Our research focuses on the beneficial agricultural use of wastewater sludge and the impact of extreme weather event on maize production in South Africa. Since 2010 Prof Tesfamariam, has been involved in a multidisciplinary research projects funded by the European Union under FP7 program, Department of Science and Technology, Water Research Commission (WRC), and East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT).

He collaborates with several research organisations nationally and internationally, including the French National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) and Research Council for Agriculture and the Analysis of Agricultural Economies of Italy (CREA) all related to the climate change. His research has lead to the development of a user friendly decision support tool for sludge application in agricultural lands across South African Agro-ecological zones, as well as assessing the impact of extreme weather event under changing climate on maize production in South Africa and potential adaptation and mitigation measures.