Ronald Mutebi is a passionate Ugandan Food Scientist based at Bugema University where he serves as a Lecturer of Food Science and Technology at the School of Agricultural Sciences in the Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Technology. He also serves as a Research Coordinator where he guides and supervises students undertaking research with an interest in food safety, post-harvest food handling, food processing and food security.
Areas of specialty and focus
1. Post-harvest management to ensure food security, reduce losses, Cereal and Grain Handling and Processing, Food Quality, Food Safety and toxicology
2. Adoption of Smart Farming Technologies Resilient food systems adapting to climate change.
3. Enzyme application in bread making and animal feeds
• Precision Agriculture: Use of IoT sensors, drones, and AI-driven analytics for optimized irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.
• Agricultural Automation & Robotics
• Blockchain for Supply Chains: Ensuring traceability, reducing food waste, and improving market access for smallholder farmers.
4. Democratizing Agricultural Knowledge for Increased productivity with lower environmental impact.
• Digital Extension Services: Mobile apps, AI chatbots, and interactive platforms (e.g., WhatsApp, SMS-based advisories) to deliver real-time farming advice.
• Farmer-to-Farmer Networks: Peer-learning platforms where experienced farmers share best practices with others.
• Localized Content: AI-translated and culturally adapted training materials for non-English speaking farmers.
5. Climate-Smart and Sustainable Practices
• Regenerative Agriculture: Promoting soil health through no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry.
• Water-Efficient Tech: Solar-powered irrigation, hydroponics, and drought-resistant crop varieties.
• Carbon Farming: Incentivizing farmers to adopt practices that sequester carbon (e.g., biochar, rotational grazing).
6. Public-Private-Academic Partnerships
• Linking Policies that subsidize agri-tech for small farmers and fund R&D in emerging markets.
• Corporate & Startup Involvement: Empowering agri-startups co-developing affordable solutions (e.g., low-cost soil sensors, solar dryers).
• University & Research Hubs: Strengthening ties between agri-scientists and farmers for innovation diffusion.
7. Inclusive & Gender-Responsive Approaches to reduced poverty through higher farmer incomes.
• Women-Led Agri-Tech Cooperatives: Ensuring access to land, credit, and digital tools for female farmers.
• Youth Engagement: Agri-tech incubators and hackathons to attract young innovators into farming.
• Knowledge equity—bridging the gap between large agribusinesses and smallholders.