Prof. Mpepereki, Sheunesu

Qualifications:

Ph.D. (Agriculture, Soil Science), University of Zimbabwe, M.Sc. (Agriculture – Soil Science and Microbiology), North Carolina State University, USA., B.Sc. (Botany and Chemistry), University of Sierra Leone, Certificate in Education (Secondary – Science), University of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

Academic Appointments:

Professorial Chair

Research Interests:

Soya beans
Soil fertility niches
Legume biological nitrogen fixation (BNF)
Fate of Bt toxins in tropical soils
Smallholder manure management
Cyanobacteria and ecological biochemistry of pro-anthocyanidins

Faculty: Agriculture Environment And Food Systems

Department: Department of Soil Science and Environment

Research Category: Environment & Agriculture

Biography:

Prof Mpepereki rose through the ranks from lecturer to full professor by 2002, on the back of extensive scientific publications from his prolific research outputs in leading refereed journals.

He has won several competitive research grants allowing his to engage and train numerous Masters and doctorate graduate students many of whom now hold key posts in academia, public and private sectors in Zimbabwe and the sub-region. Working closely with both private and public sector organizations his Soybean Research and Development Program saw both small scale and large scale resettled farmers benefiting from adoption of soybean through improved nutrition and farm incomes. Prof Mpepereki’s research programs featured collaboration with African and overseas partners and included soil fertility niches, legume biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), fate of Bt toxins in tropical soils, smallholder manure management, cyanobacteria and ecological biochemistry of pro-anthocyanidins.

Prof Mpepereki has held many positions of responsibility both within and outside the university including as a department board chair, deputy Dean and Chairman of the UZ Research Board. He has been a member and chairperson of several public sector boards including the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Agricultural Research Council of Zimbabwe, the Central Mechanical Equipment Department, (CMED Pvt Ltd), and Grain Marketing Board (GMB).

As National Coordinator of the Soyabean Promotion Task Force Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki is credited with successfully integrating and popularizing soyabean as a food, soil improving and cash crop and Rhizobium Inoculant Technology as a cheap soil fertility intervention among Zimbabwe’s black farmers through a sustained dedicated program of applied research, stakeholder mobilization and farmer training. By working with and through value chain actors in both private and public sectors, Prof Mpepereki pioneered the innovation platform approach to conducting Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IR4D).

Email: smpepe@agric.uz.ac.zw

Phone: +263772220934

Publications:

Patented Work:

Grants & Funding (current and Past projects):

Awards & Achievements:

Presidential Certificate of Distinction Award (2013)
Impact Research & Science in Africa (IMPRESSA) Award (2010)
Rockefeller Foundation Food security Career Fellowship (2002)
Agricultural Sciences Career Fellowship (1995)

Consultancy and advisory work (current and past):

Supervision information (MPhil, DPhil, etc.):

Professional membership, Committees, Boards:

Agricultural Research Council of Zimbabwe
Environmental Management Agency (EMA)
Central Mechanical Equipment Department, (CMED Pvt Ltd)
Grain Marketing Board (GMB).