purposes, such as managing skin diseases and as contraceptives in humans. Other aspects include the use of plants for managing diseases affecting livestock (ethnoveterinary). Overall, there is a potential to develop innovative use of indigenous knowledge among communities to produce valuable products for human and animal needs.

By Prof Lynette Drevin

In this presentation, different perspectives of humans living in an information technology (IT) environment are reflected upon. While contemplating my own career journey, aspects such as educational topics, research endeavours on IT failures and security awareness, the involvement of professional societies/associations, as well as line management issues are shared. Many factors may influence humans in the IT environment. These factors include, but are not limited to, rapid change and emergence in IT systems, complexity of systems, failed and challenged information systems, cyber and computer (in)security, and lack of awareness and training. All these may have an impact on people. However, there is a lack of coherent knowledge of what is impacting the human living in the IT environment. There is therefore a need to ascertain what aspects have an influence on being human in the IT world to understand it and interact with it in a safe, holistic manner.

A critical reflection from different perspectives of the aspects impacting the human living in the IT environment is presented. Kant asked the three questions about reason: “What can I know?” “What must I do?” and “What may I hope?” These questions are highlighted in this presentation, considering different perspectives when addressing the problem statement: “There is a lack of coherent knowledge of what is impacting the human living in the IT environment”. The focus is ultimately on hope – how to bring about a better future for humans to cope, to be empowered and to be living in the IT environment, based on our insight and actions (knowing and doing).

Prof Sarina Claassens

Humanity relies on healthy soils for a range of critical ecosystem services, from maintaining water and air quality to regulating climate and being the basis of all food production. The unseen soil microbiome is fundamental to productive soils. Microorganisms play a pivotal role in the cycling of major biological elements (for example, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus), they exclusively mediate nitrogen fixation, denitrification and nitrification, and they mobilise nutrients from insoluble minerals to support plant growth. They are the drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems but are also especially important for the recovery and resilience of disturbed, degraded or harsh soils. It is therefore widely acknowledged that soil health is important to measure – for assessment and as a monitoring tool to help guide management practices – and that a better understanding of soil microbial diversity and functions is key to achieving this.

Prof Cornie Van Sittert

Although Hippocrates recognised as early as about 400 BC that air pollution had an effect on human health, and several references to air pollution were made during the next two millennia, the First Industrial Revolution (c. 1760 to 1840) accelerated both the quantity and geographical distribution of primary pollution emissions. Many of the resources that led to the improvement of people’s quality of life in the First Industrial Revolution required electricity or fuel. The energy needs led to the use of energy sources such as oil and coal, leaving a carbon footprint in the form of air pollution, among other things. The First Industrial Revolution also led to dramatic population growth, resulting in greater energy demands. Man began to put his interests and comforts above the responsible management of creation (stewardship). This mindset continued until the 1960s, when acid rain became the focus of scientific and political interest. Although research into the influence of air pollution on climate change began as early as the late nineteenth century, the turning point in environmental science was the 1972 Stockholm Conference. After this conference, atmospheric monitoring and research on the release of gases increased dramatically. In 1997 the Kyoto Protocol and in 2015 the Paris Agreement were adopted. Both are legally binding international treaties with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint. South Africa is one of the countries that adopted the Paris Agreement, which means South Africa needs to move away from coal and oil as our primary energy sources towards alternative sustainable energy sources. However, the question now is: Can sustainable energy bring us back to responsible creation management?