Jonne Rodenburg's Inaugural Professorial Lecture

"Witches and vampires in African agriculture: biology, ecology and management of parasitic weeds"
The plant kingdom encompasses around 380,000 species, of which less than 0.05% contribute to food security as crops, while more than 1% jeopardise food security as weeds. Jonne's work aims to improve food-crop productivity and reduce weed problems on smallholder farms. His geographic focus is on Africa where food security is most fragile, and his agronomic focus is on cereal production systems that are staple food sources severely affected by weeds. Jonne has investigated feasible agronomic strategies for rice farmers to improve yields, manage weeds and reduce weeding drudgery. In rice and sorghum he studied interactions with parasitic plants that comprise a category of exceptionally harmful weeds. Witchweed and rice vampireweed are the major parasitic weeds in cereals, and he demonstrated how differences in their biology and ecology necessitate adaptations in crop management for adequate weed control and crop productivity.