Biography 

Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Technology.

Dr Patricia Mathabe is an agricultural scientist and researcher whose work brings together crop science, biotechnology, digital agriculture and emerging technologies to address challenges in sustainable agriculture, food security and land management. With over 20 years of experience across academia, government and industry in South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom, her research encompasses crop science, omics and proteomics, technology development and adoption, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, drones and data-driven monitoring.

Her current research increasingly explores the application of drones, artificial intelligence, computer vision, camera traps and geospatial technologies for wildlife monitoring within agricultural and agroforestry landscapes. This includes research and industry collaboration on the detection and monitoring of deer in UK agricultural and agroforestry environments.

Dr Mathabe supervises undergraduate, Master's and PhD researchers and is particularly interested in translating technological innovation into practical, evidence-based solutions that support sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, smallholder farming and food security.

Reviewer

  • South African Journal of Science
  • National Research Foundation of South Africa: Postdoctoral, Travel, General and International Research Grants Virtual Peer Reviewer

Membership

  • Society for Experimental Biology
  • Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineers

Editor

MPDI’s ''Trends in Post-Harvest Technology and Innovation for Perishable Crops''

Research

Research Interest

  • Agricultural Technology
  • Proteomics
  • Metabolomics
  • Metagenomics
  • Genomics

Current Research Projects

  • Assessing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras to monitor predation in the cultivation of fruit Agroforestry on Brash Cotswold Soils.
  • Developing soil microbial community abundance and diversity monitoring methods comparing use of phospholipid fatty acid analysis and environmental DNA techniques.
  • Deployment of Drones to monitor the impact of the application of various herbicides on weeds and soils.
  • Employing various technologies to monitor the response of Buck fast bees to different weather conditions and floral availability.

Teaching

University Responsibilities

  • Programme Leader: MSc Agricultural Technology and Innovation
  • Module Leader: AgriScience, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Crop Technology and Innovation, Agricultural Technology
  • MSc and PhD supervision of students (Internally and externally)

Publications

Peer Reviewed Publications

Mabizela G. S, Van der Rijst M, Slabbert MM, Mathabe P.M.K, Mulle M, De Beer D, Stander M, Collin J and Bester C.  Response of Cyclopia subternata to drought stress – assessment of leaf composition, proteomics and product quality. 2023. SAJB.

Itumeleng E.Kgang; Patricia M.K Mathabe, Ashwil Klein; Lonji Kalombo; Zinash A. Belay, and Oluwafemi J. Caleb. Effects of lemon (Citrus limon L.), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oils against of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum. 2022. JFSA Reports.

Daniel Gaichu, Patricia Mathabe and Mathew Ngugi. Evaluation of cardiopreventive effects of Ximenia americana (Linn.) and Pappea capensis (Eckl. and Zeyh.) leaf aqueous extracts in rat models with myocardial infarction. 2023.  Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Daniel Gaichu, Patricia MK Mathabe and Mathew P Ngugi,  Cardiocurative effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Ximenia americana (Linn.) and Pappea capensis (Eckl. and Zeyh.) in rats induced with myocardial infarction, 2023. JEBIM.

Itumeleng E.Kgang; Patricia M.K Mathabe, Ashwil Klein; Lonji Kalombo; Zinash A. Belay, and Oluwafemi J. Caleb. Bioassays and proteomics as early detection tools in postharvest management of table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) diseases – A Review, 2023.  Food Bioscience.

Bongolwethu P. Mabusela, Zinash A. Belay, Buntu Godongwana , Namrata Pathak Pramod V. Mahajan, Patricia M. K. Mathabe and Oluwafemi J. Caleb Ethylene management technologies: Mitigating losses along the postharvest value chain of fresh produce. A Review. 2021 South African Journal of Plant and Soil.

Patricia M. K. Mathabe, Thulile Ndlovu, Zenash Belay and Oluwafemi J. Caleb. Progress in proteomic profiling of horticultural commodities during postharvest handling and storage. 2019. Scientia Horticulturae.

Conference Presentation

Patricia MK Mathabe. The role of technology in Agriculture. 2022. Kenyatta University Biochemistry annual conference

Neliswa Matrose, Patricia M. K. Mathabe, Kenechukwu Obikeze and Oluwafemi Caleb. Antimicrobial efficacy of (Helichrysum spp.) on post-harvest disease of pomegranate fruit. 2018. 1st African Traditional and Natural Product Medicine conference, University of Limpopo, Conference Proceedings.

Patricia M. K. Mathabe, Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineers Conference. Essential Oils as fumigants against Post-Harvest pathogens on Table Grapes. Nairobi, 2018.

Patricia M. K. Mathabe, National Science Week Kenya: Proteomics and contained laboratory assessment of locally developed transgenic drought tolerant maize. Nairobi, 2017.

Patricia M. K. Mathabe. Science Forum South Africa: Igniting conversation about science: Diaspora Communities Supporting Mobility in Early Researchers. CSIR Convention Centre, SA 2016

Patricia M. K. Mathabe. Proteomics Application for crop protection. Kenyatta University, Kenya, 2016 (Invited Speaker)

Patricia M. K. Mathabe. Proteomics Application for crop protection. ICEPE. Kenya, 2016 University Responsibilities Patricia M. K Mathabe

Patricia MK Mathabe, Sindisiwe Buthelezi and Dalu Mancama. 2010. Development and application of approaches in protein profiling for Nguni cattle. CSIR 3rd Biennial Conference

Patricia M.K. Mathabe, Marcelo Segura, Kathryn Lilley and Paul Dupree. 2008. Protein Complex Detection using 

Sedimentation. Annual Main Meeting of the Society of Experimental Biology. Marseille, France

Patricia M.K Mathabe, Dalu Mancama, Ereck CHakauya and Rachel Chikwamba. 2009. Expression of rabies antibodies on tobacco leaves. 8th Annual World Congress. Toronto, Canada

Press Communications

Patricia M.K Mathabe (2023) The role of emerging technologies in agricultue Sustainable Society Digital Collective

Patricia M.K Mathabe (2023) Agricultural Technology BBC Gloucestershire Radio