1662 HORTGRO INDUSTRY AWARD | Dr Ilse Trautmann

The 1662 Award is special, and you may wonder where it originates and what 1662 refers to.

On 17 April 1662, the first two apples were picked in the Company’s Garden at the Cape. They were Witte Wijn Apples. This was a significant achievement for the Dutch East India Company, which established a halfway station between Europe and the East in 1652. The picking of the first apples symbolically signifies the start of our industry on the African continent.

The 1662 Industry Award gives recognition to any individual or individuals who have made an exceptional impact on the industry in any sphere. The recipient is an industry stakeholder who has consistently gone “above and beyond” in their specific fields of expertise over an extended period. That made a strategic impact on agriculture in general, but specifically the pome fruit and stone fruit industries. This helped establish pride and encourage excellence in the deciduous fruit industry.

This year, the 1662 Award goes to Dr Ilse Trautmann for her distinguished contribution, over many years, to the Deciduous Fruit Industry.

With several academic degrees under her belt, Dr Ilse Trautmann began her professional career at the Agricultural Research Council in 1991 as a Senior Table Grape Researcher. Her excellence in research and leadership quickly led to successive promotions into middle and then senior management positions, first at the ARC and subsequently at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture since 2003. Her significant impact led to her appointment in 2021 to the new post of Deputy Director General: Agricultural Research and Regulatory Services. In this capacity, she oversaw the programmes Research and Technology Development Services, Veterinary Services, and Agricultural Economic Services, managing a significant staff component and seven research farms.

First and foremost, Ilse has a deep personal passion for improving agriculture through the transfer of science and technology. Under her leadership, agricultural research and technology development in the province grew and evolved to embrace new technologies and innovations. She is committed to excellence in service delivery, focusing on people and skills development, and fostering trust-based and impactful partnerships between the Department and industry bodies, as well as with other sub-national governments worldwide.

Among her many achievements, Ilse is particularly proud of her efforts to put climate change on the agricultural roadmap. She oversaw the development and implementation of the SmartAgri plan and innovated a two-year radio series on RSG, “Die Kwik Styg”, which focused on climate change. In December 2023, she signed the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership agreement at COP28 on behalf of the Western Cape Government, as one of 15 founding regions.

Ilse’s knowledge of the sector and her enormous network have made her a sought-after advisor, as is evidenced by her service on scientific and industry boards. Notably, she was the first female president of the SA Society for Oenology and Viticulture, later being bestowed with the prestigious Medal of Merit in 2014 and the award as Honorary President of SASEV.

The leadership and vision of Dr Ilse Trautmann will continue to shape the future of agriculture in the Western Cape. We thank her for her unwavering service and perseverance, and the difference she made to so many people!