The North-West University (NWU) is proud to celebrate the recent graduation of Dr Nozipho Phila Gamedze, who received her PhD on 16 July 2025. Her research marks a significant contribution to both sustainable agriculture and nanotechnology, showcasing the power of interdisciplinary science rooted in African innovation.

Her thesis, entitled “Bio-nanotechnology applications in beef cattle nutrition: quenching perilous effects of antinutritional factors in mucuna seed meal-supplemented diets” investigated the efficacy of green versus conventional zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in enhancing the nutritional value of the seeds of Mucuna pruriens utilis, a nutrient-rich yet underutilised legume indigenous to Southern Africa.

The seeds of the Mucuna legume boast high levels of energy, protein (amino acids), minerals, and essential fatty acids. They also possess hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hypo-cholesterolemic and anabolic properties. However, their usage as animal feed is constrained by the occurrence of high fibre content and toxic substances, primarily a noxious amino acid called 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA), consumption of which reduces appetite and growth.

For this reason, Dr Gamedze employed the innovative strategy of nanoparticle pre-treatment of the seeds to jointly resolve the problems of high fibre content and toxic substances so that they could be used as beef cattle feed.

Dr Gamedze developed the green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles in the subject group Chemistry using the aqueous extract of Mucuna seeds. In a pioneering cross-disciplinary study, she tested the nutritional utility of these green nanomaterials in improving the diets of beef cattle. By integrating both in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, she demonstrated that the plant-based ZnO nanoparticles could enhance feed efficiency and animal health when combined with Mucuna seed meal-based feed as a cost-effective alternative to conventional protein sources like soybean meal, cottonseed cake and sunflower seed cake.

Bringing diverse perspectives to her work, Dr Gamedze’s PhD was supervised by a dynamic team of experts including Dr Doctor Mziwenkosi Nhlanhla Mthiyane as lead supervisor and an animal nutritionist, Prof Sydney Mavengahama as expert in agronomy and legume utilisation, and Prof Damian Chinedu Onwudiwe, an expert in nanobiotechnology and inorganic chemistry.

Their collective mentorship enabled Dr Gamedze to bridge the gap between chemistry, agriculture and biological systems, making her work a true reflection of the NWU’s commitment to transdisciplinary research for sustainable development.

A green alternative to conventional nanomaterials and animal feed

The study compared the performance of Dr Gamedze’s biosynthesised ZnO nanoparticles with commercially available conventional nanomaterial counterparts, highlighting the environmental advantages, safety profile, and improved functionality of the green alternative.

In an in vitro system, both the green and conventional nanomaterials increased the digestibility of Mucuna seed meal, with 20 mg/kg of the phytogenic nanomaterials inducing greater effects. However, in an in vivo system with Bonsmara steers fed a high (20%) dietary level of the seed meal, the phytogenic nanomaterials deteriorated the detrimental effects of the legume on growth, carcass traits, and some haematological responses while the conventional nanomaterials abrogated the perilous effects. These findings highlighted the danger of solely relying on research outcomes achieved using in vitro systems without further validation using in vivo systems.

“This research shows how indigenous knowledge and advanced science can come together to solve real-world problems,” said Dr Gamedze. “We’re not only reducing feed costs for farmers, but also using safe, sustainable technologies that protect the environment and improve animal nutrition.”

The combination of nanotechnology and indigenous legumes could reduce the cost of livestock production while addressing concerns about food security, sustainability, and access to affordable animal protein in rural and emerging farming contexts.

Impact and future directions

Dr Gamedze’s findings have the potential to:

· Lower the cost of animal feed production, especially for small-scale and emerging farmers.

· Promote the cultivation and use of Mucuna pruriens utilis, an underutilized yet valuable local crop.

· Encourage the use of green nanotechnology in agriculture and veterinary science.

· Contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on synthetic feed additives and imported protein sources.

As she looks to the future, Dr Gamedze plans to continue her research and commercialise elements of her work in collaboration with agricultural stakeholders.

“We have the science, the resources, and the indigenous knowledge to solve our own problems. This research is a step toward food sovereignty and scientific excellence driven from within the continent,” she said.

Dr Nozipho Phila Gamedze