Landscape with hills in the background and a herd of antelope grazing on grassland between two large trees

Vredefort Dome landscape: Photo Kayla MacConachie

The second Agri-Dry Summer School took place from 10–14 November 2025 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Organised by North-West University in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand, the event brought together members of the Agri-Dry network to strengthen research skills and foster collaboration on climate change, resilience, and dryland agriculture across the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, and Southern Africa. The AGRI-DRY Doctoral Network is led by the University of Glasgow (PI: Prof Nicki Whitehouse) and University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain (PI: Prof Marco Madella). Participants from the University of Glasgow were Paidamoyo Chingono, Alexandra Vasilieva, Bianca Cavazzin and Nicki Whitehouse.

Group shot of field trip participants 

Agri-Dry field trip to a Sotho-Tswana stonewalled village within the Vredefort Dome: Photo Kayla MacConachie

The five-day capacity-building programme opened with research presentations by the consortium’s Doctoral Candidates, followed by a series of specialised workshops on working with policymakers, chronology and chronological modelling, biomarkers and geochemistry, African domesticated seeds, and crop and grass phytoliths. Participants also engaged in interactive sessions and hands-on practical lessons, including an introduction to palynology and pollen morphology.

Workshop participants using a microscope and taking notes 

Introduction to palynology and pollen morphology workshop: Photos Kayla MacConachie

Field excursions formed an integral part of the programme. The group visited a contemporary community farming project, where discussions focused on historical irrigated Boer farming landscapes. A second field school took participants to a Tswana stonewalled village within the Vredefort Dome, examining pre-colonial occupation sequences and shifts in land use over time. The programme concluded with a visit to the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Germplasm Genebank, including the sorghum seed bank, offering insight into ongoing conservation and crop research efforts.

 Slide being shown in a lecture room

Workshop at the Agriculture Research Council. Photo: Alexandra Vasilyeva

 

First published: 11 December 2025

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AGRI-DRY

Paidamoyo Chingono

Alexandra Vasilyeva

Nicki Whitehouse

Bianca Cavazzin