Yield gaps and data-driven pathways for sustainable agricultural development in Africa
Moritz Jejkal’s research focuses on “Agricultural intensification pathways for small farms in Malawi”.
Research interests
- Climate change impacts and adaptation in agriculture
- Crop productivity and yield-gap analysis
- Climate–crop interactions and production risk
- Agricultural and climate data science
- Crop modelling and machine learning
- Sustainable intensification
- Climate-resilient food systems
- Agricultural development in Africa
PhD Research Project
My doctoral research focuses on understanding how genetic, environmental and management factors, and their interactions, constrain agricultural productivity and contribute to persistent yield gaps in African farming systems.
A central part of my work is the integration of long-term crop production records, climate data and spatial datasets with statistical, geospatial and machine-learning approaches. These methods are used to investigate how climatic variability, production environments, crop genetics and management practices influence crop yields, yield stability and food security.
Beyond identifying these constraints, my research aims to explore data-driven pathways for narrowing yield gaps and supporting more productive, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural development. The broader objective is to generate evidence that can improve the targeting of agricultural research, climate adaptation strategies and investments in
sustainable agricultural intensification.
My doctoral research is conducted within the African German Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science (UKUDLA).
Short CV
I hold an MSc in Natural Resources Management for Tropical Rural Development from the University of Florence and a BSc in Forest and Environmental Sciences from the University of Freiburg, including a focus on International Forestry and additional minor in climate change mitigation and adaptation from Wageningen University.
My previous research focused on climate adaptation, sustainable land management and agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa. I have worked with research institutions, development organisations and private-sector initiatives on topics including the African Great Green Wall, digital climate advisory services and land restoration.
Prior to beginning my doctoral research at the University of Hohenheim, I worked as a Junior Analyst Intern with the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and conducted research in The Gambia on climate-resilient agricultural production and the effects of biochar on crop water productivity.
