New African Discovery: Scientists found a new symbiotic nematode-bacterium duo (S. innovationi and X. innovationi) in South African soils. Fast Pest Control: The microscopic partnership eliminates destructive false codling moth larvae within 24 to 48 hours. Eco-Friendly Alternative: This naturally occurring duo offers a sustainable, chemical-free breakthrough for global citrus and grapevine crop protection.

Relational Value: The San worldview challenges commercial conservation by framing wildlife as an interconnected web of human and spiritual relationships rather than just economic units. Broader Expertise: True conservation requires integrating indigenous oral histories and deep botanical knowledge, expanding the wildlife economy to include plants and cultural practices. Ethical Partnership: Future wildlife models must shift from extractive commercialization to genuine partnerships with indigenous communities, prioritizing ethical responsibility and equitable benefit-sharing.

SU has upgraded the piggery at its Mariendahl Experimental Farm in the Western Cape. The modernised facility will support training and research and also benefit South Africa’s pork industry. Partnerships played an important role in the upgrade.

Inaugural Industry Collaboration: The South African Society for Enology and Viticulture (SASEV) and the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) will host the first-ever Table Grape Conference in Franschhoek this August, focusing on bridging the gap between innovative research and producer success. Call for Participation: Faculty and students are invited to submit abstracts by 15 May 2026 across four key themes—including plant health and post-harvest management—to help shape a sustainable and globally competitive future for the sector.

Strategic Integration: Held at the Future Africa campus, the 2026 NGRP meeting focused on aligning industry, research, and policy to ensure that scientific innovations, such as genomics and climate resilience, deliver tangible, on-farm impacts for grain producers. Stellenbosch Excellence: A diverse delegation from Stellenbosch University across Genetics, Plant Breeding, and Agronomy contributed to the national forum, notably highlighted by PhD candidate Mariana van Deventer winning the award for best PhD presentation.

International Research Synergy: A delegation from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) visited Stellenbosch University to strengthen a global partnership focused on eucalypt systems, wood formation, and ecophysiology within the EucXylo research programme. Field and Academic Exchange: The visit integrated high-level academic presentations with hands-on exploration at the IMPACT Open Air Laboratory, fostering innovative, field-based solutions for global forestry challenges like climate change.

Niel van Heerden’s appointment to the IFTSA Board of Directors further cements Stellenbosch University’s global leadership in food science, joining fellow students and faculty in prominent roles within the international organization.

Inaugural Global Chapter: The SU Food Science Association launched Africa’s first Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Student Chapter, hosting a landmark panel with leaders from firms like PepsiCo and Woolworths. Future-Ready Skills: Industry experts emphasized that while data literacy and AI are essential tools, long-term career success depends on "soft" traits like curiosity, coachability, and choosing learning-rich roles over prestige.

Pioneering Cereal Science: Prof Manley was honored by Grain SA for her 29-year career in NIR spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging, establishing her as a global leader in grain quality evaluation. Industry & Academic Impact: Her research directly modernized South African wheat grading regulations to ensure fairer farmer compensation while mentoring over 90 postgraduate students.

Global-Local Knowledge Exchange: Prof Edward Mabaya from Cornell University visited Stellenbosch University to lecture on how digital platforms and mobile technologies are transforming agri-food systems in the Global South. Practical Innovation: Moving beyond theory, students participated in a mini-hackathon to adapt global technologies for local South African challenges, fostering creative problem-solving and international academic collaboration.