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Augustus 2015
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RELEVANT
Researchers excel at symposium
MARY JAMES,
ARC-Grain Crops Institute
1: Researchers from the ARC-Grain Crops Institute presented various
oral and poster presentations of recent research carried out at the
ARC-Grain Crops Institute, Potchefstroom, at the first African Society
of Mycotoxicology Symposium at Livingston, Zambia, held from
26 to 28 May 2015. Prof Bradley Flett (middle) was the scientific chair-
person on the organising committee of the symposium as well as an
invited speaker. Dr Belinda Janse van Rensburg (far left), who was also
a member of the organising committee, Mr Edson Ncube (second left),
Ms Sylvia Phokane (second right) and Dr Aneen Schoeman each pre-
sented papers at this inaugural meeting. Prof Flett said that this was
an ideal opportunity for African scientists to network and showcase
the quality of research being done in Africa.
2: Prof Bradley Flett (being congratulated on his appointment by
Dr Antonio Logrieco, Institute of Sciences of Food Production
– National Research Council of Italy [Bari, Italy], the current presi-
dent of the International Society of Mycotoxicology) was recently
elected the first president of the African Society of Mycotoxicology
at a meeting in Livingston, Zambia. The rest of the committee include
Prof Sheila Okoth from Nairobi University, Kenya (second from right)
the newly elected vice-president, Dr Essam Ibraheem from the Animal
Health Research Institute, Egypt (fourth from right), Prof Olusegun
Atanda from McPherson University, Lagos, Nigeria (fourth from left),
Dr Hanneke Alberts from the Cape Peninsula University and Tech-
nikon, Cape Town (third from left), Dr Juliet Akello from IITA, Zambia
(second from left), and Dr Benoit Gnonlonfin from the International
Livestock Research Institute, Kenya (on left). The object of the new
society is to promote research to reduce mycotoxins in food and feed
to ensure food safety in Africa.
2
1
Professor awarded for her contribution
to the seed industry
P
rof Theresa (Terry) Aveling from the University of Pretoria’s
Department of Plant Science received the 2015 SANSOR/
Bayer Science for a Better Life Award. The prize is awarded
by the South African National Seed Organisation (SANSOR)
and Bayer CropScience in recognition of leadership, innovation
and positive contributions to the South African seed industry and
agriculture.
Prof Aveling established the Seed Science Research Unit that is
now internationally recognised and locally relevant through the
University of Pretoria Seed Science industry course, post graduate
training and research.
Her team plays a pivotal role in a globally co-ordinated, multidis-
ciplinary effort to manage seed-borne diseases. The students are
trained according to the methods of the International Seed Test-
ing Association (ISTA), who is responsible for standard procedures
for testing seeds adopted internationally for the movement of seeds
in international trade.
She served ISTA as vice-chairperson of the Storage Committee
(2001 - 2007), member of the Seed Health Committee (2001 - 2007),
member of the Rules Committee (2007 - 2013) and chairperson of
the Seed Health Committee for the two periods.
In 2013, she took up the vice-chair position in order to focus on
her role of chairman of the Seed Pathology Committee of the
International Society for Plant Pathology (2013 - 2018).
The Seed Science group does a great deal of research for the
seed industry with support from
many seed companies, such as
Pannar, Senwes, Sakata, Hygro-
tech and Starke Ayres and colla-
borates on projects with the
ARC Research Institutes at Pot-
chefstroom and Roodeplaat, and
the Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development of the
Gauteng provincial government.
Most of the MSc and PhD
research comes from problems
that the seed industry brings to
the research group’s attention.
Research focuses on finding
solutions to production problems
faced by both emerging and
commercial producers.
SA GRAAN/GRAIN
EDITORIAL STAFF
Prof Terry Aveling.