The year 2026 has begun so well for an academic from the Department of Agriculture. Dr Ndumiso Ncobela, a Lecturer in this department, is one of 91 individuals from different universities who have been granted funding by the National Research Foundation (NRF). This grant is given to NRF Y-rated researchers. Recently, Dr Ncobela was included in the fourth cohort of the DHET Future Professors Programme (FPP), Phase 1. The programme is hosted by Stellenbosch University. Dr Ncobela has said this development is “an important milestone in my professional development. It affirms the relevance and quality of my research, and enables me to strengthen my postgraduate supervision skills, as funding is a key factor in recruiting and supporting postgraduate students.”
This NRF financial support directly contributes to Dr Ncobela’s professional goals by enabling him to carry out a well-resourced research programme, facilitating student training, and supporting the dissemination of findings through publications and conference presentations. Dr Ncobela’s professional goals include improving his research capacity, producing high-quality research outputs, and strengthening his academic profile.
Dr Ncobela said the funding was applied to support the project titled “Protease supplementation in low-protein diets for growing pigs.” A protease is an enzyme which breaks down proteins and peptides. The project evaluates the effects of protease supplementation on nutrient utilisation, growth performance, and feed efficiency in pigs fed reduced-protein diets. “By improving protein digestibility, the study aims to reduce feed costs and nitrogen excretion, thereby enhancing both the economic and environmental sustainability of pig production systems,” Dr Ncobela said. He added that the outcomes of this research are expected to contribute to evidence-based feeding strategies that support efficient animal production while addressing growing concerns around resource use and environmental impact.