Francois Duvenage
BSc, BInstAgrar(Hons), MSc
Laboratory and Technical Services Lead
Directorate
Francois has been with the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) since 2021. He began serving as the Laboratories and Technical Services Lead in December 2023. In this role, he oversees the efficient, effective, safe, and compliant operation of all technical facilities and resources within the Institute, uniting and developing NRI’s technical resources across departments and research centres.
Prior to this, Francois held the position of Laboratory Manager at NRI from September 2022 to December 2023, where he managed departmental laboratories, ensured compliance with ISO 9001:2015, supported research and teaching activities, coordinated equipment servicing, sourced and ordered consumables, maintained stock culture collections, and acted as Health and Safety local officer. Before becoming a Laboratory Manager, he worked as an NRI Research Technician from November 2021 to September 2022, providing technical support for NRI’s laboratory, greenhouse, and controlled temperature environment rooms, facilitating laboratory and field teaching activities, supporting research projects, and overseeing data collection and processing for an agrivoltaic materials project.
In addition to his roles at NRI, Francois has extensive experience in hydroponic farming. From November 2018 to June 2021, he was the Research and Development Plant Propagationist at CAN-Agri in Pretoria, South Africa, where he set up operational procedures for a vertical hydroponic farm, oversaw on-farm research, implemented nutritional programmes, established pest management, drafted SOP documentation, trained staff on health and safety, secured certifications (Global G.A.P., HACCP), and liaised with retailers.
Earlier in his career, Francois served as the Assistant Compost Manager at Country Mushrooms PTY Ltd. from July 2015 to October 2018, managing composting processes, supporting mushroom growers, data capturing, and team management. His career in research began as a Research Assistant at the University of Pretoria from January 2012 to June 2015, where he conducted experimental research within the Food Safety Research group, improved experimental accuracy, managed laboratory stock and equipment, conducted field trips, and mentored final-year students.
Throughout his career, Francois has been involved in various research projects and has achieved several certifications, including ISO 22000 advanced HACCP and Food Safety Assurance certification. His memberships and associations include compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and Global G.A.P. standards. Francois’ work is characterised by a strong focus on laboratory management, technical services, health and safety, hydroponic farming, agrivoltaic materials, plant pathology, food safety, experimental research, operational procedures, pest management, and nutritional programmes.
Francois’ research interests are primarily focused on the fields of laboratory management, technical services, health and safety compliance, hydroponic farming, and food safety. He is particularly passionate about the innovative potential of hydroponic farming systems. These systems offer sustainable solutions for urban agriculture by maximising space efficiency, reducing water usage, and eliminating the need for soil, thereby allowing crops to be grown in controlled environments year-round.
As a member of various NRI research centres and research groups, Francois actively contributes to projects that advance our understanding of plant pathology, food safety, and pest management. His role within these centres involves collaborating with leading experts to develop and implement cutting-edge hydroponic farming techniques that enhance crop yield and quality while ensuring food safety.
The value of his research work lies in its ability to revolutionise urban agriculture and food safety standards. By improving hydroponic farming practices, Francois’ research aims to provide sustainable and resilient food production systems that can be adopted in urban settings worldwide. These advancements could significantly impact global food security and environmental conservation, offering scalable solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today.
Research Methods – Francois teaches a section covering conducting risk assessments.
Francois has been with the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) since 2021. He began serving as the Laboratories and Technical Services Lead in December 2023. In this role, he oversees the efficient, effective, safe, and compliant operation of all technical facilities and resources within the Institute, uniting and developing NRI’s technical resources across departments and research centres.
Prior to this, Francois held the position of Laboratory Manager at NRI from September 2022 to December 2023, where he managed departmental laboratories, ensured compliance with ISO 9001:2015, supported research and teaching activities, coordinated equipment servicing, sourced and ordered consumables, maintained stock culture collections, and acted as Health and Safety local officer. Before becoming a Laboratory Manager, he worked as an NRI Research Technician from November 2021 to September 2022, providing technical support for NRI’s laboratory, greenhouse, and controlled temperature environment rooms, facilitating laboratory and field teaching activities, supporting research projects, and overseeing data collection and processing for an agrivoltaic materials project.
In addition to his roles at NRI, Francois has extensive experience in hydroponic farming. From November 2018 to June 2021, he was the Research and Development Plant Propagationist at CAN-Agri in Pretoria, South Africa, where he set up operational procedures for a vertical hydroponic farm, oversaw on-farm research, implemented nutritional programmes, established pest management, drafted SOP documentation, trained staff on health and safety, secured certifications (Global G.A.P., HACCP), and liaised with retailers.
Earlier in his career, Francois served as the Assistant Compost Manager at Country Mushrooms PTY Ltd. from July 2015 to October 2018, managing composting processes, supporting mushroom growers, data capturing, and team management. His career in research began as a Research Assistant at the University of Pretoria from January 2012 to June 2015, where he conducted experimental research within the Food Safety Research group, improved experimental accuracy, managed laboratory stock and equipment, conducted field trips, and mentored final-year students.
Throughout his career, Francois has been involved in various research projects and has achieved several certifications, including ISO 22000 advanced HACCP and Food Safety Assurance certification. His memberships and associations include compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and Global G.A.P. standards. Francois’ work is characterised by a strong focus on laboratory management, technical services, health and safety, hydroponic farming, agrivoltaic materials, plant pathology, food safety, experimental research, operational procedures, pest management, and nutritional programmes.
Francois’ research interests are primarily focused on the fields of laboratory management, technical services, health and safety compliance, hydroponic farming, and food safety. He is particularly passionate about the innovative potential of hydroponic farming systems. These systems offer sustainable solutions for urban agriculture by maximising space efficiency, reducing water usage, and eliminating the need for soil, thereby allowing crops to be grown in controlled environments year-round.
As a member of various NRI research centres and research groups, Francois actively contributes to projects that advance our understanding of plant pathology, food safety, and pest management. His role within these centres involves collaborating with leading experts to develop and implement cutting-edge hydroponic farming techniques that enhance crop yield and quality while ensuring food safety.
The value of his research work lies in its ability to revolutionise urban agriculture and food safety standards. By improving hydroponic farming practices, Francois’ research aims to provide sustainable and resilient food production systems that can be adopted in urban settings worldwide. These advancements could significantly impact global food security and environmental conservation, offering scalable solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today.
Research Methods – Francois teaches a section covering conducting risk assessments.