Olaniyi Fawole

Prof. Olaniyi Amos Fawole is a food systems and postharvest researcher whose work focuses on reducing food loss and waste, strengthening food and nutrition security, and advancing sustainable agroprocessing and circular food bioeconomy solutions in Africa. He holds a PhD in Horticultural Sciences from Stellenbosch University, with expertise in postharvest technology, agroprocessing and circular food bioeconomy.

He is the Founding Director of the Postharvest and Agroprocessing Research Centre (PARC) and holds the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Sustainable Preservation & Agroprocessing Research (SPAR) at the University of Johannesburg. He also holds the DoA–ARC Chair, further strengthening his work at the interface of agricultural research, innovation, industry and policy. Through these leadership platforms, he advances research and partnerships aimed at preserving nutritious foods, reducing postharvest losses, adding value to agricultural products and strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of African food value chains.

Since joining the University of Johannesburg in 2019, Prof. Fawole has secured more than R50 million in research and innovation funding, including a £224,000 international grant through the African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme. His research and knowledge-transfer activities bring together universities, industry and food-system stakeholders to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions.

Prof. Fawole contributes to national, continental and international discussions on food loss and waste, postharvest management and sustainable food systems. His collaborations and professional engagements include the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), African Union Commission (AUC), International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and Consumer Goods Council of South Africa. He serves on the Technical Board of the Food Loss and Waste Initiative of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and is co-chair of the 5th All-Africa Postharvest Congress and Exhibition, hosted by the African Union Commission. Through these platforms, he works to strengthen connections between scientific evidence, industry practice and policy priorities.

Capacity development is central to his work. He has supervised 50 postgraduate students to graduation, contributing to the development of the next generation of African scientists and professionals in postharvest science, food preservation and agroprocessing.

Prof. Fawole has published more than 230 indexed scientific papers, attracting over 11,000 citations on Google Scholar, and holds a B2 rating from South Africa’s National Research Foundation, recognising his international research standing. He is Chair of the ISHS Working Group on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean Fruits and will convene the IV International Symposium on Beverage Crops in South Africa in 2026. He is also a Full Professor (Extraordinaire) at Stellenbosch University and a Visiting Professor at the University of Bari, Italy.

Beyond academia, Prof. Fawole is committed to research communication, knowledge translation and public engagement. With more than 29,000 followers on LinkedIn, he uses digital platforms to communicate research findings, promote capacity development and raise awareness of food loss, agroprocessing and food-system challenges. He was a 2024/2025 NSTF-South32 winner in the Agricultural Research Council category.

His work is ultimately aimed at turning postharvest research into practical solutions, skilled human capacity and evidence that can inform policy and investment, reduce food losses, improve livelihoods and contribute to more resilient and food-secure African food systems.