From lab coats to overalls: the engineer fertilising the future

THANDIWE Mchunu's journey from chemical engineer to organic farming pioneer is not just a tale of career change but a powerful testimony of vision, resilience, and rural revitalisation.

- TRIBUNE REPORTER

Raised in the small village of Amahl-ongwa on KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast, Mchunu wears many hats, mother, sister, farmer, researcher, and award-winning academic with a master's degree in chemical engineering from UKZN. Her early life was steeped in agriculture, growing corn, amadumbe, sweet potatoes, and peanuts with her family. But it was a Grade 10 school trip as a learner from Adams College to the Engen Refinery that ignited a dream far beyond the farm.

"I was fascinated by the integrated systems, the massive pipelines and mega tanks. Even though it was in the petroleum industry, I imagined a similar setup in rural areas for clean water, electricity, and food."

That dream simmered quietly as Mchunu pursued her studies and gained industrial experience at Sasol Technology, where she worked for over five years. Her passion for engineering blossomed, and she credits the corporate lab environment for sharpening her technical skills and creative thinking.

However, fate had other plans.

In 2018, following the death of her mother, Mchunu made the life-altering decision to leave her job at Unisa Science Campus, despite winning awards and being on a promising academic path, and returned home to reclaim the family land.

"It was a drastic decision, but the land was abandoned. I had to return to KZN, not just for the farm, but to establish the biorefinery and fresh produce farm I had always dreamed of," she said.