Fradian Murray

Dr. Fradian Murray is a crop production researcher and Assistant Lecturer in Plant Biology in the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. She holds a PhD in Botany (2022), with her dissertation focused on improving cassava propagation efficiency. Before joining UWI, she lectured in plant and soil science at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Jamaica from 2022 to 2024.

Her research centers on root crop production, climate-smart agriculture, and farmer-driven innovations that bridge scientific knowledge with practical field applications. She has contributed extensively to cassava research in Jamaica,including varietal trials, intercropping dynamics, and crop modeling studies that support the island’s agricultural value chain. Her work with the Scotch Bonnet hot pepper aligns with the FAO’s goals for enhanced phytosanitary standards and market access for Jamaica’s pepper industry. Beyond root crops, she has supported field studies for sweetpotato growth modeling using AquaCrop and has contributed to research on pollinator identification in cocoa systems and sustainable flooring for pig farming, highlighting her interdisciplinary commitment to food systems enhancement.

Dr. Murray’s philosophy is grounded in using agricultural research to increase farmers’ incomes through realistic, everyday solutions. She actively involves small farmers and women in her research, whether as plot maintainers or landowners to reduce inequalities in food production. She sees her role as vital to addressing Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), which remains one of the most stagnant global goals.

Her impact is both scholarly and social. She has trained nearly a hundred youths in crop production and research techniques, notably through initiatives like the Red Stripe Project Grow, which helped expand smallholder participation in Jamaica’s cassava industry. She also co-developed climate change adaptation resources for primary schools and persons with disabilities, reflecting her broader commitment to science communication and equity in education.

Currently, Dr. Murray is involved in research on soil amendments and their effects on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in a bid to support national efforts for soil quality improvements. She is also co-supervising a project investigating entomopathogenic fungi in infected sweetpotato fields in Barbados. Her long-term vision is to use crop research to drive rural development and economic advancement, helping farmers like her own father not just to sustain their livelihoods, but to create wealth.