Lester Botoman: Plant Direct First Author

Lester Botoman, first author of “Agronomic biofortification increases grain zinc concentration of maize grown under contrasting soil types in Malawi”

Current Position: PhD student, Crop and Soil Sciences Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

Education: MSc. Soil Science, Ehime University, Japan; BSc. Agronomy, University of Malawi

Non-scientific Interests: Reading, listening to music, watching soccer

Brief bio: In 2018, I joined the Crop and Soil Sciences Department of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) as a PhD student, driven by a passion to explore ways of reducing micronutrient deficiencies in Malawi. The focus of my PhD research work—which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), GeoNutrition project—was to understand the role of agronomic biofortification through application of Zn-enriched fertilizers in improving grain zinc nutritional quality of maize (Zea mays L.) for improved human nutrition. Through the research work, I was able to increase the grain Zn concentration of maize, the staple cereal crop in Malawi and many other Sub-Saharan African countries.