University Lecturer Wins Sh106 Million Research Grant for Pollinator Study
Dr. Mark Otieno, a senior lecturer at the University of Embu, has secured research grants totaling Sh106 million from the German Research Foundation.
The grants are aimed at investigating the functional complementary relationship between nocturnal and diurnal pollinators along a land-use gradient in the Taita Hills biodiversity hotspots in Kenya.
The research will align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Kenya Vision 2030, which aim to promote biodiversity.
The study will also inform policy and agricultural practices that promote sustainable development and protect biodiversity globally.
University of Embu Vice Chancellor, Daniel Mugendi, congratulated Dr. Otieno and highlighted that the research would inform sustainable agricultural practices that support biodiversity and food security.
Mugendi further explained that the study would be fundamental in the realization of Kenya’s vision 2030 towards environmentally sustainable development.
Dr. Otieno is a Senior Lecturer in Agroecology at the university’s Department of Water and Agricultural Resource Management WARM.
The research will investigate “The functional complementarity between nocturnal and diurnal pollinators along a land-use gradient in Kenya’s Taita Hills biodiversity hotspots,” according to Dr. Otieno, who was speaking at the institution’s research laboratory.
The research project will be implemented by a panel of researchers from the University of Embu, spearheaded by Dr. Otieno, and the University of Wuerzburg in Germany, represented by Prof. Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter and Dr. Marcell Peters.
The project will run for three years, starting in May 2023, and will leverage the expertise and experience of the German team members in spatial ecology, plant-pollinator interactions, tropical agroecosystems, crop pollination, montane biodiversity, ecology, organismic traits, and ecosystem functions.
“By studying the impact of human activity on pollinators and plant reproduction, this research can inform sustainable agricultural practices that support biodiversity and promote food security,” said Dr. Otieno.
The three-year study will run from next month until May 2026, and will be conducted jointly by Dr. Otieno and Prof. Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, a professor of spatial ecology at the University of Wuerzburg in Germany.
Dr. Otieno noted that the study will examine the role of night-flying pollinators in the reproduction of coffee and papaya crops, while noting that there has been a global trend toward the decline of pollinators due to a number of human-related factors.
He believes that the research will have a significant impact on food security in Africa by increasing the number of pollinators, which is crucial for the reproduction of many plant species.
According to Dr. Otieno, day pollinators such as bees have been extensively studied and received significant attention, while night-flying pollinators like moths in tropical systems like Kenya, which have a diverse population of night-flying moths, have been relatively overlooked and have limited knowledge available.
He also revealed that a great deal of emphasis was placed on large-bodied pollinators, who are highly selective and move to flowers with larger heads and stronger aromas, while other crops that do not fall into this category received little consideration.
According to Dr. Otieno, moths are a subset of insects that exhibit resilience in visiting flowers that are not typically visited by more charismatic pollinators like honey bees. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to nocturnal pollinators, such as moths, in order to understand their role in affecting crop production.
He noted that the use of synthetic agrochemicals has a significant impact on pollinators, adding that some chemicals are still used in Kenya despite being banned in the US and Europe.
“The use of fertilizers, tillage and field management has an impact on the pollinators like field bees that nest within the field,” he said.
Dr. Otieno believes that the research will contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero hunger) because pollinators increase the crop’s quality and quantity yield.
According to Dr. Otieno, coffee and papaya are two economically valuable crops that can generate significant income for farmers. Dr. Otieno suggested that by improving the pollination of these crops, their yields could be increased, resulting in higher profits for farmers.
He believes that the study will have a significant impact on food security in Africa by increasing the number of pollinators, which is essential for the reproduction of many plant species.
The university’s director of Research and Extension, Dr. Otieno, lamented the numerous obstacles facing researchers.
He said there is a fragmentation in research clearance, and efforts should be made to simplify the process by establishing a one-stop clearance system.
He emphasized the importance of investing in research infrastructure (laboratories and libraries) and connecting research and policymakers where major decisions must be supported by research findings.
Prof. Daniel Mugendi, vice-chancellor of Embu University, stated that the research grant will put the university on the global map.
Prof. Mugendi stated, “It is an opportunity for our researchers to benchmark themselves against the best research institutions in the world.”
In addition, he stated that the University has other grant projects totaling Sh190 million scheduled for 2023 and that teaching, research, and extension are the University’s primary responsibilities.
Dr. Otieno holds a PHD in Agroecology from the University of Reading (UK), a Master of Science in Animal Ecology, and a Bachelor of Education (Science degree in Biology) from Kenyatta University.
After his PHD, he joined the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation as a research fellow, where he studied the influence of landscape and field-scale factors on pollinator and pest natural enemy communities and pollination, pest control, and gene flow in field beans in Lower Franconia, Germany.
University Lecturer Wins Sh106 Million Research Grant for Pollinator Study
