Interview with Habtamnesh Girma Habtemariam
In July, 2024, 2Blades and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster greater cooperation between the two organizations and their activities in soybean in Africa. A specific activity under this framework is a commitment to support the Ph.D. research of Ms. Habtamnesh Girma Habtemariam on Asian soybean rust at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa.
Habtamnesh Girma Habtemariam, PhD student
Tell us a little about yourself and your path to this work. What motivated you to pursue your PhD focusing on soybean and ASR?
I grew up on a coffee farm where my father works as a supervisor, so I always had an interest in plant science. I pursued my baccalaureate degree in horticulture at Hawassa University in Ethiopia and shortly thereafter started teaching at the same university.After a few years as a lecturer, I decided to pursue an advanced degree (Master of Science) in plant biotechnology at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, specializing in molecular plant breeding and pathology. Then, in March 2023, I had an opportunity to visit a soybean field while going on a hike in Malawi. The harvest that year was destroyed by Asian soybean rust (ASR). I had never heard of ASR before, but I started reading reports and learned how devastating ASR could be to yields at farmers’ fields. I became more and more interested in the disease, so I wrote a proposal to see if I could work on it. I connected with IITA and noticed that there is a need for in-depth research on ASR in Malawi. I corresponded with Dr. Abush Abebe and Dr. Harun Murithi at IITA, who both provided excellent advice and support for my proposal. These connections also led to an introduction with Dr. Diana Horvath and Dr. Kamil Witek at 2Blades. Through these connections and support, my research proposal was ultimately accepted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal for me to pursue my Ph.D., which will include conducting field research on ASR in Malawi.
What do you hope will be the practical application of your work?
Soybean yield has been very much impacted in Malawi, especially in the 2022/23 growing season due to ASR. There was above-average rainfall in 2022/23 which created a conducive environment for ASR. Therefore, there is an urgent need to breed for resistant varieties that can tolerate the impact of ASR in the region. There is incipient work on germplasm screening at IITA that has to be continued to bring us one step closer to the solution. The ultimate goal of my PhD research is to contribute to the development of ASR-resistant soybean varieties through the utilization of soybean germplasms collected from various sources and the application of molecular plant breeding approaches. Understanding the ASR population in Malawi and its virulence dynamics that are consistently changing in the farmers’ field is part of my study as it guides breeding strategies to follow.
What has been your experience, first-hand, with ASR?
In Malawi, soybean is an important cash crop. Beginning a few years ago, many farmers started replacing tobacco with soybean and many processing industries have emerged. Soybean is a protein source for humans, especially smallholder farmers, and many poultry farms use soybean cake, the leftover fiber from soybean oil.
Unfortunately, the 2022/23 growing season in Malawi has been devastating. CIMMYT surveyed the soybean growers to see how it is impacting them, and roughly 50% of all farmers in Malawi were affected. I have not worked on soybeans before, but given the crop’s importance to many farmers, I am eager to learn about the crop and ASR, apply my knowledge of molecular breeding and pathology, and contribute to the quest for ASR-resistant soybean varieties.
What have you enjoyed most about your experience so far?
Coming closer to this team of scientists who are highly esteemed in the field of breeding and pathology is a privilege. It gives me energy, and it is a dream team for me. All team members are committed and willing to provide support, and I am very hopeful that I will benefit much from this collaboration. Thinking about the future makes me happy as I am going to learn from them a lot. I will not take this opportunity for granted. Currently, I am enjoying diving into literature, finalizing my research proposal, and planning on the research activities that I will be starting very soon.
What does 2Blades’ support mean for you as you pursue your PhD?
For sure, I can’t say enough about it. There were many times when I did not think I would be able to pursue a PhD. I had written many proposals, but without an institutional attachment, it was difficult for me to find funding and support. 2Blades helped me cross that barrier and gave me a chance. I was almost at the point of giving up on this journey, and I wouldn’t have been able to do this without 2Blades’ support. It is saving my career.
“Coming closer to this team of scientists who are highly esteemed in the field of breeding and pathology is a privilege. It gives me energy, and it is a dream team for me.”
2Blades is also providing more than just financial support, as well. Their involvement in my research has led me to get in touch with 2Blades Group Leader Dr. Kamil Witek and other experts in the field. I thank 2Blades for the financial support required by UKZN and Dr. Godfree Chigeza, head of soybean breeding at IITA, for sponsoring my PhD research. I am grateful to Prof. Shimelis of UKZN for allowing me to work under his supervision, Dr. Abush and Dr. Harun of IITA, and Dr. Kamil for their support, encouragement, and willingness to be part of the supervisory team.
What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t in the lab or in the field?
I am a social person who actively participates in the Ethiopian expat community in Malawi. I love bringing people together by organizing events and charity work. I engage in physical activities such as walking, aerobics, and hiking whenever I have time.
I enjoy spending time with my family. We have a 4-month-old girl, who is a great addition to the family of two boys, 15 and 10 years old. In fact, I got the news about 2Blades’ support a day after I delivered my young daughter. It’s been an exciting four months!
2Blades’ mission includes supporting the training of scientists, including in Sub-Saharan Africa where we can contribute to regional capacity. By equipping local researchers with the knowledge and tools needed to combat devastating crop diseases such as Asian soybean rust, 2Blades seeks to empower communities and ensure sustainable agriculture practices that will meet the challenges for achieving food security.