Food Security and Nutrition

Dr Callistus Bvenura graduated with a BSc in Natural Resources Management and Agriculture in 2006 from the Midlands State University, Zimbabwe and completed his PhD Ethnobotany from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa in 2014. His areas of specialization encompass interdisciplinary research at the intersection of plant biology, ethnobotany, food science, agriculture, and public health, with a focus on promoting sustainable food and nutrition security through the utilization of diverse plant resources. Callistus' research profile is comprehensive, including co-edited books, numerous peer reviewed research articles, book chapters and review papers in these focus areas and is constantly presenting his research findings at local and international conferences. In addition, he has interests in product development where he and his fellow colleagues developed Niselo, a probiotic sorghum beverage which has since then been commercialized in South Africa and the United Kingdom. He is also part of a team that developed broiler chicken feed using indigenous and underutilized grains and insects. Furthermore, he is a South African National Research Foundation rated researcher and panel expert reviewer. Dr Bvenura is also an editorial board member of the Journal of Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (JOMPED) and reviews for several local and international journals.

Prof Learnmore Kambizi attained his BSc degree from Cuba in 1998 before enrolling for Masters and PhD degrees at the University of Fort Hare which he completed in 2004. His PhD focused on Ethnobotanical studies of plants used for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in South Africa. He went on to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship within the fields of Ethnobotany & Phytomedicine. This discipline enabled him to realise his passion for sustainable utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants on a local and international level. He worked as a Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe in 2005 before moving to the University of the Free State, South Africa in 2007. In the same year, he was appointed by Walter Sisulu University as a Senior lecturer until 2011. He moved to Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa where he is now a Full Professor of Botany. In his academic journey to date, he has hosted 4 postdoctoral fellows and supervised 5 PhD, 16 master's and numerous Honours students. In addition, he has edited and published a book, published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals and presented at many national and international conferences. He recently edited a book titled "Sustainable uses and prospects of medicinal plants". He is a South African National Research Foundation rated researcher. Prof Kambizi has also served as a panel member of the National Research Foundation of South Africa and has received many research grants to support post graduate students and to assist communities. He also collaborates with Traditional Medical Practitioners in collaboration with the South African Research Council as an advisor. In addition, Prof Kambizi was appointed the first Director of African Centre for Herbal Research based in Nigeria, a position he holds to date. He is a reviewer of many national and international journals.