We envision a crop production landscape that is balanced and sustainable, where crop diversity, soil and water conservation, clean air and water are the backbone of successful farming. We advocate for integration of ecologically sustainable farming techniques that reduce the use of harmful chemicals in crop production and increase plant diversity, promote healthy soils and develop plant genetic resources that are efficient in utilisation of external inputs such as fertilisers. These production technologies must benefit all levels of crop production thereby ensuring the adaptation by farmers to climate change. The Department thrives to be a pacesetter in research, teaching, community engagement, development of cutting-edge innovations and industrialisation thereby contributing to robust national and global agricultural systems and economies through production of highly skilled graduates grounded in deep theoretical background.