Sifelani Tsiko Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor

The scientific community was extremely saddened to hear about the death of eminent biologist and crop expert — Dr Alexander Ian Robertson in August this year.

Dr Robertson, who devoted his scientific career to teaching plant physiology and molecular biology at the University of Zimbabwe for years before he ventured to run a business — Agri-Biotech, died of cardiac failure at the age of 82.

He played a prominent role in the development of disease-free, drought-resistant, high-yielding varieties of traditional crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes. Many of his peers and students he mentored hailed Dr Robertson’s intellect, enthusiasm and passion for his work. All this, they said, made him an exceptional scientist.

Scientists both here at home and abroad all hailed him for the huge contributions he made to the understanding of plant biology and how it could be harnessed to increase crop output and yields.

The Zimbabwe Plant Breeders Association (ZPBA), a grouping of professional plant breeders both inside and outside the country, said it learnt with “great shock and pain, the passing on of a great legend in science, the iconic Dr Ian Robertson.”

Messages of condolence poured in from all over the world with his peers and students he worked closely with paying tribute to Dr Robertson whose advances in plant breeding of the virus — free sweet potato crop led to spectacular success in increasing sweet potato production in Zimbabwe.

This brought him wide acclaim as smallholder farmers benefited immensely from virus — free varieties boosting yields and livelihoods for many.

“The measure of a man is truly on the number of lives he impacted. He touched the lives of many students and professionals he worked with. Many professionals and students paid tribute to him and this is a testimony that Dr Robertson was an inspirational mentor, colleague and collaborator,” said Tendai Shiri-Hove, secretary of the Zimbabwe Plant Breeders Association.

“Many who knew him reflected on what it was that made doing, thinking, or talking science with Dr Robertson so deeply stimulating and rewarding.”

Dr Robertson loved science and he could not leave it alone — like a dog with a bone and many of his peers say he lived with his science 24/7 and was always chewing it over.

Through his dedication to his work, he was always able to bring insights, expertise, unexplained observations, or unimagined theories to a scientific discussion with many of his peers and the huge number of students he mentored.

“I first knew Dr Robertson in 2005 and he introduced me to the world of plant hormones and as a first-year student I found all that to be fascinating. In my second year, he taught me how to do plant tissue culture and by the time I was in my third year I could also teach my fellow classmates,” said Jetwell Mugabe of the Tobacco Research Board.

“At Agri-Biotech that’s where most students realised their dreams to have practical experience in plant tissue culture and related molecular biology. So many students passed through his hands, some are in the USA, across Africa and Europe because Dr Robertson was an inspiration to many.

“It is through his efforts that we now have various organisations now venturing into plant tissue culture and in most cases his former students will be at the forefront.”

Dr Justify Shava of the SADC Genetic Plant Resources Centre said: “Dr Robertson tackled very well the subject of genetic engineering and the use of plant growth hormones in tissue culture. The use of the rifle was then explained.

“It was not a firearm! It was a gene gun. A tool for genetic engineering. I got inspired and resolved to follow the discipline of molecular biology and crop improvement from that day. He had laid it out well and made me one of his disciples.”

Dr Frank Magama, head of Plant Breeding Division at Kutsaga Research Station, described Dr Robertson as a simple man who delivered his lectures in a unique way that stimulated his interest in plant biology.

“The man had ways of opening up your eyes to greater things. From a simple career choice of being an agronomist, I ended up studying for an MSc Plant Biotechnology and PhD Plant Molecular Genetics at the Universities of Leeds (England) and Dundee (Scotland) respectively. He was a kind soul and proudly Scottish!” he said.

Dr Tawanda Zidenga, a Zimbabwean scientist based in Minneapolis, US, said Dr Robertson had a profound influence on many students he taught.

“He was a great mentor beyond the science lab as well and helped nurture a reading habit for me as he would always pass on interesting books. He hosted lively dinner discussions at his home that were always culturally diverse and enlightening,” he said.

“I liked his teaching style, more thought provoking and more context than an information dump. When it was time to sign up for final year projects, I found a home in his lab. His enthusiasm was infectious and those of us in his lab learned to dream bigger than our circumstances.

“Back then, Dr Robertson used to say what Zimbabwe needed to refresh our agriculture was a ‘busload of scientists and a container — load of equipment.”

Dr Robertson was one of the pioneers of plant biotechnology in Zimbabwe and his peers say he had so much faith in the area of tissue culture and genetic engineering.

He believed strongly in the importance and potential use of biotechnology in solving conventional agriculture limitations in the country.

Dr Robertson was a lecturer at the Crop Science Department at the University of Zimbabwe for many years before he retired to conduct independent research and run his business.

His work had a far-reaching impact on the lives of thousands of smallholder farmers and agricultural students he taught at university.

While working and doing research at his company — Agri-Biotech — he found a way of removing the virus that plagues sweet potato crops.

Using a GM-free tissue culture process, he and his team would dissect out tips of the sweet potato bud, which is free from viruses and other micro-organisms and grow the bud tips in test tubes for nine months into a virus-free plant. They kept sub-culturing the plants to increase numbers.

For years, sweet potato plants had become vulnerable to pests and diseases, especially the sweet potato virus complex (SPVD) leading to poor yields.

Dr Robertson made major contributions to the country’s national food security, agricultural scientific innovation and development. He wrote numerous research articles which were published in various local, regional and international  journals.

Dr Robertson is survived by his wife, Prof Valerie Robertson, a microbiologist, his children Fiona, Megan and Neil and his grandchildren Alex, Daniel, Zoe, Liam and Chloe.

His death has brought a flood of condolences from students, business partners and other plant experts.

“He was affectionately known as “Sekuru” at AgriBiotech and was very passionate about biotechnology,” said Dr Shava.

“You played your part. We thank you so much. Rest in eternal peace “Sekuru vevanhu!”