Stellenbosch University alumnus Christopher Erasmus, who graduated with a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in March 2025, has been internationally recognised as the winner of the 2025 Forestry Innovation Prize at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) World Food Forum (WFF). This global platform celebrates young researchers advancing sustainable and scalable innovations.

Earlier this year, Christopher was named one of South Africa’s national winners in the 2025 Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Awards, hosted by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). His success in that competition earned him the opportunity to represent South Africa on the world stage, where his work went on to claim top honours in forestry innovation at the FAO WFF in Rome.

Christopher’s award-winning project, developed as part of his master’s degree in the Engineering 4 Environment (E4E) group at SU, introduces a low-cost, wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system designed to make precision forestry more accessible and sustainable.

“Being able to participate in such an important event means that my work is actually able to make a difference,” says Christopher. “It makes me feel very happy and reassured about my future. Winning this prize is also my way of giving back to all the support I received from Prof Thinus Booysen, Prof Dave Drew and the IMPACT teams during my master’s.”

Smart forestry, made simple

Precision forestry relies on specialised equipment to measure and manage tree growth, but existing systems are often costly, inaccessible and difficult to scale. Christopher and his collaborators at the IMPACT Open Access Laboratory (OAL) set out to change that.

Their system uses wireless communication and solar power, making it both scalable and autonomous while dramatically reducing costs compared to traditional setups.

“We wanted to build something that gives researchers the same level of insight at a fraction of the cost,” explains Christopher. “Our design ensures data can be accessed remotely and sustainably, even in field conditions.”

Developing the system, however, came with its own set of challenges. “Finding novelty, or genuine gaps in the state of the art, was one of the hardest parts,” Christopher says. “Innovation happens so fast these days that it can be difficult to know what already exists, and commercial systems aren’t always transparent about their technical details.”

To overcome this, he relied on what he calls relentless research. “Research, research, research, and more research. Applying the basic engineering principles, acquiring commercial equipment for side-by-side comparisons, and conducting extensive testing,” he says.

A passion for sustainability

Christopher’s curiosity and love for nature sparked the idea. His work contributes to sustainable forestry by improving understanding of Eucalyptus species under intensive monitoring - helping balance the need for wood products with the protection of natural forests.

“At the IMPACT OAL, we demonstrate sustainable forestry to better understand Eucalyptus growth,” he says. “This is essential if we want wood products without destroying natural forests.”

From Stellenbosch to Lisbon

Now based in Portugal, Christopher works as an electronic engineer with PDM Spain and Beyond Vision, a drone technology company in Lisbon. His current project focuses on developing an autonomous drone charging station for unmanned missions.

During his visit to Stellenbosch in October 2025, Christopher will take part in a REMARKABLE Project workshop and reconnect with his colleagues in the E4E and IMPACT teams.

A reflection of excellence

Prof Thinus Booysen from SU’s Engineering Faculty, and Christopher’s supervisor, says the recognition is a testament to the quality and impact of research emerging from Stellenbosch University.

“Christopher’s remarkable achievement highlights the exceptional quality of our students and the innovative research being conducted at SU, particularly in the fields of forestry, environmental science, and sustainable technology,” says Prof Booysen.

“It showcases the university’s growing global impact and demonstrates that South African students are at the forefront of developing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. His success also opens new avenues for collaboration, funding, and applied research. It serves as a powerful inspiration to fellow students, showing that visionary ideas, backed by dedication and scientific excellence, can make a tangible global difference.”