UKZN celebrated a significant academic milestone on 31 October 2025 when Professor Samson Zeray Tesfay delivered his inaugural lecture titled Re-thinking Plant-based Secondary Metabolites in Fruits: Tissue Distribution and By-products/Food Waste Valorization for Environmental Sustainability. The lecture marked his formal appointment as a Full Professor in the Discipline of Horticultural Sciences.

DVC and Head of the College of Agriculture Engineering and Science, Professor Fhatuwani Mudau, opened the session by highlighting Tesfay’s distinguished academic journey and his long-standing contributions to plant science and postharvest physiology. He commended Tesfay’s leadership in the field, remarking, “We are leaders in the horticultural space.”

In his lecture, Tesfay traced the origins of his research back to his doctoral work at UKZN, where he began studying the interactions between plant carbohydrates, antioxidants, and fruit quality. His early investigations into avocado fruit tissues laid the groundwork for what would become a comprehensive research portfolio centred on plant secondary metabolites – compounds essential for enhancing fruit quality, improving shelf life and promoting environmental sustainability.

Building on these foundational studies, he expanded his work into the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites across a range of species, with particular emphasis on moringa. He examined how environmental conditions and extraction techniques shaped antioxidant properties, contributing vital knowledge to ongoing studies in plant physiology and natural product chemistry.

Tesfay’s research has had practical outcomes, notably the valorization of moringa extracts for use in postharvest edible coatings and the development of natural antifungal agents for fruit preservation. These innovations have offered sustainable alternatives to synthetic treatments, aligning with global priorities around reducing chemical inputs in agriculture.

Tesfay also discussed his work on UV-C and ozone-based postharvest sanitation treatments. These technologies, he explained, contributed not only to improved hygiene but also to reducing ethylene production – a key driver of ripening – in climacteric fruits. The integration of nanotechnology into postharvest interventions further strengthened the responsiveness of organic by-products against common fruit pathogens, opening new possibilities for eco-friendly and effective food preservation.

Tesfay emphasised the importance of bridging research and real-world application. “Whatever we do, research has to go far. It needs to go down to the ground. It needs to be impactful. We have the resources, so let’s do it,” he urged, calling on colleagues and students to pursue science that contributes directly to food security and environmental resilience.

His academic journey has been defined by both scholarly excellence and practical experience. After earning his BSc in Arid-Zone Crop Production from the University of Asmara in 1994, he went on to complete his MSc and PhD at UKZN, supported by the IMF Scholarship and the South African Avocado Growers Association (SAAGA). Before joining the university in 2013, he served as an extension officer, Head of Department in Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture, and provisional technical director in agronomy – experiences that enriched his teaching and reinforced his commitment to applied research.

Since joining UKZN, Tesfay has progressed rapidly through the academic ranks, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2018, Associate Professor in 2020 and Full Professor in 2024. Over the years he has supervised 12 PhD and 35 MSc graduates, mentored six postdoctoral fellows and published more than 160 articles in reputable journals. He has also contributed significantly to the academic community through postgraduate examination, editorial board membership with the International Society of Horticultural Sciences and extensive peer reviewing for high-impact journals.

At the close of his lecture, Professor Tesfay thanked his wife, children, parents and siblings, as well as his academic colleagues and friends, for their unwavering support and for believing in him.

Words: Sally Frost

Picture: Christine Cuenod