MAST Fund for the Advancement of Science and Technology (MFAST)
On 4 December 2020, MAST Council selected six projects out of the 18 received for funding. The projects funded under MFAST are :
Technical manual for diagnostics of sugarcane pathogens of quarantine importance
Project Leader: Dr Asha DOOKUN SAUMTALLY
Summary
The exchange and movement of sugarcane germplasm for breeding purposes amongst countries has been practised ever since sugarcane was cultivated. Importation of sugarcane varieties is often subject to terms and conditions particularly concerning phytosanitary requirements, as several diseases can be introduced. Quarantine thus provides a means to contain and monitor potential diseases. In recent years, great improvement has been made in applying molecular diagnostic tools for a range of pathogens that allow their fast and precise identification. For accurate and consistent testing of different batches of materials, disease testing protocols have been optimized and documented. A Technical Manual of about 50 pages (A4) describing several systemic disease symptoms and protocols for their identification has been prepared by the Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute (MSIRI). This Technical Manual is useful to quarantine officers and sugarcane pathologists as it describes the best approaches to diagnose diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, phytoplasma and viruses.
Commercialisation of Smartbite TM Health Products on the local market for enhanced food and nutrition security
Project Leader: Dr Brinda RAMASAWMY
Summary
The objective was the introduction of Healthful, Easy-to-Use, Affordable, Low-GI/Fat, Tasty and most importantly High-Protein (HEALTH) food products termed SmartBite™ on the local market. As part of the second phase of the project, upscaling the production of SmartBite™ snack bars in the Food Innovation Laboratory of the University of Mauritius is to be explored. In addition to SmartBite™ snack bars, we also developed SmartBite™ Dry Mix which is in the form of a powder that can be readily reconstituted before consumption. The project will involve shelf-life testing, nutritional and safety assessment of modified dry mix; Market launching of the product by UoM and DCF Roots Co. Ltd; Sensitisation campaign for Mauritian consumers on healthy eating behaviours.
Using technology for improved restoration actions in Mauritius
Project Leader: Mr Francois Marc M. BAGUETTE
Summary
The project addresses one of the major issues that Mauritius currently faces: the loss of its unique biodiversity, and proposes a study aiming at improving restoration practices in the country. It involves the study of Harungana madagascariensis, an indigenous plant of Mauritius, to determine whether the species could be used as a good restoration tool and promote native plant germination. If this hypothesis is confirmed, this would have a major impact in reducing costs and resources for restoring the critically endangered habitats and species of Mauritius. In parallel, this study would allow the identification of seed dispersers and threats to this species and determine whether Pycnonotus jocosus, commonly known as the red-whiskered bulbul, could be considered as a tool for restoration instead of a pest. The study addresses one of the major environmental issues affecting the country using new technologies and aims to advise decision-makers in government and the private sector accordingly.
How the foraging ecology of the Mauritian flying fox may be influenced by alien invasive plants
Project Leader: Mr Vashist Omprasad SEEGOBIN
Summary
Passive acoustic technology (‘Audiomoth recorders’) is to be used to monitor and estimate bat population trends of the Mauritian flying fox so that these may be analyzed against candidate factors that may be driving the species' decline. Audiomoth recorders are used to record animal frequency calls, providing an affordable, non-intrusive tool to monitor bat colonies. Audiomoths enable fast and standardized assessment of the spatio-temporal abundance of bats, thus enabling reliable long-term monitoring. The audiomoths’ data will indicate colony size (i.e. estimated bat numbers) and may be used to infer how colony sizes of bats respond through time to human-induced environmental change (be it negative like waste disposal in caves, or positive like cave restoration). This will inform optimized conservation management. Findings are expected to indicate that using passive acoustics monitoring technology can inform knowledge gaps in the ecological study of cryptic animals such as cave bats which are otherwise challenging to study without this technology. As such, the use of audiomoths can answer important questions about conservation and eventually prevent the loss of this unique cave bat species and the ecosystem service that it provides.
Publication of a book entitled “Sustainability and SDGs in Mauritius"
Project Leader: Mr Sunil DOWARKASING
Summary
It is an essay looking briefly at the historical path of sustainability, critically analyses the concept of “sustainable development” and places the SDGs in the Mauritian context. It will be made up of four parts. Part one dives in history relating some of the important milestones and points out ironic situations that have prevailed during the last three decades. The second part relates to the UN “ Back to our Common Future- (SD21)” report. Some broad quotes from this report have been reproduced in this essay to keep the authenticity of the remarks. Part three of the essay is about Mauritius and the evolution of the 17 SDGs, since 2017 to date. The arguments are built on quantitative data, facts and figures using the “ SDG index and Dashboards ” of the successive “Sustainable Development Reports”. Data from the different “ WorldRisk” reports since 2017 have been used to project the level of exposure, vulnerability and capacities to cope and adapt to extreme events in Mauritius. Part four of the essay covers the analytical part. It includes a comparative table between the MDGs and the SDGs. It also shows how the SDGs are related with the three components of sustainable development thus overcoming a huge gap levelled against the MDGs. Finally it proposes a roadmap to meet Agenda 2030.
Innovation through technology: Helping a threatened insectivorous bat to help us
Project Leader: Ms Yogishah BUNSY
Summary
This research seeks to explore how and to what extent the foraging ecology of the Mauritian flying fox may be influenced by invasive alien plants and with what consequences. The important ecological keystone roles of bats (e.g. to boost plant regeneration through dissemination of seeds) make them an ideal group to study extinction drivers and an interesting target of conservation to benefit whole ecosystems. However, accurately assessing alien plant invasion level is crucial in this context. Invasion-level quantification was previously done either by assessing native trees’ canopy cover or by surveying the number of mature native trees found within ground transects. Both methods are labor intensive and time consuming. However, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles such as drones provide an alternative and creative way to quantify invasion levels. This would allow remote sensing, mapping, and surveying of native forest habitats by processing a series of overlapping images covering the area to create a three-dimensional image revealing the quality of the forest community structure. The information obtained from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles would enable this research to provide a deeper understanding of how varying alien plant invasion level influences the foraging habitat quality for the Mauritian flying fox.