University of KwaZulu-Natal UKZN Bioresources Engineering

Bioresources Engineers design, construct and manage technology for food, fiber and energy productions systems:

• Design and manage machinery for field operations e.g. for soil preparation, planting, harvesting, storage and transport of produce;

• Use precision agriculture technologies (e.g. GIS, GPS) to ensure optimal and sustainable agricultural production systems with minimal impact on the environment;
• Design and operate transportation systems to move produce to storage facilities, factories and consumers.

Bioresources Engineers Water Plants Efficiently:

• Design and manage irrigation systems in order to obtain the highest yield per unit of water applied, which is essential in South Africa where the demand for water exceeds supply in more than 50% of the country and where irrigation uses more than 60% of the stored water in the country;

• Design drainage systems for optimal crop production.

Bioresources Engineers Design and Manage Agricultural and Rural Water Resource Systems:

• Design dams, canals and pipe networks for water supply to agriculture and humans;

• Assess the availability of water resources in order to meet demands for water in a highly variable climate and with a changing climate as a consequence of global warming;

• Manage water resources by reconciling demands for water with the available supplies;

• Design soil and water conservation systems to control runoff and thus minimise erosion and maximise agricultural production;
• Sustain the environment by minimising pollution.

Bioresource Engineers Add Value to Raw Products:

• Add value to products by the design and operation of food processing and storage systems;

• Use technology to preserve and process food and animal feed;

• Ensure products are safe for human consumption.

Bioresources Engineers Use Technology to Optimise Food Production:

• Design intensive animal and plant production structures which have controlled environments for optimal production;
• Design control systems to maintain optimal production conditions for plant (e.g. greenhouses) and animal (e.g. broiler units) for optimal production.

Bioresources Engineers Utilise Sustainable Sources of Energy:

• Developing technology to grow and utilise sustainable sources of energy (e.g. biofuels, solar, wind);

• Process agricultural products into biofuels;

• Test the performance and long term impacts of biofuels on engines.