Restoring his native soil
October 6, 2022
When Esakakondo “Al” Lohese began his PhD in land and atmospheric science, he had a mission: To restore the soil in Sankuru province, which lies in the geographic center of his home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“As I was growing up, food was everywhere,” recalls Lohese, who comes from a family of farmers. Today, hunger is a major issue, and 26 million people are acutely food insecure. Increased demand for food in some regions has led to soil overuse.
Seeing the connection between agriculture and soil, Lohese obtained a soil science degree in Zaire, and worked for Congo’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. He earned a master’s degree in agricultural economics at Ohio State University, later moving to raise his family in the Twin Cities.
As he got older, Lohese learned that agricultural production in Congo had diminished, especially in rural areas. He decided to continue his soil science education and pursue a PhD at the U of M, with the intention of returning to Congo. During his PhD, he mapped and classified the soils of Sankuru province and spent eight months traveling across the region, collecting samples and connecting with farmers.
“Al conducted his PhD research near his birthplace, so it has been both professional and deeply personal; a labor of both love and duty,” said Nic Jelinski, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Soil, Water and Climate and Lohese’s PhD advisor.
Lohese is encouraged by the enthusiasm of U of M faculty to collaborate and support him as he transitions from graduate student to faculty member at L'Université Notre Dame de Tshumbe in Sankuru. He hopes to establish a partnership with the U of M for training students in Sankuru and sharing knowledge via seminars.
“We can make some good noise around here, and people will notice and remember,” said Lohese.
Written by Aimee Gillespie from the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, this story originally appeared on the land and atmospheric science graduate website.
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