Zanele Adams is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, at Walter Sisulu University. She holds a Ph. D. in Botany from the University of the Free State, an MSc. in Botany from the University of Fort Hare, an Hons. in Botany from the University of Fort Hare, and a BSc in Botany and Microbiology from the University of Fort Hare. She began her work in the field of academics as a lab assistant and a tutor for undergraduate students at the University of Fort Hare. She has work experience as a Research Assistant for Community Ecosystem-Based Adaption and as a Project Coordinator for a community-led conservation project. She has published a plant survey on the traditional use of medicinal plants in the journal Pharmacognosy Magazine. Her current research work focuses on Sustainable Agroecosystem practices with a particular interest in crop diversification and organic farming. She is diversifying her research by studying  Sustainable Agricultural systems and how the environment contributes to plant and crop health. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2095-3760

Albert Thembinkosi is a Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, at Walter Sisulu University. He holds a PhD in Crop Science (Ohio State University, USA), an MSc. in Agric. (University of Natal, South Africa), and a BSc. in Agric. (University of Fort Hare, South Africa). His work experience as an academic started in 1996. Before 1916, he worked as an agronomist for Pioneer Hi-Bred International for two years. He is currently the Executive Dean of Natural Sciences at Walter Sisulu University. From 2017 to 2023, he was the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal. From 2011 to 2017, he was the Dean of School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research focus is on Crop and Plant Sciences, Agronomy, and Food Security. He has experience in supervising Masters and PhD students, performing laboratory, controlled-environment, and field research for publications. He has published more than 170 papers in major journals, including Agriculture, Frontiers in Agronomy, Frontiers in Nutrition, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Sustainability, Agronomy, Journal of Agricultural Science, and American Journal of Agricultural Sciences. He has published one book and eight book chapters with international publishers. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6887-1721

Simon Kamande Kuria is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, at Walter Sisulu University. He joined Walter Sisulu University in 2006 as a lecturer. As a lecturer, his key performance areas include research, community engagement, and teaching and learning. Before joining Walter Sisulu University, he was a research officer at the Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute (KETRI). Currently, he is a member of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa. He has carried out agricultural and medical entomology research as an applied entomologist. Some of his research involves human myiasis, the use of botanicals as biopesticides, and the role of agriculture on ground-active arthropods. For his tertiary education, he attended the University of Nairobi, where he graduated with an honours degree and later earned a master's degree in Zoology. He later joined Rhodes University, where he obtained a PhD degree in Entomology. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4825-1063