PHYLA Hortgro visit – an ‘eye-opener’ for the DSTI’s DDG

By Desiree Thompson

The Post-Harvest Innovation (PHI) Programme is a public-private partnership between the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) and the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum (FPEF), with the FPEF as the implementing agent. It is currently in its fifth phase (PHI-5) and funded by the DSTI through its Sector Innovation Fund (SIF). The industry matches research and development (R&D) project costs in equal proportions.

During the previous phase of the Programme (PHI-4), PHI funding contributed to the construction of a fumigation cold room. This container facility was the precursor to the Hortgro-funded phytosanitary laboratory, PHYLA. To illustrate the impact of the PHI Programme, a DSTI and Industry site visit was conducted at Hortgro PHYLA.

The facility, where four current R&D projects under PHI-5 are being conducted, hosted an event on 17 September 2024. The event was so successful that the DSTI requested a follow-up visit to include Dr Mmboneni Muofhe, the DSTI’s Deputy Director-General (DDG). As a result, the FPEF, in collaboration with Hortgro, arranged a visit and tour of the facility on 27 February 2025.

Upon arrival at the Welgevallen Experimental farm in Stellenbosch, the Hortgro and Stellenbosch University (SU) teams welcomed the DSTI and FPEF representatives to the PHYLA Hortgro facility. Dr Minette Karsten, Hortgro Crop Protection programme manager, provided an overview of PHYLA, after which Dr Renate Smit, Hortgro Phytosanitary facility manager and Entomology researcher, conducted a tour of the facility.

PHYLA overview

The PHYLA Hortgro phytosanitary facility officially opened in January 2023. Research at PHYLA aims to enhance existing post-harvest phytosanitary treatments and develop alternative or new treatments as needed to maintain current export markets and access new international markets. The facility can, among other things, run temperature simulations on various commodities intended for export. Different cold sterilisation regimes and the viability of adjusting temperatures to accommodate chill-sensitive fruit types, such as plums, are also explored.

The value of PHYLA lies in its ability to address phytosanitary pest concerns while exploring fruit quality challenges, which provides an integrated approach to the deciduous fruit industry. PHYLA consists of an insectarium set up to rear major insect pests, a ‘wet’ laboratory for fruit inoculations and quality measurements, four cold rooms, a fumigation room, and a new wing. Close collaboration with Stellenbosch University enables the facility to train students and provide insects to other Hortgro projects and projects funded by different industries.

Background

The initial post-harvest fumigation work, conducted by Dr Renate Smit and Dr Shelley Johnson, explored the use of ethyl formate (EF) during a project co-funded by the PHI Programme (under PHI-4) and Hortgro. The research results highlighted the need for a facility such as PHYLA to expand on the development of EF fumigation as a phytosanitary treatment, its potential commercial implementation, and the development of other technologies using alternative fumigants, modified atmospheres, and cold therapy for the deciduous fruit industry.

In addition to the EF work, PHI funding (during the current PHI-5) has also supported research at PHYLA to examine cold sterilisation regimes, the use of a modified atmosphere (through low oxygen) and the addition of fumigants such as nitric oxide – to control pests like false codling moth (FCM) – for the deciduous fruit industry. Dr Smit also explored the potential of technologies such as ozone, whilst PHI funding has contributed to developing skills and capacity at various levels.

Conclusion

The visit to the PHYLA Hortgro phytosanitary facility concluded with refreshments at the nearby Hortgro Science offices. The Hortgro and SU teams gifted the DSTI representatives with export fruit ‘care packages’, whilst Anton Kruger (FPEF CEO) presented copies of the 2025 FPEF Export Directory to the DSTI team. He also provided an overview of the South African fresh fruit export industry. He emphasised the importance of market access and post-harvest research on quarantine pests like FCM, which is unique to South Africa and, if present, can lead to the rejection of entire fruit export shipments.

In response, the DSTI team expressed gratitude to all involved, whilst the DDG described the event as an ‘eye-opener’.

Caption:

A delegation from the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, along with the FPEF/PHI Programme, visited our PHYLA laboratory on the Welgevallen Experimental Farm in Stellenbosch. From left to right: Sunita Kalan, Buliswa Omodona, Renate Smit, Minette Karsten, Deputy Director-General: Dr Mmboneni Muofhe, Shelley Johnson, Anton Kruger and Desiree Thompson.