By Brenda Mazhambe
The United Kingdom’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Dame Angela McLean, has hailed Zimbabwe’s climate-smart agriculture as a model for sustainable farming and called for deeper scientific collaboration between the two countries.
During a visit to Foundations for Farming in Harare, Professor McLean toured Pfumvudza demonstration plots and praised the conservation method for its efficiency and resilience.
“So, I’m tremendously impressed with what I’ve seen about agriculture — where the first focus is to feed a family in a sustainable way. It makes very, very good use of the small plots of land that farmers typically have.
“What I see, and hope for, is a very strong collaboration between the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, mainly through funding,” she said.
Foundations for Farming Zimbabwe has been at the forefront of promoting climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices across the country. The Pfumvudza model emphasizes minimum tillage, organic soil cover, and crop rotation.
This initiative have attracted international attention, positioning Zimbabwe as a hub for practical, sustainable farming solutions.
Prof McLean noted that Pfumvudza demonstrates the power of scalable innovation in tackling climate change.
During her visit, she met senior government and academic leaders, including Professor Fanuel Tagwira, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, to discuss building research capacity and driving science-led policy.
She also held discussions with Dr Agnes Mahomva, Public Health Adviser to the President, and Professor Stephen Chivasa of Durham University, exploring diaspora-led research on climate resilience and drought resistance.
In the health sector, Prof McLean joined a roundtable with Neotree, the Fleming Fund, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, examining innovations to strengthen Zimbabwe’s public health systems.
Her programme included a climate adaptation reception with policymakers, scientists, and youth leaders, including Washington Zhakata, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.
Prof McLean also praised Zimbabwean scientists in the UK.
“We were discussing over breakfast this morning my experience with very strong Zimbabwean scientists working in biology departments in the UK.
“I have colleagues from Zimbabwe who have settled in the UK and are absolutely fantastic scientists. We are all keen to continue these relationships and build even more.”
The visit is part of the UK’s broader strategy to support sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and scientific innovation across Africa, with Zimbabwe seen as a leading example of home-grown solutions to global challenges.
