The 50th-anniversary celebration of the international management assistants (IMA) in Stockholm, Sweden which was held from 17 – 20 October marked a significant milestone in the exploration of artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in shaping lives and professions. Staff members attending the conference found it to be an enlightening experience, highlighting AI as a tool for growth and innovation rather than a source of fear.

The conference showcased how AI is increasingly integrated into daily routines, simplifying tasks and boosting efficiency. While concerns about AI’s dominance persist, the event emphasised its adaptability and potential when used thoughtfully.

Renowned thought leaders such as Marvin Minsky and Geoffrey Hinton shared insights into AI’s history and evolution, tracing its journey from early stagnation to its current robust growth. Their reflections underscored the perseverance and creativity that have driven AI’s remarkable advancements.

The benefits of AI were prominently featured, from its contributions to medical breakthroughs to its ability to support individuals with disabilities. One inspiring example was a blind runner who successfully completed a marathon with the assistance of AI-driven camera technology. Innovations like LinkedIn’s further illustrate how AI is transforming information access and analysis.

Ethical challenges surrounding AI also formed a critical part of the discussions. Speakers emphasised the importance of fostering trust, fairness, and security in AI innovation. As society embraces this technology, ensuring its ethical and equitable use remains a top priority.

This conference provided valuable tools and insights to prepare attendees for an AI-driven future. It highlighted AI’s potential to drive personal and professional growth, empowering individuals to engage confidently with this transformative technology.

As IMA commemorates five decades of progress, the event not only celebrated past achievements but also envisioned future possibilities. The conference served as a call to action, inspiring attendees to continue exploring AI’s potential to enhance lives and create positive change.

Article supplied by Gretchen Bickerstaff

Hoe kan die gebruik van Afrika se ryk natuurlewehulpbronne bydra tot bewaring en lewensbestaan ​​en ekonomiese ontwikkeling effektief ondersteun? Vanaf die 4de tot 6de November 2024 het ‘n diverse groep navorsers, kundiges, staatsamptenare, sakeleiers en studente in Stellenbosch, Suid-Afrika, bymekaargekom om hierdie oorkoepelende en tog pertinente vraag by die eerste African Wildlife Economy Colloquium te beantwoord. Die geleentheid is aangebied deur die African Wildlife Economy Institute in vennootskap met die Southern African Wildlife College; die Sentrum vir Bewaringssosiale Wetenskappe, Cornell Universiteit; die Navorsingseenheid vir Wildbewaring, Universiteit van Oxford; Oppenheimer Generations Navorsing en Bewaring; Deelskerm Afrika; die Brettschneider Cornell Oxford Exchange Fund; en Jamma-bewaring en gemeenskappe.

Die Colloquium-sprekers en -gangers het van regoor die Afrika-kontinent en verder gekom. In die geheel is 17 lande verteenwoordig met 12 uit Afrika. Altesaam 281 mense het dit bygewoon met 165 deelnemers wat aanlyn deelgeneem het, terwyl 64 deelnemers persoonlik aangesluit het. Die geleentheid het 52 sprekers gehad wat hul insigte gedeel het en bygedra het tot die geleentheid se reeks tematiese paneelbesprekings.

Bewaring en Ekonomie

‘n Prominente tema regdeur die Colloquium was die geleentheid om bewaringspogings in lyn te bring met ekonomiese oorwegings. Sprekers het beklemtoon dat vir wild om te floreer, beleid beide die bewaring van biodiversiteit en ekonomiese groei moet ondersteun. Hierdie belyning is van kardinale belang, veral in sektore soos wildboerdery, waar ekonomiese druk bewaringsdoelwitte ondermyn of in beskermde gebiede waar bewaringsdruk ekonomiese groei kan ondermyn.

Die besprekings het die belangrikheid beklemtoon om beleid te skep wat nie net bewaring aanspoor nie, maar dit ook finansieel lewensvatbaar maak vir grondeienaars en gemeenskappe om by volhoubare wildbestuur betrokke te raak. Dit is ook uitgelig op die aanbieding deur Khorommbi Matibeo van die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Bosbou, Visserye en Omgewing wat beklemtoon het dat, “die Departement se huidige beleide soos Wildsvleisstrategie en Nasionale Biodiversiteit-ekonomiestrategie plaas meer klem op ‘n inklusiewe ekonomie wat daarna streef om volhoubare en billike geleenthede vir plaaslike gemeenskappe te lewer”. Hierdie benadering strook met die Global Biodiversity Framework en met streekverbintenisse soos SAOG se Wildlife-gebaseerde Ekonomie Strategie Raamwerk. Adam Cruise van, Bedreigde Natuurlewe Ondersoeke, het egter gewaarsku dat volhoubare gebruik van wild bedag moet wees op wat hy genoem het “die vloek van kommersialisering van die natuur” wat lei tot oorbenutting van wilde spesies.

Finansiering en Belegging in Natuurlewe-ondernemings

Dit was duidelik uit die Colloquium gedurende die drie dae dat die sukses en volhoubaarheid van natuurlewe-ekonomieë afhang van hoe ons wildondernemings belê en finansier. Bedryfsspelers het beklemtoon dat die eerste verdedigingslinie vir wildbesigheidsfinansiering is om handel te dryf en ‘n opbrengs te maak. Dit sluit in om innoverend in die produkportefeulje-aanbieding te wees, asook om verbruikers te verseker dat hul produkte veilig is en volhoubaar bestuur word. Ander finansieringsmodelle wat bespreek is, sluit in koolstofkredieteskemas wat met wildhabitat verbind, soos uitgewys deur Mike Musgrave van ALU se Skool vir Natuurbewaring. Nog ‘n innoverende benadering tot die bou en groei van wildondernemings was die skenking van wild aan opkomende wildboere deur SANParke soos gerapporteer deur Klarine Schutte, ‘n AWEI-gegradueerde student. Afrika se ryk biodiversiteitshulpbronne.

Sertifisering vir Volhoubaarheid

Die belangrikheid van standaardsertifiseringstelsels in die bevordering van volhoubare gebruikspraktyke was ‘n herhalende tema. Aanbieders het bespreek hoe derdeparty-sertifisering die geloofwaardigheid van wildprodukte kan verbeter – van wildvleis tot wilde plantbestanddele. Deborah Vorhies van die FairWild Foundation, het gesê “volhoubaarheidstandaarde moet nie net op oespraktyke fokus nie, maar dit moet oor die waardekettings vaartbelyn gemaak word, insluitend die billike behandeling van alle akteurs wat betrokke is by die hele waardeketting”. Hierdie stelsels verseker nie net verbruikers van die volhoubaarheid van hul aankope nie, maar moedig ook produsente aan om aan beste praktyke te voldoen, wat ‘n mark skep vir eties verkryde wildprodukte.

Opkomende geleenthede in wildhandel

Die Colloquium het ontluikende geleenthede in wildlewe-ekonomieë uitgelig, veral op die gebied van wildvleismarkte en selfs die florerende insekhandel wat oor die hoof gesien word. Die wildekonomie behels meer as ekotoerisme, jag of wildsvleis. Daar meer as 30 insekte wat wild geoes word vir voedsel en tussen gemeenskappe en regoor Afrika verhandel word, het Biandri Joubert, ‘n nadoktorale aan die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand ‘n kritiese vraag gevra wat verdere ondersoek verg. “Verstaan ​​die wet insekte?” Dit stimuleer bespreking oor die potensiaal vir die formele erkenning van informele wilde spesies gebruike wat aansienlik bydra tot plaaslike ekonomieë, intra-Afrika handel en voedselsekerheid. Sorgvuldige bestuur en regulering moet verseker dat hierdie ondernemings floreer en nie biodiversiteit in gedrang bring nie.

Etiese en gesondheidsoorwegings in wildbestuur

Daar was krities ondersoek na etiese oorwegings rondom jag en wildgebruik. Die kontekstualisering van die etiek van jag in die Afrika-konteks moet in ag neem wat jag beteken vir die Afrika-gemeenskappe wat vir baie duisende jare gejag het. As deel van die aanspreek van etiese bekommernisse, word plaaslike mense tans uitgesluit en algemeen as stropers bestempel omdat hulle hul jag-ambisies najaag. Die gesprekke het ook die behoefte aan billike verdeling van voordele wat uit jagtoerisme verkry word beklemtoon, met aandag aan kommer oor regverdigheid en volhoubaarheid. Hierdie etiese oorwegings is noodsaaklik vir die bevordering van gemeenskapsondersteuning vir bewaringsinisiatiewe en moet verseker dat voorheen uitgeslote en onteiende mense deel is van jag en toegang het tot die wilde hulpbronne op hul lande.

Gekoppel aan etiek en volhoubaarheid, was die gesondheid en voedselveiligheid van produkte wat in die wild geoes is. Lydia Bhebhe, ‘n AWEI-nagraadse student, het byvoorbeeld opgemerk dat “daar ‘n behoefte is aan integrasie van menslike, dier- en omgewingsgesondheid deur die lense van die One Health-beginsels. Deelnemers het beklemtoon dat sukses van wildlewe-ondernemings afhang van die onderlinge verband van gesondheidsoorwegings. Hierdie sentimente is ook beaam deur Qudra Kagemba, van TRAFFIC wat fokus op hoe om soönotiese siektes en volhoubaarheidsrisiko’s in Tanzanië se wildvleisbedryf te verminder deur ‘n eengesondheidsbenadering tot waardekettingbestuur te ontwikkel. Deur ‘n holistiese perspektief aan te neem, kan ons wild-ekonomiestrategieë ontwikkel wat nie net bewaring en ondernemings bevorder nie, maar ook etiese praktyke en gesondheidsgemeenskappe.

Belowende paaie

Die African Wildlife Economy Colloquium het ‘n ryke verskeidenheid idees, insigte en besprekings van praktisyns en navorsers ten toon gestel wat die onderlinge verband van komplekse kwessies met betrekking tot volhoubare gebruik van wilde spesies en die bestuur van Afrika se wildekonomie getoon het. Verskeie belowende paaie – beleide en wette moontlik maak, vrywillige standaarde en sertifisering, ontwikkeling van wildevleiswaardekettings, ontwikkeling van etiese wildondernemings en innoverende finansieringsmodelle – het uit die besprekings na vore gekom. Vir al die deelnemers was miskien die belangrikste wegneemete die erkenning dat Afrika se wildekonomie ‘n hoogs komplekse stelsel is, en ons moet verskeie dissiplines en belanghebbendes bymekaar bring om geleenthede te identifiseer om vorentoe te beweeg.

Artikel verskaf deur: Klarine Schutte & Lydia Bhebhe

How can the use of Africa’s rich wildlife resources contribute to conservation and effectively support livelihoods and economic development? From the 4th to 6 th of November 2024, a diverse group of researchers, experts, government officials, business leaders, and students came together in Stellenbosch, South Africa, to answer this overarching and yet pertinent question at the inaugural African Wildlife Economy Colloquium. The event was hosted by the African Wildlife Economy Institute in partnership with the Southern African Wildlife College; the Center for Conservation Social Sciences, Cornell University; the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford; Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation; ShareScreen Africa; the Brettschneider Cornell Oxford Exchange Fund; and Jamma Conservation & Communities.

The Colloquium speakers and attendees came from across the African continent and beyond. Overall, 17 countries were represented with 12 from Africa. A total of 281 people attended with 165 attendees participating online, while 64 attendees joined in person. The event featured 52 speakers sharing their insights and contributing to the event's series of thematic panel discussions.

Conservation and Economics

A prominent theme throughout the Colloquium was the opportunity of aligning conservation efforts with economic considerations. Speakers emphasised that for wildlife to thrive, policies must support both biodiversity conservation and economic growth. This alignment is crucial, notably in sectors like wildlife ranching, where economic pressures undermine conservation goals or in protected areas where conservation pressure might undermine economic growth.

The discussions highlighted the importance of creating policies that not only incentivise conservation but also make it financially viable for landowners and communities to engage in sustainable wildlife management. This was also highlighted on the presentation by Khorommbi Matibeo of the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment who emphasised that, “the Department’s current policies such as Game Meat Strategy and National Biodiversity Economy Strategy places more emphasis on an inclusive economy that seeks to deliver sustainable, and equitable opportunities for local communities”. This approach aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework and with regional commitments such as SADC’s Wildlife-based Economy Strategy Framework. Adam Cruise from, Endangered Wildlife Investigations however,
cautioned that sustainable use of wildlife, should be mindful of what he called “the curse of commercialising nature” leading to overexploitation of wild species.

Financing and Investing in Wildlife Enterprises

It was clear from the Colloquium throughout the three days that the success and sustainability of wildlife economies depend on how we invest and finance wildlife enterprises. Industry players highlighted that the first line of defence to wildlife business financing is to trade and make a return. This includes being innovative in the product portfolio offering as well as assuring consumers that their products are safe and managed sustainably. Other financing models discussed included carbon credits schemes that link with wildlife habitat as pointed out by Mike Musgrave from ALU’s School of Wildlife Conservation. Another innovative approach to building and growing wildlife enterprise was the donation of game to emerging game ranchers by SANParks as reported by Klarine Schutte, an AWEI graduate student The discussions highlighted an increasing need to come up with innovative financing models and incentives for the sustainable use of Africa’s rich biodiversity resources.

Certification for Sustainability

The importance of standards certification systems in promoting sustainable use practices was a recurring theme. Presenters discussed how third-party certification can enhance the credibility of wildlife products – from game meat to wild plant ingredients. Deborah Vorhies from the FairWild Foundation, said “sustainability standards should not only focus on harvesting practices, but they should be streamlined across the value chains including the fair treatment of all actors involved in the entire value chain”. These systems not only assure
consumers of the sustainability of their purchases but also encourage producers to adhere to best practices, creating a market for ethically sourced wildlife products.

Emerging Opportunities in Wildlife Trade
The Colloquium highlighted emerging opportunities within wildlife economies, particularly in the realms of game meat markets and even the overlooked thriving insect trade. The wildlife economy encompasses more than ecotourism, hunting or game meat. There over 30 insects that are wild harvested for food and traded amongst communities and across Africa, Biandri Joubert, a postdoc at the University of the Witwatersrand asked a critical question which needs further investigation. “Does the law understand insects?” This stimulates discussion on the potential for formally recognising informal wild species uses that contribute significantly to local economies, intra-Africa trade, and food security. Careful management and regulation need to ensure that these enterprises prosper and do not compromise biodiversity.

Ethical and Health Considerations in Wildlife Management
There was critical examination of ethical considerations surrounding hunting and wildlife use. Contextualising the ethics of hunting in the African context needs to take into consideration what hunting means to the African communities who have hunted for many thousands of years. As part of addressing ethical concerns, local people, are currently excluded and commonly labelled as poachers for pursing their hunting ambitions. The conversations also emphasised the need for equitable distribution of benefits derived from hunting tourism, addressing concerns about fairness and sustainability. These ethical considerations are vital for fostering community support for conservation initiatives and should ensure that previously excluded and dispossessed people are part of hunting and have access to the wild resources on their lands.

Linked to ethics and sustainability, was the health and food safety of wild harvested products. For instance, Lydia Bhebhe, an AWEI postgraduate, noted that “there is a need for integration of human, animal, and environmental health through the lenses of the One Health principles. Participants stressed that success of wildlife enterprises depend on the interconnectedness of health considerations. These sentiments were also echoed by Qudra Kagemba, from TRAFFIC who is focusing on how to reduce zoonotic disease and sustainability risks in Tanzania game meat industry by developing a one health approach to value chain management. By adopting a holistic perspective, we can develop wildlife economy strategies that promote not only conservation and enterprise, but also ethical practices and health communities.

Promising Pathways
The African Wildlife Economy Colloquium showcased a rich diversity of ideas, insights, and discussions from practitioners and researchers showing the interconnectedness of complex issues relating to sustainable use of wild species and the governance of of Africa’s wildlife economy. Several promising pathways – enabling policies and laws, voluntary standards and certification, development of wild meat value chains, development of ethical wildlife enterprises, and innovative financing models – emerged from the discussions. For all the participants, perhaps the most important takeaway was the recognition that Africa’s wildlife economy is a highly complex system, and we need to bring multiple disciplines and stakeholders together to address identify opportunities for moving forward.

Article supplied by: Klarine Schutte & Lydia Bhebhe

The 7th edition of the Finance and Farm Management textbook, often called the industry’s “blue bible” of farm management, continues to be a cornerstone in agricultural education. Supported by Standard Bank, which has a long-standing commitment to agricultural education, the book plays a pivotal role in preparing students and emerging farmers for the complexities of modern agriculture. The latest edition of the book, edited by Prof. André Louw and Dr Mariette Geyser (North-West University), features key contributions from Stellenbosch University academics Dr Willem Hoffmann, Prof Jooste, and Dr Melissa van der Merwe.

More specifically, Dr Hoffmann and Prof Jooste wrote two new chapters namely “Project management within the farming business” and “Legislation in the South African context” respectively. Prof Jooste also contributed to the updating of “Agricultural finance and macroeconomic variables” and “Entering African and other international markets”. Dr van der Merwe was responsible for updating “Understanding Value and Supply Chains in Agriculture” and “Production Economic Principles in Planning of the farm business”. She also supported Dr Geyser in updating the “Farm business financials” and “Financial analysis of farming results” chapters. The involvement of Stellenbosch University academics in a third of the book highlights the institution’s leadership in agricultural education, reinforcing its role as a key contributor to advancing the sector.

Dr van der Merwe also participated in a panel discussion during the book launch on 1 October 2024 hosted by Standard Bank in Johannesburg. She highlighted the importance of the book in illustrating the importance of the agricultural sector to the economy and the many interesting career opportunities that exist, not only on the farm but also beyond the farm gate. She also urged Standard Bank to, together with University partners, develop innovative solutions such as short videos and podcasts to increase GenZ’s engagement with the material.

From L to R: Prof André Jooste (HoD Department of Agricultural Economics), Dr Melissa van der Merwe (senior lecturer Agricultural Economics), and Dr Willem Hoffman (senior lecturer Agricultural Economics)

The 16th International Conference on Yeasts (16th ICY) took place in Cape Town from 29 September to 3 October. The ICY is held every four years and is organised under the auspices of the International Commission on Yeasts (ICY), a scientific association affiliated with the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS). The 102 currently active Commissioners on the ICY represent 44 countries.

This was the first time that this event was held on the African continent. The Local Organising Committee was representative of the SA Yeast research community with members from the University of the Free State, the Unjversity of the Western Cape and the Agricultural Research Council. The LOC was chaired by Prof Florian Bauer (South African Grape and Wine Research Institute) and included Profs Evodia Setati, Benoit Divol and Dr Heinrich Volschenk from SU.

Florian Bauer (left) and Kevin Verstrepen (right) at question time after the opening keynote lecture

The conference attracted more than 300 delegates including around 250 international researchers from all continents. Globally renowned keynote speakers included Prof Kevin Verstrepen from the KU Leuven (Belgium), Prof Pascale Daran-Lapujade (TU Delft, Netherlands), Prof Brenda Andrews (University of Toronto, Canada), Prof Chris Hittinger (University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA) and Prof Jose Avalos (Princeton University, USA). Many young and upcoming researchers were also included as speakers in the program. In total, the conference featured more than 100 oral and more than 150 poster presentations. SU students and researchers were well represented with five oral lectures and 12 posters.

Doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows from SU presenting their recent research results at the 16th ICY. From left to right: Dr Natasha Luyt, Dr Evelyn Maluleke, Mr Daniel Zieff, Mr Lesiba Tyrone Chuene, Dr James Duncan

For the first time, the conference also featured a session on Science Communication, coordinated by Prof Marina Joubert from CREST at SU. The session also featured two artists from Great Britain who had been working with yeast researchers from the laboratory of Prof Diethard Mattanovich from BOKU University in Vienna to visually express their perception of the scientific process in general and yeast research in particular.

At the meeting of the commissioners who were present at the conference, Prof Bauer was elected as the new chair of the International Commission on Yeasts (ICY) for a period of four years until the next ICY meeting, which will take place in Madison, Wisconsin, USA in 2028.

The 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (CA), held in Cape Town, South Africa, from July 22 to 24, 2024, was a spectacular event that brought together an impressive group of global experts. These specialists converged to address one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing modern agriculture today: the slow and uneven adoption of conservation practices, particularly in regions like Africa, where such practices could have the most profound impact. Building on the considerable momentum generated by the previous congress held in Switzerland in 2021, this year’s event stood out as a beacon of hope, focusing on delivering practical, science-backed solutions designed to enhance the adoption and scalability of conservation agriculture across diverse landscapes.

The congress offered an unparalleled platform for the exchange of innovative ideas and actionable strategies, from pioneering methods of soil health quantification to the integration of livestock within cropping systems—a strategy that holds immense potential for both ecological and economic benefits. The primary goal of the congress was to propose practical solutions to enhance CA adoption. This in turn, can empower farmers with knowledge and tools that could help them combat the devastating impacts of climate change, improve soil health, and boost agricultural sustainability, not just in Africa, but on a global scale.

One of the most unique and impactful aspects of this congress was its focus on real-world, practical engagement. Unlike many conferences that remain strictly academic, this event included a series of groundbreaking sessions where farmers and researchers sat down together to have open honest discussions. These conversations provided deep insights into the tangible benefits and significant limitations of implementing CA practices, as well as the very real apprehensions farmers face when considering changes to their farming methods. It was a rare and eye-opening opportunity to delve into the day-to-day realities of farmers who are struggling to ensure the continued viability of their operations in the face of numerous challenges.

Adding an emotional dimension to the congress was a powerful short film titled “Roots So Deep.” This film offered a poignant look into the turmoil and trials that farmers in the United States of America face as they navigate the complexities of running their farms. The film highlighted a critical issue: the stark lack of communication between farmers and the insufficient sharing of knowledge regarding the impacts of CA—not just on the soil, but on the entire ecosystem. The message was clear. Farmers are already burdened with countless challenges, and access to valuable, life- and ecosystem-changing knowledge should not be one of them.

Despite the growing global recognition of the benefits of CA, the rate of adoption remains slow in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa. However, the congress also shone a spotlight on South Africa, currently the leading country in Africa in CA adoption. The country’s extensive research and successful implementation of CA practices have already begun to yield impressive results, showcasing the potential for transformation when these methods are applied effectively. The impact and benefits of CA in South Africa were not just discussed—they were celebrated, offering a powerful example for other regions to follow.

Experts from around the world, including the Middle East and Northern Africa, also shared their experiences, presenting research that pointed to similar challenges in implementing CA in their respective countries. Farmers in these regions recognize the undeniable benefits of CA, but the significant risks associated with its implementation, coupled with a lack of robust support from both the government and the private sector, have weighed heavily on their decisions to adopt these practices. The congress underscored a surprising and somewhat unsettling reality: the challenges faced by farmers in first-world and third-world countries are strikingly similar. In both contexts, farmers grapple with the same fears—risk, uncertainty, and a critical lack of reliable information regarding the practices they choose to adopt.

Attending this congress was nothing short of an eye-opening experience, offering a rare glimpse into the shared challenges that farmers across the globe face, regardless of their country’s economic status. More than just highlighting problems, the event was a powerful testament to the importance of knowledge sharing. It became increasingly clear that spreading information about CA is not just beneficial but crucial to the adoption of CA. Congresses like this play an invaluable role in facilitating the transfer of information while promoting hard-hitting conversations and global collaboration.

One of the most unique and rewarding experiences at this congress was witnessing the willingness to share solutions to these challenging issues. Researchers, armed with data and insights from their own countries, exchanged advice and perspectives with their peers from around the world. The exchange of knowledge didn’t stop there; farmers themselves also played a crucial role, offering advice and sharing experiences on behalf of other farmers from different regions. This mutual exchange of knowledge and experience was a powerful reminder of the collective strength and resilience of the global farming community including researchers. The 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture wasn’t just a conference—it was a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to secure a sustainable future for agriculture.

Academic staff and students of the Department of Genetics have been attending several scientific meetings and receiving honours and awards, reaffirming the quality and standing of research in the Department. At the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa’s conference, hosted at Stellenbosch (9- 13 September 2024), Ms Samantha Joao (PhD candidate in Genetics, Supervisor Prof. Clint Rhode) received the Best Student Oral Presentation Award for her talk, entitled: “Examining growth in dusky kob (argyrosomus japonicus) via differential transcriptomic analysis of gill tissue”. Doctoral candidate Ms Jessica Winn (Supervisor: Prof. Aletta Bester-van der Merwe) and recent doctoral graduate Dr Kelvin Hull (Supervisor: Prof. Clint Rhode) was awarded the South African Genetics Society’s (SAGS) Postgraduate Award for Best Published Paper in the categories for Population & Evolutionary Genetics, and Functional & Developmental Genetics, respectively. Ms Winn for her paper, “A comprehensive phylogenomic study unveils evolutionary patterns and challenges in the mitochondrial genomes of Carcharhiniformes: A focus on Triakidae“ published in the journal Genomics this year; and Dr Hull for his work entitled,”Gene expression differentials driven by mass rearing and artificial selection in black soldier fly colonies” published in the journal Insect Molecular Biology last year. The awards where formally presented at the gala dinner of the joint conference of the South African Genetics Society and the South African Society for Bioinformatics (SASBi), Bio2024, hosted by the University of Pretoria (23-25 September 2024). The SAGS Postgraduate Awards entails a cash prize, free conference registrations, and the prestigious Hofmeyr-Van Schaick Medal (Bronze). Prof. Clint Rhode was also re-elected, for a second term in office, as the President of the SAGS at the society’s general meeting, also held during the conference.

Dr Erna Blancquaert was honoured as the Agricultural Writers South Africa (AWSA) Researcher of the year for 2024 at the iXhariep regional awards held at Durbanville Hills Wines on 4 October.

Blancquaert’s teach in the undergraduate program in the Department of Viticulture and Oenology in the fields of ampelography, grape berry stress physiology and pests and diseases. Her research expertise in grapevine stress physiology is crucial for tackling the challenges posed by climate change. More recently she explores alternative farming practices on grape quality.

She is not only an academic but is also involved in agriculture on a national level as she serves as a trustee of the agricultural minister On the Deciduous Fruit Industry’s Development Trust, ensuring her research translates into practical insights. She is a wine judge on some of South Africa’s top wine competitions as she jokingly says, “the proof is in the pudding”. Internationally, Blancquaert is a Fulbright alumnus and led Stellenbosch in the Vitaglobal project which is an Erasmus funded project with other universities from wine producing countries.

“None of this would have been possible without my mentors. Dr Victoria Carey and the late Prof Piet Goussard and Prof Eben Archer who got me to this point. Without their passion and willingness to share none of this would have been possible. I am passionate about the industry, my research and academic teaching but it is incredibly difficult every day when you get undermined, questioned and second-guessed on all as a female and a person of colour in this field. This is not only exhausting and frustrating but also sad considering we are 30 years post-apartheid. I dream of the day where we all can work together and make the wine industry and the country better”

We are excited to share the results of the 2024 Food Science, New Product Development (NPD) presentations. This event has become a highlight on the food industry’s calendar, and for good reason. The quality of work, depth of scientific knowledge communicated, and overall standard are consistently impressive. The 2024 presentations, held on 17 October, were no exception.

Dr Debora van der Merwe, after several years working in the food industry, joined the Food Science Department in mid-2023, making 2024 her first full year of involvement from start to finish. The inspiration for this year’s theme came from a talk by Miles Kubheka, which highlighted the significant need and gap in the market.

This year’s brief challenged students to develop an innovative and exciting new product, or to improve an existing favourite, specifically for the spaza shop market in South Africa. The following criteria were taken into consideration:

• Addressing non-communicable diseases or a health issue relevant to the target market
• Nutritional improvements compared to products currently available in this market
• Target market analysis
• Current food trends
• Benchmark testing against existing market products
• Costing considerations
• ompliance with South African legislation
• Food safety aspects and shelf-life at ambient temperature
• Nutritional information
• Consumer research
• Suitable packaging solutions

The Products:

• ChedSpread: Cheddar cheese-flavoured vegetable spread
• Ama-Phuthu: Amasi-flavoured, quick-cook Phuthu porridge
• Monsta Noodles: Instant noodles made with a carrot base, accompanied by a spice sachet with authentic South African flavours
• >Maak-Gou: A banana mageu-inspired energy chew with a maize meal and sugar bean base
• Bob’s: A smokey BBQ-flavoured, fermented soybean spread
• Ama-zin Stix: A sorghum-based, cheese and atchar-flavoured extruded snack

We were privileged to have a highly skilled and reputable panel of judges:

• Miles Kubheka: Keynote speaker, author, celebrity chef, entrepreneur, cooking show TV host, and philanthropist
• Linka Cameron: Former Group Managing Director of Elgin Free Range Chickens Holdings, founder and business coach at &Collab
• Tanya Rabie: Category Head of Prepared Food division at In2Food
• Dr Tertius Cilliers: CEO of Synercore

Photo from left to right: Mieke Laubser, Cherien van Zyl, Zanie Oosthuizen, Kayla Swanepoel, Syntiche Kabuya, Alexander Brody

Photo from left to right: Niel van Heerden, Carine Vermeulen, Elzaan Louw, Joy Machabi, Marli Kotze, Cara Smit

Photo from left to right: Anelisa Hoboyi, Lindsay Heyns, Fallon Matthews, Jenna Egberink, Zoë Hendricks, Lieneke Eigenhuis

Photo from left to right: Nicola Goosen, Emily Teanby, Georgia Nock, Kgotlello Madisha, Marianne Barry, Jana-Mari Steyn

Photo from left to right: Kholiwe Biyela, Paige Wardle, Carli Lourens, Suzan Wentzel, Lumé van Eck, Anné Potgieter

Photo from left to right: Mia Groenewald, Taylor Carnie, Nombali Hlambisa, Jeanelle Baard, Helene-Marie van Niekerk, Tammy Kumm

Prize winners:

Prize winners for best product and presentation: Sponsored by Synercore and InnovUS

Gold (to the value of R20 000 per group)– Monsta Noodles

Silver (to the value of R10 000 per group) – Ama-Phuthu

Bronze The combined third prize for the four teams—ChedSpread, Maak-Gou, Bob’s, and Ama-zin Stix—is a bronze award valued at R5,000 per group. The scores of these teams were closely grouped, leading the judges to determine that all four were deserving of this recognition. Additionally, Synercore contributed R15,000 to support the sharing of this prize.

Miles Kobeka prize for a 6-month Coaching Opportunity, once a month with him, went to ChedSpread

FACTS prize for best complying with SA Food Regulations, to the value of R10 000 per group and a virtual workshop per person, went to Ama-Phuthu

The NSF prize for the best HACCP plan, a two-day training course to the value of R4300/pp went to Ama-Phuthu

 

Student Gold Pack prize for the best packaging solution: The Institute of Packaging SA

Gold (R1400/member) Bob’s

Silver(R700/member) Ama-Phuthu

Microchem prize for the product best like by the audience to the value of R10 000 per group, went to the Ama-zin Sticks group

To quote Miles Kubeka, one of our judges, from his Instagram post: “Because it turns out that if you want a better and brighter future, not only do you have to create it, but you also need to help shape future world-changers.” He mentioned that he was inspired by the deep talent pool we have in South Africa. After joining the Food Science team at the beginning of 2024 to guide and inspire the group, he was pleasantly surprised by how they interpreted the challenge of developing innovative and appealing foods suitable for sale in South African townships. After tasting the products, he believes they are mostly ready to be launched and will do well in the market. Furthermore, he emphasizes that the time has come for us to cultivate food scientists who value impact over profit; those who would rather address the massive need for healthy yet affordable food products instead of producing empty-calorie items.

“We need food scientists who will develop human- and climate-positive foods!”

Well-done to the class of 2024, you did it!

The Department of Viticulture and Oenology hosted a heritage month celebration in collaboration with Gift of the Givers Foundation at an event hosted in the SU Library Auditorium, where Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, the Founder, served as the keynote speaker. Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest disaster response organisation in Africa, with both national and international reach.

The theme for this year’s heritage month celebration was Inclusivity and the participation of the Gift of the Givers Foundation was fitting, as the organisation’s ethos is to serve all people unconditionally, irrespective of race, religion, colour, class, political affiliation or geographic location. Founded in 1992 by Dr Sooliman, a medical doctor by profession, the foundation has a national and international footprint, operating across South Africa, Africa, and in over 45 countries worldwide.

Since its inception, the organisation has been responsible for the delivery of life-saving goods and on-the-ground support, valued at approximately R4.5 billion, in more than 45 countries, including South Africa. One of the organisation’s key portfolios is Hunger Alleviation, providing much needed services to the vulnerable and malnourished communities. It is envisaged that further discussions will be held with the foundation on this topic, as it is recognised that the agricultural industry and agricultural knowledge plays a vital role in combating household food security in marginalised communities.