Inaugural Lecture: Professor Cletos Mapiye

Prof Kennedy Dzama, Dean of AgriSciences, invites you to join us as we celebrate this milestone in the remarkable academic journey of Professor Cletos Mapiye.
 

Professor Cletos Mapiye
Department of Animal Sciences
Faculty of AgriSciences
Title: Climatesmart phytogenic diets for enhanced ruminant meat quality
 

Event details
Date: Thursday 30 April 2026
Time: 17:30 SAST
Venue: STIAS, Wallenberg Research Centre, 10 Marais Street, Stellenbosch
Format: Hybrid event
 

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Climate smart phytogenic diets for enhanced ruminant meat quality

While ruminant meat plays a key role in food, economic and social security, it is increasingly criticised for inefficiency and adverse impacts on animal welfare, human and planetary health. This progressively discourages consumers from choosing this nutrient‑dense food. To address this paradox, Prof Cletos Mapiye has established a research programme dedicated to evaluating the effects of non conventional, sustainable ruminant feed resources on meat production and quality, with a particular emphasis on fatty acid profiling.

In his inaugural lecture, Prof Mapiye shares some of his programme’s advancements in the discovery, evaluation and practical application of several non-conventional phytogenic feed ingredients. A key focus is the systematic validation of the meat quality-enhancing potential of underutilised resources such as invasive tree foliage, climate-resilient herbaceous legumes, and the byproducts of cereal, fruit and oilseed processing. Establishing optimal dietary inclusion levels for these feedstuffs has opened new opportunities for producers and feed companies worldwide to formulate evidence based dietary strategies that reduce environmental impacts and deliver affordable, safe, healthier, climate smart meat products with an extended shelf life. Notably, the programme’s research on hempseed byproducts has increased the omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of ruminant meat to levels that meet both local and international health claim standards. Additionally, Prof Mapiye’s research has strengthened climate resilience and the circular bioeconomy by transforming invasive plant biomass and agro industrial byproducts into high value animal feeds. This, in turn, supports food and nutrition security, greenhouse gas mitigation and biodiversity restoration, aligning with sustainable development goals 2, 13 and 15.

Thanks to this pioneering research, the Meat Lipid Laboratory at Stellenbosch University has emerged as one of only two facilities in Africa capable of delivering comprehensive ruminant fatty acid profiles. This has deepened scientific understanding of the mechanistic pathways that drive the nutritional enhancement of meat fatty acid profiles, shaping international discussions on omega-3 fatty acid health claims, trans fat labelling, and the emerging role of climate-smart meat. Several of the Laboratory’s research outputs are widely cited by international research groups, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Economic Forum, emphasising their policy relevance and global impact.

Looking ahead, Prof Mapiye envisions establishing a consumer centric, climate smart Meat Hub. Integrating indigenous knowledge with strategic value chain partnerships, the initiative will co create innovative, climate smart phytogenic diets that enhance ruminant meat production and quality in line with evolving consumer preferences, industry priorities and sustainability imperatives. By advancing food and income security, social inclusion and equity, climate resilience, circularity and consumer confidence, the Hub will ensure that ruminant meat remains a vital, sustainable component of future diets.
 

Biography

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and raised on a small-scale crop–livestock farm, Cletos Mapiye’s early life laid the foundation for a career deeply rooted in animal agriculture. The daily rhythms of farm life shaped his connection to animals, which inspired a sustained passion for animal science. Having completed his honours and master’s degrees in Animal Science at the University of Zimbabwe, he worked as a researcher and lecturer in this field before relocating to South Africa in 2007 to pursue his doctoral studies. In 2010, he graduated with his doctorate in Animal Science, specialising in Ruminant Nutrition and Meat Science, from the University of Fort Hare.

His postdoctoral career led him first to the University of Rwanda as a senior lecturer, and then to Canada, where he served as a research fellow in the Meat Fatty Acid Laboratory at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lacombe Research and Development Centre. In 2013, he joined the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) as a senior lecturer in Meat Science in the Department of Animal Sciences. From 2018 to 2022, Mapiye also served as interim incumbent of the SARChI Chair in Meat Science. He was promoted to full professor in 2025.

Holding a C1-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF), Mapiye is the founder and leader of a research programme on climate‑smart phytogenic feedstuffs that could enhance the production, healthfulness, shelf life and sensory quality of ruminant meat. He has published over 170 peer‑reviewed articles, four book chapters, 30 popular pieces and 96 conference papers, and delivered 15 keynotes as an invited speaker. As academic mentor, he has supervised 22 MSc and 12 PhD graduates, four Consolidoc candidates and three postdoctoral fellows, and is currently guiding three MSc students, six PhD candidates and three postdoctoral fellows.

In addition to his work at SU, Mapiye has established a strong regional and international footprint as a guest lecturer, moderator for undergraduate modules, and an external examiner for postgraduate theses. He is an active member of the South African Society for Animal Sciences (SASAS), the American Society of Animal Science, and The World Academy of Sciences’ Young Affiliates Network. He serves on the NRF specialist rating committee for Veterinary and Animal Production Sciences.

As a scholarly leader, he serves on the editorial board of Meat and Muscle Biology and as associate editor of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lipids, Frontiers in Animal Science as well as the South African Journal of Animal Science.

Recent accolades in recognition of his work include the SU Established Researcher Award, the SASAS Silver Award (both in 2025) and the SU Postgraduate Supervision Award (2023).