Prof Olaniyi Amos Fawole

Professor and Director
Name: Olaniyi Amos Fawole
Location: D2 LAB 240. Postharvest and Agroprocessing Research Centre (PARC) Auckland Park Kingsway Campus
Botany & Plant Biotechnology Academic Staff  Staff Members

Contact Details:
Tel: +27(0)11 559 7237

Email: olaniyif@uj.ac.za

About Prof Olaniyi Amos Fawole

Our research primarily focuses on advancing sustainable practices in postharvest technology and agroprocessing within the horticultural and food sectors. We categorize our work into three key areas:

Sustainable Postharvest Preservation: We develop and implement novel technologies aimed at optimizing the quality, safety, and longevity of fresh horticultural, indigenous, and medicinal food crops. Our work includes the creation of multifunctional, nanotechnology-enhanced, nature-based packaging films to reduce postharvest losses.

Agroprocessing & Valorisation: This area focuses on stabilizing perishable horticultural, indigenous and medicinal food crops through innovative and sustainable dehydration techniques to support small and medium enterprises. We explore alternatives to synthetic chemicals in food preservation. Therefore, our research extends to bioprospecting medicinal plants and valorising crop residues, minimizing food losses, thereby ensuring food safety and reinforcing a circular bioeconomy.

Applications of 4IR Technologies: We are pioneering the integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in postharvest and agroprocessing systems. This includes the use of machine learning, non-destructive techniques, biosensors, and nanotechnology to create smarter, more efficient systems.

Links

Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pPtv5wIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

ORCiD Profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5591-4633

Recent Publications

Nxumalo, K.A., Adeyemi, J.O., Leta, T.B., Pfukwa, T.M., Okafor, S.N. and Fawole, O.A., 2024. Antifungal properties and molecular docking of ZnO NPs mediated using medicinal plant extracts. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.18071.

Silue, Y., Fawole, O.A., Majoni, T., Opara, U.L. and Okolie, J.A., 2024. Machine Learning-based Differentiation of Japanese Plum Cultivars Based on Metabolite Profiling. Food Biophysics, pp.1-18.

Aremu, A.O., Omogbene, T.O., Fadiji, T., Lawal, I.O., Opara, U.L. and Fawole, O.A., 2024. Plants as an alternative to the use of chemicals for crop protection against biotic threats: trends and future perspectives. European Journal of Plant Pathology, pp.1-56.

Mukwevho, P.L., Kaseke, T. and Fawole, O.A., 2024. Ascorbic acid-enriched cactus mucilage coatings maintained quality attributes of roasted ‘Wichita’pecan nuts under accelerated storage conditions. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 18, p.101301.

Silue, Y. and Fawole, O.A., 2024. Global Research Network Analysis of Edible Coatings and Films for Preserving Perishable Fruit Crops: Current Status and Future Directions. Foods, 13(15), p.2321.

Kubáleková, J., Bajerová, P., Stará, I., Fawole, O.A. and Bajer, T., 2024. Comparative analysis of volatile profiles and antimicrobial activities of freeze-dried and oven-dried pomegranate seeds: implications for waste valorization in a circular economy. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, pp.1-17.

Jenneker, N., Silué, Y., Julia Meitz-Hopkins, J.C., Lennox, C.L., Opara, U.L. and Fawole, O.A., 2024. Gum Arabic-incorporated thymol/salicylic acid composite coatings control grey mould and brown rot in ‘Angeleno’plums. European Journal of Plant Pathology, pp.1-12.

Pfukwa, T.M., Motlhalamme, T.Y., Setati, M.E., Fawole, O.A., Manley, M., van Heerden, C.J. and Mapiye, C., 2024. Comparative transcriptomic effects of Harpephyllum caffrum extracts and sodium metabisulphite on hydrogen peroxide stressed Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells using RNA-seq. Food Bioscience, 57, p.103464.

Opara, I.K., Opara, U.L., Okolie, J.A. and Fawole, O.A., 2024. Machine Learning Application in Horticulture and Prospects for Predicting Fresh Produce Losses and Waste: A Review. Plants, 13(9), p.1200.

Leta, T.B., Adeyemi, J.O. and Fawole, O.A., 2024. Utilizing Fruit Waste-Mediated Nanoparticles for Sustainable Food Packaging Materials to Combat Food Loss and Waste. Food Bioscience, p.104151.