By Minette Karsten The 23rd Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA) took place in Stellenbosch between 12 and 14 July 2023. The congress was organised by a team of entomologists at Stellenbosch University (Profs. Pia Addison, John…
On 31 March 2022, the Deciduous Fruit Industry (DFI) hosted the inaugural Transformation Awards gala dinner in Stellenbosch. A momentous evening where all the short-listed candidates swopped their overalls and Wellingtons for black tie attire. The event was jointly hosted…
IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Stellenbosch] – February 21, 2025 – The fight against invasive pests has just intensified with the launch of the groundbreaking Centre of Excellence for Pest Monitoring. This initiative by the South African deciduous fruit industry organisation, Hortgro, aims…
After 44 years in the deciduous fruit industry, Hugh Campbell retires as Hortgro Technical General Manager to begin a new career phase. He spoke to Anna Mouton. On a Sunday afternoon in 1976, a young Hugh Campbell lined up with…
Area-wide fruit fly control helps South African fruit retain global market share. The Mediterranean fruit fly or Medfly is a global menace to fruit production. Both Medfly and its close relative, the Cape fruit fly, are phytosanitary pests. South African fruit…
Stellenbosch, South Africa – August 20, 2024 – The South African deciduous fruit industry body, Hortgro, has spent more than R55m over the past decade on bursaries. The Hortgro Bursary Programme (HBP) aims to support and nurture the next generation…
By Kyra-Kay Rensburg Stellenbosch. – The Hortgro phytosanitary laboratory, PHYLA, officially launched on 27 January 2023. The event was held at the new facility on Stellenbosch University’s Welgevallen Experimental Farm in Stellenbosch. The facility is managed by Dr Renate Smit,…
Get it identified at Blue Bug Diagnostic Service. By Anna Mouton Effective pest control starts with knowing exactly what you are fighting. Incorrect assessment of the cause of damage can lead to expensive errors in pest management. This risk is…
Ontmoet twee van die nuwe generasie produsente wat Hortgro se bedryfsleierskapprogram voltooi het. Wilhelm Loock (links) en Kosie Zondagh Hortgro het die bedryfsleierskapprogram in 2022 geloods om jong mense in die sagtevrugtebedryf as toekomstige bedryfsleiers te help toerus deur hulle…
Hortgro Science, the South African deciduous fruit industry research engine, recently held its annual Thank-You Breakfast in Stellenbosch. Prof. Wiehann Steyn, Hortgro Science General Manager, said that the event was a celebration and expression of gratitude to everyone who participated…
Text: Elise-Marie Steenkamp Last week, a diverse group of agricultural stakeholders gathered in Stellenbosch to discuss the future of pesticide regulation in South Africa. The Department of Agriculture (DoA) called for the colloquium, themed “Transforming Agricultural Regulatory Policy within the…
By Kara van der Berg A new phytosanitary facility dedicated to deciduous fruit will help improve access to new markets and maintain current ones for the industry. Hortgro approved and funded the building of a new phytosanitary research laboratory that…