Die Internasionale Geassosieerde Laboratorium “Mikroorganismes vir innoverende veerkragtigheid teen klimaatsverandering en volhoubaarheid van wynmaak” (MICROWISE) bring twee navorsingseenhede bymekaar: die gesamentlike navorsingseenheid Wetenskappe vir Wynkunde (Sciences pour l’œnologie, SPO) in Montpellier, Frankryk, en die Suid-Afrikaanse Wingerd- en Wynnavorsingsinstituut (SAWWNI) aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. SPO funksioneer onder drie akademiese owerhede: die Nasionale Navorsingsinstituut vir Landbou, Voedsel en die Omgewing (INRAE) van Montpellier, die Universiteit van Montpellier en die Instituut “Agro Montpellier”. MICROWISE bou voort op ‘n lang geskiedenis van samewerking, wat sedert 2015 gegroei het en tot stand gekom het deur gesamentlike wetenskaplike publikasies, ‘n gesamentlike PhD-projek en talle navorsing mobiliteit geleenthede vir studente en navorsers.

Die twee navorsingseenhede kon hierdie projek ontwikkel om hul samewerking te versterk deur hul gemeenskaplike navorsingsbelangstellings en hul unieke eienskappe soos hul ligging in twee hemisfere en hul wetenskaplike kundigheid te benut. Die wynbedryf is ‘n dinamiese sektor wat tans talle uitdagings moet navigeer. Dit sluit in die ontwikkeling van produksieprosesse wat (1) veerkragtig is teen klimaatsverandering (wat die samestelling van grondstowwe verander), (2) volhoubaar en winsgewend is, en (3) omgewingsvriendelik is (deur chemiese insette te verminder). Dit is ook belangrik om die veranderinge in wynverbruikerspatrone in ag te neem, en te beweeg na kwaliteitsprodukte met ‘n sterk karakter en uniekheid. MICROWISE poog om die biodiversiteit van wynmikroörganismes te ondersoek en aangepaste biologiese oplossings te ontwerp om hierdie uitdagings aan te spreek, wat weer sal bydra tot die sektor se verbintenis tot landbou-ekologiese oorgang.

Hierdie projek sluit drie hoofbenaderings in:

– ‘n Ekologiese benadering waarvan die doelwitte is om die natuurlike biodiversiteit van mikrobiese gemeenskappe wat met wyn geassosieer word, tussen Frankryk en Suid-Afrika te vergelyk, die interaksies tussen mikroörganismes te verstaan, en die omgewingsfaktore wat betrokke is by mikrobiese populasie dinamika te identifiseer, wat spesies en stamme bevoordeel wat ‘n positiewe impak het en die sensoriese eienskappe en styl van wyn diversifiseer.

– ‘n Fisiologiese benadering waarvan die doelwitte is om die fisiologiese eienskappe van nie-Saccharomyces giste te bestudeer en hierdie diversiteit te gebruik om nuwe gemengde aanvangskulture te ontwikkel wat aangepas is vir die variasies in druiwesap samestelling wat deur klimaatsverandering veroorsaak word, en om wyne te produseer wat aan verbruikersvraag voldoen en toegang tot nuwe markte kan bewerkstellig.

– ‘n Biochemiese benadering waarvan die doelwitte is om die diversiteit van mannoproteïene en ander selwandkomponente tussen gisspesies en -stamme te karakteriseer, die verwantskappe tussen die chemiese struktuur en funksie van hierdie komponente te ontrafel en hierdie kennis te gebruik om wynsteensuur-, kolloïdale- en proteïenonstabiliteite in wyn te voorkom en die sensoriese persepsie van wyn te moduleer.

MICROWISE sal ‘n raamwerk bied vir hoëvlak-wetenskaplike samewerking oor projekte wat daarop gemik is om mikrobiese diversiteit te benut vir ‘n meer volhoubare en klimaats veranderende wynbedryf. Benewens die voordele vir die bedryf, sal hierdie inisiatief die navorsingspanne van beide akademiese eenhede ondersteun deur die uitruil van kundigheid en nagraadse studente-opleiding te fasiliteer, en deur mobiliteitsgeleenthede te bied.

Die MICROWISE-afskopvergadering het op 8 en 9 September 2025 in Montpellier plaasgevind en is bygewoon deur ‘n groep akademici, na-doktorale genote en nagraadse studente van beide instellings. Tydens die openingsessie het HE Mnr. David Martinon, ambassadeur van Frankryk in Suid-Afrika, die belangrikheid van hierdie wetenskaplike samewerking beklemtoon om die uitdagings van die globale wynbedryf aan te spreek en die toekomstige werk alle sukses toegewens. Prof. Kennedy Dzama, Vise-dekaan: navorsing, nagraadse studies en innovasie van die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch, en Dr. Christophe Chassard, hoof van die afdeling Mikrobiologie en Voedselketting by die INRAE, het ook hul beste wense vir die samewerking uitgespreek.

Dwarsdeur die vergadering het wetenskaplike aanbiedings en werkswinkels navorsers in staat gestel om areas van gemeenskaplike belang te identifiseer en ooreenkomste te verken. Besprekings het gefokus op toekomstige navorsingsprojekte en befondsingsvoorstelle wat gesamentlik ontwikkel moet word. Hierdie vergadering was besonder produktief en het die toewyding van alle belanghebbendes gedemonstreer.

Foto: MICROWISE-deelnemers by die afskopvergadering (8-9 September 2025)

MICROWISE-koördineerders vir verdere navrae: Prof Benoit Divol (divol@sun.ac.za) en Dr Carole Camarasa (carole.camarasa@inrae.fr).

The International associated laboratory “Microorganisms for innovative resilience to climate change and winemaking sustainability” (MICROWISE) brings together two research units: the joint research unit Sciences for Oenology (Sciences pour l’œnologie, SPO) in Montpellier, France and the South African Grape and Wine Research Institute (SAGWRI) at Stellenbosch University. SPO operates under three academic authorities: the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) of Montpellier, the University of Montpellier and Institut Agro Montpellier. MICROWISE builds on a long history of collaboration, which has grown since 2015, and materialised through joint scientific publications, a joint PhD project and numerous research mobility opportunities for students and researchers.

The two research units were able to develop this project to strengthen their collaborations by leveraging their common research interests and their unique attributes such as their location in two hemispheres and their scientific know-how. The wine industry is a dynamic sector, which must currently navigate numerous challenges. These include developing production processes that are (1) resilient to climate change (which modifies the composition of raw materials), (2) sustainable and profitable, and (3) environmentally friendly (by reducing chemical inputs). It is also important to take into account the changes in wine consumption patterns, moving towards quality products with a strong character and typicity. MICROWISE aims to explore the biodiversity of wine microorganisms and design adapted biological solutions to address these challenges, which in turn, will contribute to the sector’s commitment to the agroecological transition.

This project includes three main approaches:

– An ecological approach whose objectives are to compare the natural biodiversity of microbial communities associated with wine between France and South Africa, to understand the interactions between microorganisms, and to identify the environmental factors involved in community dynamics, favouring species and strains that have a positive impact and diversify the sensory properties and style of wine.

– A physiological approach whose objectives are to study the physiological properties of non-Saccharomyces yeasts and to use this diversity to develop new mixed starter cultures adapted to the variations in grape juice composition induced by climate change and to produce wines that meet consumer demand and can access new markets.

– A biochemical approach whose objectives are to characterise the diversity of mannoproteins and other cell wall components between yeast species and strains, to unravel the relationships between the chemical structure and function of these components and to use this knowledge to prevent tartaric, colloidal and protein instability in wine and to modulate the sensory perception of wine.

MICROWISE will provide a framework for high-level scientific cooperation on projects aimed at leveraging microbial diversity for a more sustainable and climate-resilient wine industry. Beyond its benefits for the industry, this initiative will support the research teams of both academic units by facilitating the exchange of expertise and postgraduate student training, and by offering mobility opportunities.

The MICROWISE kick-off meeting took place on the 8th and 9th of September 2025 in Montpellier, and was attended by a group of academics, postdoctoral fellows, and postgraduate students from both institutions. During the opening session, HE Mr David Martinon, Ambassador of France to South Africa, emphasised the importance of this scientific collaboration in addressing the challenges of the global wine industry and wished the future work every success. Prof Kennedy Dzama, Vice-Dean: research, postgraduate studies and innovation of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University, and Dr Christophe Chassard, Head of the Microbiology and Food Chain Division at the INRAE, also expressed their best wishes for the collaboration.

Throughout the meeting, scientific presentations and workshops enabled researchers to identify areas of common interest and explore synergies. Discussions focused on future research projects and funding proposals to be developed jointly. This meeting was particularly productive and demonstrated the commitment of all stakeholders.

Photo: MICROWISE attendees at kick-off meeting (8-9 September 2025)

MICROWISE coordinators for further enquiries: Prof Benoit Divol (divol@sun.ac.za) and Dr Carole Camarasa (carole.camarasa@inrae.fr)

Daniela Ramos, MSc(Agric) student in Horticultural Science, recently attended the ISHS XIV International Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Research Conference (#CAMA2025) in Wenatchee, Washington State, where she presented her research paper titled “Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere – Chlorophyll Fluorescence (DCA-CF) and Controlled Atmosphere (CA) in Long-Term Storage of ‘Cripps Pink’ Apples, with Special Reference to Internal Browning.” Daniela received the ISHS Young Minds Award for Best Oral Presentation. Competing against international PhD students, this award recognises both the importance of her research field and the high quality of her work on a global scale.

Daniela is part of the Post-harvest Physiology Research Chair in Deciduous Fruit group, under the leadership of Dr Elke Crouch in the Department of Horticultural Science. The group focuses on long-term storage techniques and technologies to reduce post-harvest loss. Non-chemical long-term storage methods that maintain fruit quality are particularly important for South African exports, as they allow fresh produce to be supplied during periods of global scarcity. When correctly applied, these techniques reduce physiological disorders and food loss, while also providing unique insights into ripening and disorder physiology.

Daniela’s MSc research specifically examined the development of internal browning and fruit quality in ‘Cripps Pink’ apples (Pink Lady™) after long-term storage, influenced by growing-region temperature and canopy position. Her study tracked the ripening rate of 92 orchards, linking pre-harvest temperature to post-harvest quality and storage disorders. These large trials were conducted in collaboration with Geology CGA, TerraClim, and ExperiCo, with further collaborations and methodologies being explored for climatic studies. The research was funded by the Postharvest Innovation Fund 5 (DSI) and Hortgro Science.

The conference provided Daniela and her research with invaluable exposure to the international scientific community. She engaged in discussions with global peers and academic pioneers, and visited facilities including Washington State University, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Laboratories (and their CA facilities), the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Stemilt, and McDougal research, sorting, and storage facilities. Daniela extends her gratitude to the SU Overseas Conference Grant and her supervisor for funding, which made it possible for her to present her work on the international stage.

Photo: ISHS Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance (DPHQ) chairperson Prof. Giancarlo Colelli, Daniela Ramos (MSc Student Horticultural Science) Stellenbosch University, Convenor Dr. Carolina Torres, Washington State University, TFREC. 

Researchers from the Department of Horticultural Science in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University recently won an international award for developing a Decision Support System (DSS) to monitor water use in subtropical fruit tree orchards. The 2025 WatSave Innovative Water Management Award was presented to Dr Sebinasi Dzikiti, a senior researcher in the department, and his team by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage at the 4th World Irrigation Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 7–13 September 2025.

The DSS was developed in response to a need for a practical, user-friendly, and accurate tool for managing water resources in one of South Africa’s most water-stressed regions, the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (IUWMA). This region is a major producer of subtropical fruits such as mango, banana, litchi, and citrus, all under irrigation. Frequent droughts, climate variability, and growing competition for water have placed significant pressure on fruit producers to improve water productivity—producing more fruit with less water. The study was co-funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and IUWMA from October 2020 to March 2024.

The DSS was developed using 50 years of daily climate data (1960–2010) across more than 250 quaternary catchments in the IUWMA, combined with scientifically validated crop coefficients. Outputs from the DSS include orchard water use (transpiration and evapotranspiration), potential yield, water use efficiency, and irrigation requirements. Orchard water use is calculated using the internationally acclaimed FAO 56 principles, but with locally derived crop coefficients. A key innovation was the implementation of a procedure to derive crop coefficients using readily available input data, published in international peer-reviewed journals (Agricultural Water Management, Scientiae Horticulturae, and Hydrology). These accurate, site-specific crop coefficients allow farmers to schedule irrigation more precisely and make informed decisions about which tree crops to grow where, based on water requirements and estimated yields.

Currently, the DSS operates as a web-based tool for the IUWMA. Users select the approximate location of their property on the IUWMA map and navigate to their specific farm or orchard by loading the farm boundaries. The system retrieves long-term daily climate records from the nearest weather station for use in calculations. Users then input crop type, average tree height, fractional canopy cover, soil type, orchard floor vegetation status, and irrigation system to calculate crop coefficients, which are subsequently used to derive water use and crop yield. Results are presented both graphically and in tabular form as monthly summaries. Field testing was conducted using four years of experimental data collected from grapefruit, mango, litchi, and citrus orchards in a commercial farm in Malelane, IUWMA, with additional data on macadamia and citrus from prior WRC- and industry-funded projects. Wider validation of the DSS across other locations in the IUWMA is planned but requires additional resources.

“Given that this tool was developed to address the specific needs of users in the IUWMA, we are very excited to have moved this study from basic science to practice,” said Dr Dzikiti. “We are truly humbled that our work has been recognised not only locally but also internationally. While we used data from a single catchment in South Africa as a case study, the concept behind the DSS can be replicated in other locations in South Africa and beyond.”