A staff member in the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences has secured an enormous funding from a pork producers organisation, and got a chance to lead a research project. In June 2025, Dr Ndumiso Ncobela, a Lecturer in the Department of Agriculture, received research funding amounting to R273,000 from the South African Pork Producers Organisation (SAPPO), to conduct a research project aimed at promoting pork consumption in communities across the KwaZulu-Natal province. Dr Ncobela has assembled a team of researchers from MUT’s neighbouring institutions to carry out the project.
“As the project leader, I am undertaking this initiative in collaboration with colleagues from the Durban University of Technology’s Food and Nutrition Consumer Sciences, the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Animal Science, and the and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC),” said Dr Ncobela, adding that the primary goal of this research is to increase pork consumption in South Africa, and strengthen the market for pork producers. The project focuses on improving consumer awareness and shaping preferences through targeted, community-based interventions. These will highlight the nutritional value, culinary versatility, and affordability of pork, to encourage greater uptake and demand.
Dr Ncobela adds that there is a gap in the production of the pork chain, and he strongly feels that this needs to be addressed urgently so all concerned will benefit. “While substantial effort and investment have gone into improving on-farm productivity, through advances in genetics, nutrition, reproduction, health, and management, far less attention has been given to understanding pork consumption behaviours, perceptions, and preferences, particularly in rural and township communities. This disconnects between production and consumption poses a real challenge for the growth of the pork industry and limits its contribution to food security and dietary diversity,” said Dr Ncobela. Dr Ncobela said that addressing this gap requires a shift in focus, “one that considers not just how pork is produced, but also how it is received, understood, and valued by consumers. This pressing need inspired me to take a lead in developing a multidisciplinary research team capable of approaching the issue from both a production and a social perspective”. He said that leading this project would also be a valuable opportunity to mentor postgraduate students.
Explaining the agreement’s relevance of and alignment with its objectives, SAPPO said they aimed to increase the overall consumption of pork in South Africa, enhancing the market for pork producers. “This project directly supports this goal by focusing on improving consumer awareness and preferences for pork,” the organisation said. SAPPO added that through targeted community-based interventions, the project would educate consumers about the nutritional benefits, culinary versatility, and affordability of pork, “thereby increasing its consumption and demand”. The project specifically targets communities where pork consumption is lower, addressing market gaps and regional disparities.
“By focusing on these underserved areas, the project contributes to SAPPO’s aim of ensuring more equitable market access and expanding the reach of the pork industry,” SAPPO said.