What drew you into this particular line of work and focus? Why does it feel so important, especially today?
Growing up in Limpopo, South Africa the daughter of a farmer, I was always aware of the role of plants, which are at the bottom of the food chain, in food security. I have always been acutely mindful of the effects of drought and its threat to harvests and food security.
Early in my career, I realized that understanding how some drought-resistant plants tolerate extreme water loss could be of huge benefit, especially if we could mimic this in other crops. At the time, I had no clue about global warming and the impact it would have on the extent and intensity of droughts.
Call it fate or destiny, I am just extremely grateful that what I was led to work on some 34 years ago has brought me to a place where perhaps I can make a difference towards food security in Africa.
How did your interest in plants begin?
My interest was in part due to a childhood observation of the overnight greening up of a seemingly dead plant. I even noted it in my diary when I was nine! I still have the diary, and I wrote, “went to the flat rocks and the ded (sic) plant was alive,” and my father didn’t believe me. It wasn’t until much later that I came to understand that plants that can do this are unique, and they have much to teach us. They are called “resurrection plants,” and they can survive almost complete dehydration without dying.
