Scientist, innovator, mentor

From leaves to lives, Prof Liza Korsten’s four-decade mission to make food safer for all

- Jamaine Krige

For Prof Liza Korsten, her journey as a scientist began not in a sterile lab, but under the open sky, among leaves and fields. As a girl, she was captivated by the natural world, particularly by plants. This curiosity matured into a passion for plant pathology, a niche field that would soon prove vital in tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time: food security.

"Science became my life's work, research my passion and mentoring students my mission,” she recalls.

Now recognised with the prestigious NSTF-South32 Lifetime Award, Korsten reflects on a four-decade career that has seen her evolve from a plant pathologist tinkering with fungi to an internationally renowned scientist influencing food policy, championing sustainability and mentoring a new generation of African researchers.

Seeds of curiosity, roots of purpose

Her foundation in microbiology laid the groundwork for breakthroughs in understanding plant-pathogen interactions.

"I always knew I wanted to work with nature,” says Korsten. “Plant pathology became a calling, combining my love of biology with real-world impact. It connected my scientific interest with a moral purpose: to make food safer for everyone.”

Her career began with a groundbreaking contribution: developing South Africa's first biological control agent for leaf and fruit diseases. At a time when chemical pesticides dominated agriculture, her innovation was a game-changer, offering a safer, environmentally friendly solution that is now standard practice for sustainable farming.

“Today, these products benefit both farmers and consumers,” she says. “But back then, it took courage and conviction to offer something new.”

Food safety from soil to table, lab to land