Research and innovation in agricultural engineering in a University in KwaZulu-Natal

With high incidences of population growth, increasing food deficits, soaring demands for food and the various environmental challenges has necessitated that agriculture and food production scale up to become issue of international, political, policy and research agenda. There are various projections that the global population might increase to 9billion by 2050 and such increase will be prominent in Asia, Latin America and in Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the greatest concern is that to meet the increasing need for food amongst the population, at least 60% increase in food production is necessary to need the need of the population. Research and innovation in agricultural engineering is crucial in overcoming the major challenges caused by global changes taking place now. This paper is aimed at guiding policy decisions in education and it seeks to provide an investigation into research and innovation in agricultural engineering in a university in KwaZulu-Natal. This study explored the nature of research and innovation in a university in KwaZulu-Natal. To provide answers to the research questions, a literature review was carried out to locate researches made in agricultural engineering in a university in KwaZulu-Natal between year 1988 to 2016. Research and innovation in agricultural engineering is categorized along four dimensions which are optimizing and Regulating combustion in compression ignition engines, energy use and Post-harvest management of sugarcane, Small holder Irrigation and small scale water infrastructure in South Africa, Climate issues and the extension need of smallholder farmers in South Africa. This study recommended that there is a need to have a change to research and innovation in agricultural engineering in a university in KwaZulu-Natal due to changing context and conduct of events. With the sustainable development goals and many challenging issues to deal with, there should be a focus on fourth industrial revolution and its application to agricultural engineering, climate change issues, gender issues in agricultural engineering, food security and sustainability of food crop production etc.