Ogotlhe Ntsie

“Efficiency within sustainability means you are able to gain more from less, and that concept applies in every part of the world.

“But, most importantly, consumers are becoming conscious of the kind of food that they eat and how it is produced – its environmental footprint – in both the Global North and Global South.”

Australia and Botswana have more in common than might be expected. Most of the sparsely populated southern African nation is semi-arid and sorghum, a species of grain-producing plant with varieties native to Africa and Australia, is a staple crop.

Both nations share the challenge of water availability and soil degradation, leading to food insecurity in Botswana.

Through his work for Botswana’s Ministry of Agriculture, OG had a clear view of the problem, but knew he would need a greater understanding of policy to address it.

“Having been in government for some time, I realised that our main issue was that we have a misalignment of policies,” he says.

“We needed to refine the way we shape the food industry of the country.”

OG earned an Australia Awards scholarship from the Australian Government and applied for what he described as “the best Australia had to offer” – the Master of Agricultural Sciences with a specialisation in Food Sustainability.

He says he valued the flexibility of the degree, which allowed him to select subjects that examined both sustainable policy issues and the science of efficiently producing food with limited resources.

“I focused on policy and related issues in sustainable production to grow my knowledge in the formulation of sustainable policies that recognise stakeholders in production systems,” he says.

“But, having a background in science, I was also interested in the production side of the food system.”

OG says he did experience cultural shock moving to Australia from Botswana, but he relished the challenges and opportunities Australia offered him.

“You meet people from different parts of the world, and when you are part of an institution that is well-resourced, you are able to explore your potential, which was important for me,” he says.

“I have had the opportunity to be in the city in Melbourne, but also interact with Australian food producers and to see how they have incorporated sustainability issues. For me it was a highlight.

“I am very thankful for the Australia Awards scholarship I received. It has not only given me the opportunity to advance my education, but also to take the lessons I have learned in Australia and find ways in which they can be adapted to our situation back home.”

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