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.”

The Wood App – everything wood, within everybody’s reach

Since the launch of The Wood App (https://thewoodapp.com/), this innovative product of the Department of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University, has grown from a modest educational platform into a comprehensive resource on all things related to timber construction. After the creation of the website in 2020 by Dr Philip Crafford and Prof Brand Wessels, it has expanded its offering and reach, changing the way that thousands of users think about, design and work with wood.

Exciting growth 

The numbers reflect the platform’s success. From 11,000 users reported in April 2024, The Wood App now boasts 23,000 users globally. While the site was initiated and developed by local wood specialists and aimed at local wood fans, The Wood App currently serves 9,000 users outside South Africa. This growth confirms not only the local relevance, but also the international recognition of the platform’s quality and significance. 

“The response continues to exceed our expectations,” states Dr Crafford, a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Forest and Wood Science. “The continued growth in user numbers, as well as the oversubscription of the in-person courses offered, is very encouraging.”

Online education platform

The Wood App is web based and its content is available, free of charge, to anybody with access to the internet. Currently, 11 online courses are offered. Topics range from basic timber frame or deck building and stress graded timber, to specialised subjects such as sound control in timber buildings, timber in fire and cross-laminated timber design and construction. Each course takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete, and includes interactive quizzes. 

“We are excited to launch a new course, The Fundamentals of Timber Roof Design, soon,” says Crafford. “Our aim is to keep expanding the site, to meet the changing needs of our audience.”

Learning digitally and physically

While the foundation of The Wood App is still its online courses, the platform has successfully grown to include physical workshops. These events are often oversubscribed, with 150 applications received for one course in Stellenbosch, where only 80 people could be accommodated. These in-person courses are CPD accredited for architects.

The workshop calendar for 2025 kicked off with a Timber Frame Workshop in Stellenbosch on 12 February. Of the attendees, 40% were architects and 15% were building inspectors. This illustrates the appeal of the platform to key role-players in the construction industry. Another Timber Frame Workshop was presented in Durban on 2 July.

The 2025 program also included a Deck and Pole Construction Workshop in George on 2 April, and Timber Frame Building, Timber in Fire and Timber Grading Workshops on 8 and 9 September in Pretoria.

Workshop dates for 2026 will be announced soon and will again include events such as Timber Frame Building, Mass Timber Building and Integrating Sustainability into Design using Wood, in and around South Africa’s major cities. 

Industry support and recognition

Without the strong backing from the industry, the platform’s success would not have been achieved. The creation of The Wood App was made possible by the financial support from Sawmilling South Africa, the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA), and Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA. It has also enabled The Wood App to continue to offer its online products for free.

The platform is making measurable contributions to professional development in the timber industry, with more than 250 CPD certificates issued to architects and 500 online courses completed to date.

Looking ahead

The vision of The Wood App is to support and inspire local designers, developers, contractors and DIY’ers to use wood.  The platform aims to create a learning environment that combines theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills. High quality online courses are continuously developed and added to the website. These resources are complemented by practical workshops, offering a comprehensive educational package to all wood enthusiasts.

For more information, or to subscribe to the quarterly newsletter, please contact info@thewoodapp.com. 

To explore courses, workshop schedules and resources that cover “all things wood”, visit https://thewoodapp.com/