Dr Riekert van Heerden
Position: Research Manager
Tel: 031 508 7400 (Switchboard)
Tel: 031 508 7461 (Direct)
- Research experience in the development and refinement of best management practices for sugarcane cultivation with specific focus on cane quality management (2007 – 2024).
- Research management experience as programme manager of the Crop Performance and Management Programme at SASRI (2009 – 2024).
To manage SASRI’s research and technology development project portfolio by providing guidance to all programme- and project managers in a fashion that:
- ensures alignment with SASRI’s strategic mandate,
- satisfies the needs of all stakeholders, and
- meets international standards of research excellence.
M.Sc. – Plant Physiology (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Ph.D. – Plant Physiology (North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa)
- Contribute to the establishment of strategic research, technology development and knowledge exchange objectives in response to sugar industry needs and international trends.
- Promote collaboration amongst SASRI researchers, agricultural extension specialists, biosecurity specialists and knowledge management practitioners to ensure effective knowledge and technology exchange within the SA sugarcane grower and miller community.
- Provide leadership through coordination and deployment of scientific skills and capacity building through mentorship and supervision for successful delivery on SASRI strategic objectives.
- Ensure that the annual portfolio of projects responds to, and aligns with, the SASRI strategic plan.
- Coordinate the compilation of accurate representation of research, technology development and knowledge exchange projects into a comprehensive annual Programme of Work.
- Identify, develop and maintain strong relationships with third parties (local and international) that enhance expert delivery on industry needs to contribute towards becoming the recognised global leaders in sugarcane research.
Van Antwerpen R, Watt DA, Gillespie W, van Heerden PDR (2024). Promoting adoption of soil health related regenerative agriculture practices amongst small‑scale sugarcane grower communities in South Africa. Sugar Tech 26: 635 – 638.
van Heerden PDR, Ramusandiwa TD, Chonco B, Shelembe WL et al. (2023). Advancing cane quality management in the South African smallholder farmer sector through participatory on-farm demonstration and knowledge exchange. Sugar Industry 148: 565-570.
van Antwerpen R, van Heerden PDR, Keeping MG, Titshall LW, Jumman A, Tweddle PB, van Antwerpen T, Ramouthar P, Campbell PL (2022). A review of field management practices impacting root health in sugarcane. Advances in Agronomy 173: 79-162.
van Heerden PDR (2019). Response of selected South African coastal sugarcane varieties to chemical ripeners: Active ingredient effectiveness and associated impacts on grower and miller sustainability. International Sugar Journal 121: 902-904.
Adendorff MW, van Heerden PDR, Jumman A (2018). Establishing extension services through a research, technology development, extension and grower continuum-a case study. International Sugar Journal 120: 946-951.
van Heerden PDR, Adendorff MW, Lagerwall G, Botha P et al. (2015). Grower – Extensionist – Researcher partnerships: On-farm demonstration trials to facilitate adoption of chemical ripening. International Sugar Journal 117: 500-506.
van Heerden PDR, Mbatha TP, Ngxaliwe S (2015). Chemical ripening of sugarcane with trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus®) – Mode of action and comparative efficacy. Field Crops Research 181: 69-75.
van Heerden PDR, Singels A, Paraskevopoulos A, Rossler R (2015). Negative effects of lodging on irrigated sugarcane productivity – an experimental and crop modelling assessment. Field Crops Research 180: 135-142.
van Heerden PDR (2014). Differential acclimation capacity to frost in sugarcane varieties grown under field conditions. Plant Growth Regulation 72: 181-187.
van Heerden PDR (2014). Evaluation of Trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus®) as a new chemical ripener for the South African sugarcane industry. Sugar Tech 16(3): 295-299.
Lopes MS, Araus JL, van Heerden PDR, Foyer CH (2011). Enhancing drought tolerance in C4 crops. Journal of Experimental Botany 62: 3135-3153.
van Heerden PDR, Donaldson RA, Watt DA, Singels A (2010). Biomass accumulation in sugarcane – unravelling the factors underpinning reduced growth phenomena. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 2877-2887.
Last updated: 13/01/2025