Latest news with #ResearchFoundation
IOL News
6 days ago
- Science
- IOL News
Prof Jill Farrant honoured with NRF Lifetime Achievement Award for groundbreaking drought research
Professor Jill Farrant, a leading authority in plant molecular physiology, receives the NRF Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her groundbreaking research in drought tolerance and its vital role in enhancing food security for Africa. Image: Supplied Professor Jill Farrant, a renowned authority in plant molecular physiology from the University of Cape Town, was celebrated for her remarkable contributions to science at the 2025 National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards. Professor Farrant received accolade on 7 August at the NH Johannesburg Sandton Hotel under the theme 'Innovating for a Sustainable Future'. The annual NRF Awards recognises the outstanding achievements by individuals and teams whose excellence has significantly advanced science for the benefit of society. Competitive, high-impact work is rewarded for advancing South Africa's scientific and technological knowledge for humanity's betterment. Professor Farrant described this recognition as her most significant honour from her homeland. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ She reflected on her journey and dedication to fighting for equality across race and gender in South Africa. 'To have this recognition means a lot to me. I must acknowledge my students and collaborators worldwide, as well as the God of my understanding for guiding me on this path,' she stated. The NRF said over the course of a distinguished career as a plant molecular physiologist, Professor Farrant has combined scientific excellence with a deep commitment to capacity building, mentorship, and societal impact. 'Her life's work, aimed at the improvement of drought tolerance in African crops, has redefined our understanding of this critical field and has contributed to food security in the face of climatic changes on a continent challenged by a future that will be hotter and drier,' said NRF spokesperson, Bongani Nkosi. Nkosi stated that throughout her research, Professor Farrant has employed a multidisciplinary systems biology approach to fully understand the fundamental mechanisms and regulation of desiccation tolerance. 'Her work has led to a number of important discoveries that have led to breakthroughs such as the genetic modification of maize to improve its tolerance to moderate drought conditions,' he said. Professor Farrant's PhD involved understanding why certain seeds are sensitive to desiccation, precluding their storage for conservation purposes, he said. She researched resurrection plants which tolerate extreme desiccation for extended periods. Later in her career, she investigated the synergistic relationship between these plants and root-associated microbes. This led to the development of natural biostimulants that improve drought tolerance and regenerate soil, subsequently decreasing the reliance on chemical fertilisers in degraded regions. Professor Farrant also introduced research on 'orphan crops' or 'forgotten crops', which have not been bred during the Green Revolution for increased seed size and yield, the consequences of which were a severely reduced tolerance of water loss due to drought. Nkosi said she has investigated their natural genetic mechanisms of tolerance with the aim of improving drought tolerance in green ways without implication to, if not improvement of, seed yield. Farrant is currently working with the Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture to develop molecular biomarkers for this trait in teff and further improve drought tolerance by integrating select genes identified from the resurrection grass and close relative of teff, Eragrostis nindensis. In addition, Nkosi said her research has also led to new discoveries in the field of cosmeceuticals, especially for the cosmetic and wound healing properties of the resurrection plant, Myrothamnus flabellifolia. 'In this regard, she has acted as scientific consultant in the private sector, notably for Giorgio Armani Skincare and L'Oreal Paris, and is collaborating with the University of Cape Town's Skin and Hair Clinic for its use in wound healing,' he said. Her primary aim is not only to facilitate South African products of use to the world but to open a new avenue for subsistence farmers with barren rocky soil to produce a desirable and marketable product that will further boost the bioeconomy of South Africa, he said. Nkosi said Professor Farrant is the first female researcher from UCT to obtain an NRF A-rating and has subsequently maintained this rating two more times.
Mid East Info
15-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Ministry of Economy and Planning signs MOU with India based Observer Research Foundation to enhance collaboration in economic research and studies
Ministry of Economy and Planning signs MOU with India basedObserver Research Foundation to enhance collaboration in economic research and studies The Ministry of Economy and Planning signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India based Observer Research Foundation (ORF), to enhance collaboration in economic research and studies, and to exchange knowledge and research expertise, contributing to the formulation of evidence-based policies. The memorandum aims to strengthen the research partnership between the two sides by launching a joint annual publication, the development of youth leadership programs, and the organization of events, conferences, seminars and research activities in coordination with the relevant authorities. The MOU is part of the Ministry of Economy and Planning efforts to enhance international cooperation in the field of research, and to support the creation of knowledge-based economic policies, to help achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Research on driver shortage claim points to churn rather than burn
Recent research published by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association's Research Foundation took aim at the theory of a persistent driver shortage in the long-haul truckload segment. The report titled 'The Churn: A Brief Look at the Roots of High Driver Turnover in U.S. Trucking,' argues that despite claims by other trucking associations of a shortage, it's the turnover rates of upwards of 90% across large truckload fleets that are to blame. The researchers argue that a persistent shortage would lead to higher driver wages, as a lack of labor would, according to some economists, result in higher wages from demand for said labor. The research outlines many structural issues that it deems a feature, not a bug, of the long-haul driver labor market. The first comes from the intense competition that prevents carriers from raising wages for fear of losing out to a cheaper competitor. The carrier that raises wages needs a higher rate, and that means that among price-sensitive shippers, someone else gets the coveted incumbent spot on the routing guide. The second argument the report notes is labor subsidies via industry and government initiatives that increase the labor pool of available drivers without resulting in higher wages. Overtime and regulatory loopholes also exist, with truck drivers not qualifying for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. However, this exemption has been around since the 1930s. This results in a fragmented pool of drivers who, by the nature of their job, are unable to negotiate for better working conditions. The final piece of the report talks about information asymmetry, in which new drivers who enter trucking are misled and believe the earnings starting out are much greater than the reality. From personal experience, it took this long-haul over-the-road driver at least a year to learn the habits the lifestyle needed to become economically productive. Those same new drivers who graduated from CDL school had a 50% success rate to make it past six months. On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order requiring that truck drivers be able to speak English or be placed out of service. According to a fact sheet published by the White House, the order rescinds previous guidance that had watered down the law that required English proficiency, which had removed the out-of-service criteria. Additionally the order instructs the secretary of transportation to review state issuance of nondomiciled commercial driver's licenses to identify any irregularities and ensure the drivers are licensed and founder and CEO Craig Fuller weighed in, noting on the X platform, 'This is a positive development for safety, but it will have a significant impact on trucking capacity and could help the industry right-size from excess capacity.' Fuller added that one insurance executive from one of the largest firms in the U.S. estimates 40% of truck drivers are first-generation immigrants and 10% of the total driver population lacks English proficiency. The White House notes that safety is one of the reasons behind the move, with over 120 people killed every day as a result of motor vehicle crashes. This is roughly the equivalent of a Boeing 737-700 crashing each day. Another challenge is resources. An estimated 45,000 people work for the Federal Aviation Administration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has 1,000 to 1,100 employees. Werner Enterprises' first-quarter earnings came as a surprise. The company reported a net loss of $10.2 million compared to last year's Q1 gain of $6.2 million. In the earnings release, CEO Derek Leathers cited elevated insurance costs, extreme weather, a smaller fleet and customer changes related to tariff uncertainty as reasons behind the earnings miss. Fewer trucks did impact top-line revenue, which fell $36.8 million in Q1 to $433 million. The company's operating ratio net of fuel was 99.6%, a 430-basis-point decline from 95.3% in Q1 count also took a hit, with the combined truckload transportation services segment shedding 520 tractors from 7,935 in Q1 2024 to 7,415 units in Q1 2025. Broken down by segment, one-way truckload fell by 154 tractors y/y from 2,786 to 2,632, while dedicated saw a larger loss of 366 units from 5,149 to 4,783 tractors. The percentage of empty miles, or deadheading, also crept up, from 14.9% in Q1 2024 to 16%. A good rule of thumb for deadhead percentages is to try to keep them around 10%, which is easier said than operationally done. During the earnings call, Leathers gave more details and noted the possible impacts of tariffs. While the quarter is an outlier due to the rare instance of Werner's posting an operating loss, Leathers notes the company is in a better position regarding liquidity, having recently secured a $300 million receivables-backed line of credit. Leathers also referred to the impacts of tariffs on Werner's business as an air pocket, referencing the reduction in inbound freight to U.S. ports from Asia. That pocket will need to be filled with substitutes to offset the loss in freight demand. FreightWaves' John Kingston adds: '[Leathers] said Werner customers have been telling him their inventory levels 'are in good shape,' so there won't be a rescue from those customers needing to increase their freight demand.' Summary: Dallas' outbound tender volumes ( have grown approximately 20% over the past five years compared to the national average of 15%. The two largest outbound markets in the U.S. — Ontario, California, and Atlanta — have both lost significant shares: 2% and 13%, respectively. The ongoing capacity glut is hiding a rather significant shift in national freight flow patterns. In a more balanced market, freight demand changes are discovered through isolated pockets of tightening, where spot rates increase and carriers flock to cover the freight. In the current market, where supply is abundant, there is no tightening or increased rates as carriers are nearly sitting on the sides of the streets ready to pounce. Import demand has dropped, but that hasn't been strongly felt in the domestic freight market as of yet. It does create volatility in the market that makes for uncertain long-term planning. A Light That Moved Fast and Shined Bright: Honoring Brittany Traylor (FreightWaves) Dispute over $6.7 million leads to closure of Kingsley Trucking (FreightWaves) Mass layoffs in trucking and retail coming – Apollo (FreightWaves)FMCSA denies truck driver learner's permits for 17-year-olds (FreightWaves) Strong demand drives up used truck prices and volumes (Commercial Carrier Journal)Insurance costs, entry-level driver training top ATRI's research priorities for 2025 (The Trucker) The post Research on driver shortage claim points to churn rather than burn appeared first on FreightWaves.
