Hortgro Science Funded Research at International Fruit Crop Meeting

South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry was well represented at the recent IOBC-WPRS Integrated Protection of Fruit Crops meeting held in Wageningen, Netherlands, from 14–18 September 2025.

The event brought together experts from 19 countries to exchange knowledge on integrated pest and disease management in apples and pears. Discussions focused on challenges such as woolly apple aphid, pear psylla, codling moth, and invasive or emerging pests, as well as advances in pathogen biology, monitoring systems, and postharvest disease control.

Notably, the meeting also highlighted the value of a systems approach to fruit growing—integrating pest and disease control strategies across the entire production chain.

The South African deciduous fruit industry was represented by students from Stellenbosch University, funded by Hortgro, who presented their latest research in plant pathology, conservation ecology, and entomology. Delegates also had the opportunity to visit Wageningen University’s Postharvest Technology Research facility, gaining insight into cutting-edge research and development in postharvest treatment.

Dr Shelley Johnson, Hortgro Research Associate, said that international collaborations such as this not only ensure that South African growers remain at the forefront of global best practices but also reinforce the industry’s commitment to sustainable, science-based production.

• IOBC-WPRS stands for the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control of Noxious Animals and Plants – West Palaearctic Regional Section. IOBC-WPRS is one of six Regional Sections of the International Organisation for Biological Control. IOBC was established in 1955 to promote environmentally safe methods of pest and disease control in plant protection.

Caption: At the International Meeting: Dr Julia Meitz-Hopkins (Hortgro), Elizabeth van Rooyen (MSc student), Dr Cheryl Lennox (Stellenbosch University), Megan Farquhar (MSc student), Dr Shelley Johnson (Hortgro) and Leander Engelbrecht (PhD student).