Rebecca Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer Memorial Trust chairperson, presents mycologist Prof. Cobus Visagie, associate professor at the University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, with the 2026 New Frontiers Research Award
UP professor launches novel research into little-understood, vital branch of mycology
Life as we know it would not exist without fungi: no decomposition of organic materials and creation of essential plant nutrients, a lot less mitigation of man-made carbon, no leavened bread (or beer), even lifesaving medicines, among many other things. Yet we know so little about them.
Although the number of fungal species is thought to number in the millions and they fundamentally impact every aspect of humanity, only a fraction have been described – and even so, we don’t know what most of them do.
South Africa, with its incredible plant biodiversity (that in turn is partly used to estimate the number of fungal species), is considered one of the world’s fungal hotspots, with an estimated 2.5-million species worldwide, 200 000 estimated for South Africa; by comparison, only around 155 000 have been described worldwide. Cryptococcus, one of the most dangerous fungal pathogens known to humanity, is also believed to have originated in Southern Africa.
This is why the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) has awarded its New Frontiers Research Award for 2026 to mycologist Professor Cobus Visagie, an associate professor at the Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnology Institute (FABI), which is linked to the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria: to find, identify, name and catalogue fungi, creating resources that can be used by researchers the world over to benefit humanity in myriad ways.
By growing global knowledge of fungi, scientists will, for example, have the opportunity to develop novel chemistry (including new medicines to fight illnesses and/or cancer); bolster agriculture through biocontrol, reducing reliance on pesticides and fertilisers; create sustainable foods such as myco-proteins, as an alternative for livestock farming; and develop eco-friendly materials for clothing and packaging.
Visagie, who had initially considered a career in the microbiology of beer brewing before becoming fascinated with fungi while he was a student, says both South Africa’s global importance in terms of its fungal biodiversity and international technological advances – which he intends to harness – mean that the time is right for the country to take the lead in studying fungi.
“We’re on the cusp of technological changes that allow biodiversity discovery to be quicker and more effective. If we don’t use this opportunity now, then South Africa and Africa will be left behind. It’s our job to do this,” he states. “It’s the perfect time for South Africa to record its own biodiversity – and in turn make a huge contribution to international biodiversity knowledge.”
Visagie’s New Frontiers Research Award entails a R1.5-million research grant per annum over five years, for a total of R7.5-million. He will use this support to fund a project called Mapping Unseen Fungi Across South Africa (MUFASA), which will seek to find, culture, describe, name and whole genome sequence hundreds of novel fungal species, providing science with a vital new resource.
“One of the big outcomes of this project will be the building of a culture collection with the species from South Africa, because if we don’t have those strains, we cannot study them and take research into fungi and its benefits forward,” says Visagie.
OMT instituted the New Frontiers Research Award in 2024 in response to a need to bolster South Africa’s global reputation for research excellence, and attract and retain early- to mid-career researchers who will build diverse, high-performance research teams, foster collaboration and strengthen the South African academy. It aims to give exceptionally talented researchers the freedom and flexibility to pursue bold ideas, and push the boundaries of knowledge.
Says OMT chairperson Rebecca Oppenheimer, “Professor Visagie’s work has the potential to positively impact a dazzling array of matters that impact humanity, from health to cleaner agriculture, and to environmental sustainability and addressing climate change. South Africa’s unique advantage is that we are home to one of the most biodiverse plant kingdoms in the world. Given this natural endowment, the research that he and his colleagues are doing is not simply a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. We’re exceptionally proud to support work like this, which holds enormous promise for a better world and brighter future, and which will place South African academia front and centre on the global stage.”
The post ‘It’s our job to do this’: South Africa to lead the global challenge to decode the enigmas of fungi appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News.
