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SCIENCESAGRIN E W S L E T T E R • N U U S B R I E F 7 8 J U N I E / J U N E 2 0 1 6

INHOUDSOPGAWE l CONTENTS

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Wetenskappe sciences

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Niks ‘plain’ aan dié Rooiplein-wyn...

Karaan ontvang Agbiz se eretoekenning

Nutritious spread set for big time take-off

2016

VENUE De Zalze Golf Estate

DATE Thursday

17 November 2016

FORMAT 4 Ball Alliance

(best 2 scores to count)

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

An invitation to join the Faculty of AgriSciences for our ANNUAL GOLF DAY at De Zalze Golf Estate, Stellenbosch

IGWS Launches a Robotics Flagship Project

KI van volstruiseverder

uitgepluis

‘Hou op om so gal te braak...’

Garagiste-kursus lok weer eens baie wyn- liefhebbers

Sharing research of value to the local

fruit industry

KALENDER 2016

‘El camino a seguir’ (the way to go)

Opara and Stander feature in top

magazine interviews

4Three staff members up for prestigious NSTF awards

American student is SU’s top

horticulture student

Albert Coetzee een van tien finaliste in BVG-kompetisie

Landbou-produksie-

kursus is terug!

Gigantic species of ’Hurricane’ mite genus ‘Laelaps’ spotlighted again

Radium Engineering rol ’n ‘klip uit die pad’ vir Agronomie

Ecoacoustics for planning and managing the production landscape

Lorette de Villiers joins

the DVO

• Precision Forestry Symposium early in 2017 at SU

• Cape Town to host Fifth Ruforum Biennial Conference in October

ISSUE/UITGAWE XX MONTH/MAAND 20XX 1 ISSUE/UITGAWE 78 June/Junie 2016terug na inhoudsopgawe / back to contents

SCIENCESAGRIWETENSKAPPE

Nutritious spread set for big time take-offIt’s been dubbed S’coolBeans by food scientists

of the Faculty: a nutritious, chocolate sandwich spread crammed with sweet potato and beans, just what mammas the world over need to sneak more vegetables into their children’s food! As of now, the aforementioned food scientists are holding thumbs that S’coolBeans will make them the winning entry in an international product de­velopment competition for students.

S’coolBeans is a low cost chocolate and hazel­nut flavoured spread made from fermented red speckled beans (also known as sugar beans) and sweet potato. It’s been named as a finalist in the International Union of Food Science and Technology’s (IUFoST) Food Science Students Fighting Hunger product development competition. It encourages undergraduate students to use their knowledge and skills to develop innovative food products to combat hunger. The winners will be announced during the IUFoST 18th World Congress of Food Science and Technology, in Dublin, Ireland, from 21 to 25 August this year.

S’coolBeans was developed by Cenette Bezuidenhout, Carin­Marie Engelbrecht, Nicholas Grobbelaar, Taryn Harding, Shannon Howell and Megan Kleyn, as part of product development, a final year BSc Food Science module. Cenette, Shannon and Megan are furthering their studies this year as masters degree students in the Faculty while Carin­Marie, Nicholas and Taryn have star­ted working in the industry.

Cenette Bezuidenhout says S’coolBeans is much more than just a way of stealthily incor­porating vegetables into a tasty sandwich spread for children. It’s high in protein and contains the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to en­sure the development and growth of children, especially those from low­income environments. She believes it could, for instance, be well suited to use in school feeding schemes.

Cenette adds: “S’coolBeans not only provides an affordable solution to fighting hunger but it also incorporates three of the current global food trends, such as new uses for fruit and vegetables,

more prominence to protein and good fats, as well as carbohydrates.”

The product is not yet on the shelves. The team is currently working with Innovus, SU’s technology transfer company, to develop the concept further, in the hopes of attracting a manufacturer interested in putting S’coolBeans on the market and available to school feeding schemes.

Die besonderse diens wat prof Mohammad Karaan, dekaan van die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe, aan die Suid­Afri­

kaanse agribesigheidsgemeenskap lewer, is deur Agbiz, die Suid­Afrikaanse Agrikultuur Besigheidskamer, erken. Hy het die Agbiz­eretoekenning onlangs op die besigheidskamer se kongres op Somerset­Wes ontvang. Die toekenning word elke twee jaar gedoen.

Karaan se leierskapsrol in die Suid­Afrikaanse landbousek­tor is ook deur Agri SA erken – dié liggaam het ’n eretoeken­ning in November 2015 aan hom gedoen.

Hy is onlangs vir nog ’n vyfjaartermyn as lid van die Nasionale Beplanningskommissie (NBK) aangestel. Karaan het gedurende sy eerste termyn, van 2010 tot 2015, ’n sleutelrol gespeel in die skryf van ’n hoofstuk in die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan – Visie 2030 – oor hoe ’n geïntegreerde en inklusiewe landelike ekonomie ontwikkel kan word.

“Hierdie hoogaangeskrewe raamwerk geniet wye ondersteuning as ’n bloudruk vir Suid­Afrika se landboutoekoms,” sê Agbiz, ’n genootskap waartoe agribesighede in suidelike Afrika vrywillig behoort.

Karaan het al sy kwalifikasies aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) verwerf: ’n BSc (Agric)­graad in 1990, ’n MSc (Agric) in 1994, en ’n PhD (Agric) in 2006. Hy het sy loopbaan as ekonoom by die Ontwikkelingsbank van Suider­Afrika begin, voordat hy na Stellenbosch teruggekeer het as die Lande­like Stigting se hoof van navorsing.

In 1996 het hy aan die US in landbou­ekonomie begin klas gee. In 2008 is hy as dekaan van die Fakul­teit AgriWetenskappe aangestel, en in 2013 is sy termyn verleng. In 2014/5 het hy as waarnemende viserektor van die US gedien.

18 Julie Begin van klasse vir Tweede Semester en derde kwartaal

29 Julie Laaste dag vir module­ en programwysigings

09 Aug Nasionale Vrouedag

25­26 Aug Eskom Expo vir Jong Wetenskaplikes: Stellenbosch Streekkompetisie

KALENDER 2016

S’coolBeans was developed by (from left to right):Nicholas Grobbelaar, Taryn Harding, Carin-Marie Engelbrecht, Shannon Howell, Megan Kleyn and Cenette Bezuidenhout.

Karaan ontvang Agbiz se eretoekenning2016

VENUE De Zalze Golf Estate

DATE Thursday

17 November 2016

FORMAT 4 Ball Alliance

(best 2 scores to count)

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

An invitation to join the Faculty of AgriSciences for our ANNUAL GOLF DAY at De Zalze Golf Estate, Stellenbosch

Agbiz voorsitter Schalk Pienaar (regs) het die Agbiz Eretoekenning aan prof Mohammad Karaan oorhandig. Foto: Gavin Withers

Leadership, one of the RSA’s most prestigious publications, has published an extensive interview with Prof Umezuruike Linus Opara, holder of the DST­NRF SA Research Chair in Postharvest Technology and distinguished professor in the Department of Horticultural Science in the Faculty of AgriSciences. He is recognised globally as the leading individual researcher on postharvest technology of pomegranates. To read the full interview go to https://www.gate5.co.za/read/26857/qv/41191336/136795435/25942/p

An exclusive interview with Mr Henk Stander of the Department of Animal Sciences’ Aquaculture Division has been published in Agriculture/Agrikultuur. Stander is of the opinion that food insecurity remains one of the most visible dimensions of poverty and is generally the first sign of extreme destitution. He mentions among other things that fish stocks in Africa are in crisis. To check out the full interview go to https://www.gate5.co.za/read/26857/qv/41249833/136814992/25942/p

ISSUE/UITGAWE XX MONTH/MAAND 20XX 2terug na inhoudsopgawe / back to contents ISSUE/UITGAWE 78 June/Junie 2016

IGWS Launches a Robotics Flagship Project

‘Hou op om so gal te braak...’

nuus l news l nuus l news l nuus l news l nuus

“Ons beleef onstuimige tye en hoewel daar niks mee fout is om krities te wees nie, moet ons darem ook regverdig wees,” sê prof Nick Vink.

Dit kan tot boere se voor deel wees om eerder ’n kon struktiewe dialoog met die rege ring te voer oor sake wat hulle kwel en die

toekoms van die landbou in Suid­Afrika raak, as om voortdurend oor die negatiewe gal te braak, sê prof Nick Vink, hoogleraar in landbou­ekonomie aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US).

As een van die sprekers op die NWKV se jaar­kongres in die Baai, het Vink benadruk dat daar nog baie goeie dinge in die land gebeur. “Ons beleef weliswaar onstuimige tye en hoewel daar niks mee fout is om krities te wees nie, moet ons darem ook regverdig wees. Daar is baie veranderinge wat niks uit te waai het met wat die regering doen of nié doen nie. Dit is langtermyn strukturele veranderinge in die ekonomie wat baie moeilik is om te bestuur.”

“Hoewel die ekonomiese groeikoers vanjaar net tussen 0% en 1% sal wissel en selfs negatief kan draai soos in 2007, is daar nog baie aktiwiteite in die metropole, danksy verstedeliking waarneembaar. Ek vermoed ons sit eerder met ’n metingsprobleem. Toe Nigerië en Egipte die wyse waarop hulle ekonomiese groei meet verander het, het daardie lande se ekonomieë die van Suid­Afrika verbygesteek.”

Vink het gesê dat Suid­Afrika oor baie jare bewys het dat hy die vermoë het om bo alledaagse probleme uit te styg, om weer op ’n ekonomiese groeipad te kom en werkloosheid te verminder. In dié opsig het landbou ’n belangrike rol om te speel as sake reg aangepak word. “Oor die afgelope vyf jaar het die landbou met tussen 7,5% en 8% gegroei, wat 2% hoër as die inflasiekoers is.”

Hy het gesê met die verkiesing op hande en weer een oor twee jaar, kan nie te veel rasionaliteit van enige politikus verwag word nie. “Toe wyle dr. Andries Treurnich in die jare 80 van die Nasionale Party wegge­breek het om die Konserwatiewe Party te stig, het die destydse regering ook sy ondersteuning aan die landbou skerp afgeskaal.”(Erkenning aan Theuns Botha, Landbouweekblad)

KI van volstruise verder uitgepluisDie langtermyn­doelwit om die te­

ling van volstruise op ’n sterker wetenskaplike grondslag te plaas en kundigheid daaroor aan die plaaslike bedryf te verskaf, het ’n hupstoot ge­kry danksy die navorsingswerk van dr Marna Smith. Sy het as deel van haar doktorale studies aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) ’n protokol ont wik­kel waarmee volstruissemen suksesvol tot vir twee dae verkoel of op die lang­termyn gevries kan word totdat dit vir die kunsmatige in seminasie (KI) van wyfies gebruik nodig is.

Smith het in Maart haar doktors­graad in Veekundige Wetenskappe behaal. Haar navorsing vorm deel van ’n groter projek oor die verbetering van volstruisteling waarby navorsers van die Wes­Kaapse Departement van Landbou en studente en perso­neel van die US onder meer be trokke is. Sulke verbeterde prak tyke, wat met ondersteunende voortplantings­tegnieke gepaard gaan, sal privaattelers in staat stel om volstruise baie meer spesifiek te kan teel sodat sekere genetiese kenmerke van geslag tot geslag oorgedra kan word.

Die langtermyn bewaring van vol­struissemen maak dit ook moontlik om wyfies gedurende hul belangrikste re produksiemaande kunsmatig te in ­semineer met bevrore saad wat ver­samel is tydens periodes wanneer semen produksie weer op sy beste is.

Smith verduidelik: “Beter be wa­rings metodes sal dit moontlik maak om volstruisstoeterye met dui de lik naspeurbare stambome op te bou. Boerderye en stoeterye hoef ook min­der mannetjies aan te hou. Minder mannetjies of geen mannetjies beteken aansienlik minder kostes en ’n hoër winsgrens vir boere. ’n Mens hoef ook met minder aggressiewe mannetjies te werk, wat sake vir werkers veiliger maak.”

Van haar bevindinge is reeds in ver­skeie vaktydskrifartikels uiteengesit.

• Lees die volledige artikel by http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4003

This project was undertaken with the view of making viticulture in South Africa sustainable and future­focused by using advanced technology. Basic challenges and opportunities in the industry will be used as a basis to help determine the robot’s functions. The purpose of introducing the prototype to the industry at a very early stage, is to encourage interaction with and input from industry.

The project is funded by the IGWS and is a colla­boration between a team of researchers from SU and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Dr Albert Strever and Prof Melané Vivier of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology (DVO), Berno Greyling (IGWS) and Dr Wyhan Jooste (Industrial Engineering) are members of the SU team. The CSIR has a team of specialists working on the development of the robot prototype and include: Messrs Peter Bosscha (Mechatronics Engineer/Business Development); Roel Stolper (Sensor Specialist and Researcher); Hein Swart (Mechanical and Electrical Design); Hanno Schreiber (Robot Control Programming); and Willis De Ronde (Mechanical Design).

Considerable progress has been made since the project proposal was accepted in September 2015 and the CSIR came on board during the following month. It’s quite some achievement that the team was able to launch a prototype at such an early stage of the project.

“The Dassie” prototype is quite agile and can easily move around in the vineyard. A few sensors have been fixed to the platform and include a laser (LIDAR) scanner, as well as high definition cameras facing to the front and sideways. During demonstration, onlookers saw that the robot can drag an electromagnetic induction sensor behind it to be able to map soil differences. All measurements are streamed to an online computer to be able to process the information. Currently, the robot can be controlled via WiFi from a computer or a cell phone.

Persons involved in the project reiterated that the

project and development of the robot are basically only starting now. Over the course of the next 12 months, “The Dassie” will be comprehensively tested and further refined. A vineyard robot should ideally make it easier for producers and/or consultants to obtain accurate information to manage grape production. The goal is thus to test and develop sensors to be able to obtain a spatial overview of a vineyard, quickly and accurately, without necessarily having to take physical samples for analysis. This information should aid de­cision making.

Part of this project is to take an in­depth look at the whole grape production system and to identify areas where the robot can play a role and make an impact in this system.

Although other countries are already experimenting with vineyard robots, there are many good reasons to develop a South African robot. To import a robot would be very expensive. The CSIR and SU have the expertise to make a success of this project. Development and making use of local expertise are also very high on the agendas of both the IGWS and CSIR. It provides the perfect opportunity to develop a suitable product for the local vineyard industry with South African partners.

‘The Dassie’ in action in the vineyard at SU’s Welgevallen experimental farm.

The Viticulture platform of the Institute for Grape and Wine Science (IGWS) in the Faculty has launched an ambitious robotics project with the first demonstration of a vineyard robot prototype. The remote controlled Robot X (also known as “The Dassie”) was introduced to a group of viticulturists in a vineyard used for training at the Stellenbosch University (SU) experimental farm, Welgevallen.

Dr Marna Smith

Prof Nick Vink

Foto: Gareth Wiese

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navorsing l research l navorsing l research

Gigantic species of ’Hurricane’ mite genus Laelaps spotlighted once again

Radium Engineering, ’n familie­onderneming ge baseer in die noorde van die land, het

onlangs ’n Schulte kliphark en klipopteller aan die Departement Agronomie geskenk en hier die twee werktuie se vermoëns is op die Roodebloem­proefplaas naby Caledon ten toon gestel.

Gareth Roest, verkoopsdirekteur van Radium Engineering, sê hierdie klipverwyderingmasjinerie is onlangs die eerste keer uit Kanada na Suid­Afrika ingevoer.

“Die kliphark en klipopteller verminder ar­beid tyd en ­koste wanneer lande voorberei word. Omdat die klippe verwyder word, is daar ook minder skade aan masjinerie,” het Roest gesê.

As gevolg van die stygende koste van hande­arbeid die afgelope paar jaar het meganiese klip­ en rotsverwydering ’n kritieke deel van boerdery geword.

Die roterende kliphark is ontwerp om klein

tot medium klippe (5cm­69cm) in rye saam te hoop. Wortels, stompe en stukke hout kan ook so verwyder word. Nadat die klippe in rye opgehoop is, versamel die klipopteller die klippe in ’n vangbak en vervoer hulle van die land af.

Roest het benadruk dat dit deel van sy maatskappy se beleid is om terug te gee aan die gemeenskap en dat hierdie skenking die begin van ’n wedersyds voordelige verhouding tussen Radium Engineering en die US kan wees.

“Ons maak staat op die Universiteit en die navorsing wat daar gedoen word,” het hy gesê.

Prof Nick Kotzé, voorsitter van die De par­tement Agronomie, het gesê die kliphark en ­opteller sal gebruik word om die Departement se verskillende proefpersele voor te berei.

“Dit sal ons baie tyd spaar,” het hy bygevoeg.Die Departement Agronomie beywer homself

om navorsing oor bedryfspeksifieke kwessies te doen en te poog om aan die landbougemeenskap

antwoorde op hul spesifieke probleme te gee wat gebaseer is op wetenskaplike proewe.

Hulle kan Radium Engineering onder meer help om die impak van die masjinerie te kwantifiseer.

Radium Engineering rol ’n ‘klip uit die pad’ vir Agronomie

Research on the ecology and host association of large­

bodied species within the para sitic mite genus Laelaps is currently being undertaken by Dr Sonja Matthee in the De­partment of Conservation Eco­logy and Entomology.

The most recent and exten­sive host­parasite species list, published by Zumpt in 1961, records that L. giganteus occurs on numerous rodent species in South Africa. However, a recently completed PhD study by Dr Adriaan Engelbrecht, conducted under Matthee’s supervision, provides novel morphological data and, in fact, contradicts Zumpt’s earlier reports.

Mite specimens obtained from multiple ro­dent species from across the country shows a consistent pattern in that L. giganteus only occurs on two rodent genera, the four­stripe mouse Rhabdomys and its close relative the single­striped mouse Lemniscomys. Thus far all other rodent species harbour a separate Laelaps species, L. muricola.

The genus name Laepals means “like a hurri­cane” or “storm wind” in Greek. Also palaeon­

tologists thought it appropriate to award the name Laelaps to a 1,5 ton 6 metre meat­eating dinosaur fossil discovered in America, but reverted to the name Dryptosaurus after discovering that the genus name had already been given to mites by Kock in 1836.

Left: Image of a female Laelaps giganteus mite. Above: Dr Matthee’s (left) research interest is shared by internationally acclaimed Acarologist Professor Eddie Ueckermann (right; Extraordinary Professor at North-West University), who recently visited her research labo-ratory at Stellenbosch University.

Prof Nick Kotzé, voorsitter van die Departement Agronomie aan die US, en Gareth Roest, verkoops-direkteur van Radium Engineering, by die Schulte Klipopteller.

Ecoacoustics for planning and managing the production landscape

Paul Grant and Michael Samways of the Department of Conservation Ecology have developed a new approach to

assessing the landscape using the sounds produced by the animals living there. Their results have been accepted by the high­profile journal Conservation Biology.

This is the first time that ecoacoustics have been used in land planning where the aim is to harmonise agroforestry production with the conservation of biodiversity. Most of the singing animals are insects, which are sensitive responders to landscape change, whether that change is natural or caused by humans.

Ecoacoustics is an exciting new method which enables assess­ment of animals that are not normally seen, especially those high up in the trees or deep within bushes. It is a non­invasive method, which means that no harm is done to any plant or animal during the assessment. It’s the meeting of modern technology with a deep appreciation of nature.

Male Insects such as katydids produce sounds to attract females (shown here with its sabre-like ovipositor). The collection of sounds in an area (the ecoacous-tics) characterises the health and quality of the local landscape and habitats. Here is a South African katydid Paracilacris periclitatus. Photo Piotr Naskrecki.

Garagistekursus lok weer eens baie wynliefhebbersWynliefhebbers van sover as Gauteng, die

Vrystaat, die Karoo, Oos­Kaapland en selfs Uganda het onlangs meer te wete gekom oor die fynere kunsies van wynmaak op mikroskaal. Hulle het ’n naweek lank die Departement Wingerd­ en Wynkunde se gewilde garagistekursus op Stellenbosch bygewoon.

Prof Wessel du Toit bied dit al sedert 2005 aan, en meen dat hy in die proses al tot 1 500 aspirant­wynmakers op hierdie wyse touwys ge­maak het. Hy is vanjaar hiermee deur sy kollega en wingerdkundige dr Albert Strever, asook Marisa Nell, bygestaan

Gedurende die naweeklange kursus word kursusgangers al die teorie agter die wynmaak­proses geleer – van die wingerdstok tot in die bottel. Dit behels onder meer inligting oor ver­skilende soorte kultivars en wyne, raad oor die gebruik van verskillende soorte giste en ver­skillende verouderingsprosedures en wyn maak­style. Raad word ook gegee oor waar om die nodige te koop vir diegene wat self hulle hand wil waag aan kleinskaalse wynmaak.

Hoewel die kursus grootliks teoreties van aard is, kon kursusgangers hand bysit by die bottel van ’n wyn en kyk hoe druiwe verwerk word. Dit gaan ook gepaard met ’n reeks proë waartydens hulle onder meer die invloed van verskillende be handelings en verouderingsprosedures kon ver gelyk.

• Die garagistekursus word as ’n kort kursus deur die US aangebied, en kursusgangers verwerf in die proses ’n NQF Vlak 6­kwalifikasie. Die volgende so ’n kursus vind van 2 tot 4 September plaas. Vir meer inligting, kontak Wessel by 021 808 2022 of wdutoit@sun.ac.za

Louis Serfontein besig met n demonstrasie.

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prestasies l achievements l awards l toekennings l

Prof Umezuruike Linus OparaOpara is nominated in two catego­ries: the TW Kambule­NSTF Award for research and its outputs over the past 15 years, and in the category re cognising capacity development in terms of research or engineering. He is holder of the DST­NRF South Af­rican Research Chair in Postharvest Technology, and distinguished pro­fessor in the Department of Horti­cultural Science at SU.

He is recognised globally as the leading individual researcher on post­harvest technology of pomegranates. Also he is the recipient of numerous

international awards – most notably the AU Kwame Nkrumah Continen­tal Scientific Award for Life and Earth Science.

Prof Michael SamwaysSamways of the Department of Con­servation Ecology and Entomology is a finalist in two categories. His no mination in the Lifetime Award category highlights his outstanding contribution to especially insect con­servation and biodiversity science over the past 40 years.

His name was also put forward in the NSTF­GreenMatter Award

towards achieving bio­diversity conservation, environmental sustain­ability and a greener eco nomy.

Samways was chair of the SU De­partment of Conservation Ecology and Entomology and now serves as a distinguished professor and acade­mic principal in this department.

Willem BotesPlant breeder and geneticist Willem Botes’ efforts towards breeding rye, spring triticale and spring wheat with improved traits have earned him a

place as finalist in the category for research leading to innovation used by industry.

He is a senior lecturer in the De­partment of Genetics and leads the University’s small grain breeder pro­gramme. In 2007 he set up the Plant Breeding Laboratory (SU­PBL) at the Welgevallen Experimental Farm.

Over the past 15 years, Botes has obtained plant breeder rights for one new rye cultivar and eight triticale cultivars.

Three staff members up for prestigious NSTF Awards

Landbouproduksie-kursus is terug!Gemengde boerderystelsels met graan en/of weiding en vee verg multi­

dissiplinêre opleiding en ’n nuwe kursus word van 2017 af vir dié doel aangebied. Binne die Gewasproduksie fokusarea van die Plant­ en Grond­wetenskappe word Agronomie gekombineer met Veekunde, Landbou­Ekonomie en Grondkunde.

In die jare 70 en 80 was die BScAgric(Landbouproduksie) met Agronomie, Diereproduksie en Landbou­ekonomie as hoofvakke ’n gewilde kursus. Sedertdien het Agronomie – Veekunde, Agronomie – Landbou­ekonomie en Landbou­ekonomie met Veekunde­kombinasies ontstaan, maar nie een van hierdie kombinasies bring die grond­plant­vee­ekonomie­dimensies byeen soos dié nuwe kursus nie.

Die matriekvereistes vir registrasie vir die kursus is 60% ge middeld, 60% vir Wiskunde en 50% vir Fisiese Wetenskappe. Die eerstejaarvakke, Biologie, Chemie, Ekonomie, Rekenaarvaardigheid, Renterekening, Vee­kunde en Wiskunde (Bio)) bied ’n breë basis vir die grond­, plant­ en veekunde en landbou­ekonomie in die verdere studiejare. In die tweede jaargang verdiep hierdie basis met Biochemie, Biometrie, Diere­anatomie en Fisiologie, en inleidende modules tot Grondkunde, Dierevoedingkunde en Landbou­ekonomie. Die derde jaargang bevat Agronomie (verbouing van eenjarige agronomiese gewasse, asook die bestuur van veld en aangeplante weidings), Dierefisiologie (Toegepaste Fisiologie by plaasdiere, asook Gevorderde Diereproduksiefisiologie), Diere voedingskunde (inleidende herkouervoeding en inleiding tot enkel maagvoeding), Grond­kunde (genese, morfologie, klassifikasie en gebruike van gronde, asook grond­ en waterbestuur) en Landbou­ekonomie (boer derybestuur en boerderybesluitneming en ­beplanning). Die vierde jaargang bevat Agro nomie (fisiologiese en ekologiese beginsels van weiveldbestuur en pro duksiefisiologie en ­tegnologie vir eenjarige akkerbougewasse), Diere voedingskunde (Gevorderde herkouervoeding en Gevorderde mono­gastriese voeding), Landbou­ekonomie (Landbou­ en voedselbemarking en ’n werkstuk wat ’n boerderybegroting met agronomie en veekundige komponente behels), asook Veebestuurskunde (Intensiewe bestuurstelsels – hoender en vark, asook ekstensiewe bestuurstelsels – skaap en bees).

Die kursus is gerig op die opleiding van primêre produsente wat teg­niese en finansieel­ekonomiese produksiebeplanning in ’n gemengde boer­derystelsel gaan doen, asook tegniese adviseurs aan die insit­ en uitset­kant van boerdery vir wie kennis van verskillende komponente van die boerdery belangrik is. Studente wat hierdie kursus volg, kan registreer as landbou­wetenskaplikes by “The South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions” (SACNASP). Hulle sal egter nie as veekundiges kan registreer nie, omdat die kombinasie van die verskeie vakke nie ruimte gelaat het om dieretelingskunde modules in te sluit nie.

• Rig navrae aan Me G Gamiet, Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe, 021 808 4833 of e­pos: ghgamiet@sun.ac.za

American student is SU’s top horticulture studentStar student Trevan Flynn (picture) is in all

re spects a very worthy recipient of the HORTGRO Science/Daan Strydom Prize as the best horticultural science stu dent for 2015. So said Dr Lynn Hoffman, chair of the Department of Horticulture, when she presented the prize to Flynn in absentia at the recent HORTGRO Science Technical Symposium.Flynn, who hails from the USA, is currently working in Aspen, Colorado, where he is maintaining and managing an irrigation system on a 100 plus hectare property consisting of native Rocky Mountain plants.

Flynn first fell in love with South Africa during a weeklong visit to the country in 2009, as part of a ‘Semester at Sea’ study programme. After a stint as gardener in Aspen in the company of two inspiring horticulturalists, he knew he wanted to work with plants. On his return to South Africa in 2012, Flynn initially intended to study Viticulture and Oenology at SU. “However, it was not until I met the professors that I knew horticulture was for me,” Flynn said in a letter from the USA.

The rest is history. Flynn obtained his BScAgric degree in Soil Science and Horticulture cum laude last year, and was also awarded the Perold Medal as the best undergraduate student in the Faculty of AgriSciences. Moreover, he received academic merit bursaries from the University for three years running.

Flynn, who has done an internship at Agrimotion Consultancy and also worked as a research assistant in the Department of Horticulture, hopes to return at some stage, to hopefully put into practice the knowledge he gained at SU.

Albert Coetzee (foto), ’n MSc­student in Agro­nomie, is een van tien finaliste in die tweede ver­skansingskompetisie van BVG, Grainco, die JSE en Landbou.com. Altesaam 178 inskrywings is vir die kompetisie ontvang. Hulle agtergrond wissel van produsente en huisvrouens tot rekenmeesters en boerdery­konsultante. Die groot aantal studente wat ingeskryf het, was ’n aangename verrassing. Coetzee is van Durbanville en die ander nege finaliste kom van plekke soos Johannesburg, Pretoria, Delmas, Jacobsdal, Reitz, Thabazimbi, Potchef stroom en Cen turion. Kompetisiewenners sal later vanjaar op ’n gala­aand aangewys word. Prysgeld vir die kompetisie beloop R45 000. Dr Pieter Swanepoel is Coetzee se studieleier en prof André Agenbag is sy medestudieleier. Sy studie handel oor die gebruik van stikstofbobemesting om die opbrengs, kwaliteit, stikstofgebruiksdoeltreffendheid en ekonomie van canolaproduksie te verbeter.

Professors Linus Umezuruike Opara and Michael Samways, and Mr Willem Botes.

Three staff members of the Faculty of AgriSciences are among the outstanding scientists, professionals and role models who have been named as finalists for the 2015/2016 NSTF-South32 Awards. They are Professors Linus Opara and Michael Samways, and Mr Willem Botes. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 30 June in Gauteng. Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology and patron of the awards, will be in attendance.

ISSUE/UITGAWE XX MONTH/MAAND 20XX 5 ISSUE/UITGAWE 78 June/Junie 2016terug na inhoudsopgawe / back to contents

Vir die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) is die Rooiplein in die hartjie van die

kampus sy eie Trafalgarplein of Times Square. ’n Duisend of wat pare voete (en ook ’n paar wiele) vat daagliks die pad hierlangs.

Dit word gereeld gebruik as opelug­uitstalruimte of amfiteater vir musiek produksies. Studente kom ook op die rooi baksteentrappe wat aflei na die ondergrondse JS Gericke­biblioteek bymekaar om protes aan te teken of hul stem te laat hoor oor ’n onderwerp of twee.

Die Neethlinggebou, al vir jare die tuiste van die US se wynkundiges, kyk op dié plein uit. Dié gebou is die tuiste van onder meer die Departe­ment Wingerd­ en Wynkunde en die Instituut vir Wyn biotegnologie. Dis waar voor­ en nagraadse aspirant­wynmakers en wingerdboukundiges on­der meer klas loop.

Uit hierdie gebou word studente jaarliks na plaaslike kelders gestuur om hulle internskappe te doen, en sodoende onder die vleuels van kenners in die bedryf méér as net ’n paar ure se praktiese, bedryfspesifieke ondervinding op te doen. Dié in ternskapsprogram is ’n paar jaar gelede op die been gebring, en blyk hoogs suksesvol te wees.

Dit dra daartoe by dat studente meer as rég is vir die praktyk wanneer hulle uiteindelik die graad BScAgric (Wingerd­ en Wynkunde) agter hul name skryf.

Stap mens van die Rooiplein in Victoriastraat se rigting, kan die pad jou verby die Neethlinggebou neem. Dis dan wanneer jy gereeld getref kan word deur ’n mosagtige geur so eie aan ’n Bolandse wynkelder soos kan kom. In die kelderverdieping van dié gebou is studente en navorsers gereeld besig met proewe om te verfyn wat hulle reeds alles weet van Suid­Afrikaanse wyne, en oor hoe om dit ten beste te berei.

Dis ook uit dié kelderverdieping wat prof Wessel du Toit sy gereelde kortkursus vir gara­giste­wynmakers aanbied. Dis vir Jan of San Alleman bedoel wat nog altyd daarvan gedroom het om ’n aspirant­wynmaker te wees. Die volgen­de kursusse word juis weer in die naweek van 2 tot 4 September 2016 op Stellenbosch aan gebied.

Omdat die Rooiplein so letterlik en figuurlik sen traal staan in die wel en weë van die US, is dit dus gepas dat dit ook gevier word deur een van die wyne wat uit die US se eie Welgevallen­kelder kom.

Die Maties Rooiplein­naam is ietwat van ’n woordspeling, verklap wynmaker en kelder be­stuur der Riaan Wassung. “In plaas van ’n ‘dry red’ noem ek dit toe eer der ’n ‘Plein rooi’, wat ook sinspeel op die woord ‘plain’ of ‘gewoon’,” sê hy.

“Ons het destyds gevoel dat een wynreeks nie genoeg is nie, en het nog een geskep omdat mense wat hier studeer heelwat aanklank vind by enigiets wat ‘Maties’ genoem word,” vertel Wassung. “Mens kry mos Maties rugby, Maties krieket, of

Maties swem, en waarom dan nie ook ’n Maties wyn nie?”

Daar word nie ’n spesifieke soort kultivar of oesjaar aan dié wyne gekoppel nie. Tans is Cabernet Sauvignon van die 2014­oesjaar in die bottels Maties Rooiplein wat teen R50 verkoop word. Die druiwe waarvan dit gemaak is, is afkomstig uit een van die US se eie wingerde. Cabernet Sauvignon is rondom die jaar 2000 in die US se Krigeville­wingerd agter Paul Roos Gimnasium geplant.

Wassung beskryf dit as ’n gemaklike wyn wat mens sommer enige dag sou kon geniet. Dit sou kan ook nie skade doen om dit tot twee jaar lank te laat stof vergader in jou wynrak nie.

Hy sê die Maties Rooiplein­wyne is veral gewild wanneer die US se gradeplegtigheidsgeleenthede in Desember of Maart gehou word, want dan word baie daarvan aangekoop as ’n gepaste ge­luk wensings­of herdenkingswyn. Menige glasie is reeds al geklink na afloop van ’n student se suksesvolle studies!

Benewens die Maties Rooiplein­wyn versprei die Welgevallen­kelder ook die US se eie reeks Die Laan­wyne. Hiervan is onder meer Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay MCC en Pinotage tans in voorraad. Die Laan 2016 Sauvignon is nou beskikbaar.• Om van dié wyne te bestel, kontak Riaan

Wassung (winesales@sun.ac.za) of besoek Welgevallen­kelder se Facebookblad https://www.facebook.com/DieLaanWines/

• Virmeerinligtingoordievolgendegaragiste-kursus, kontak prof Wessel du Toit by wdutoit@sun.ac.za

nuus l news l nuus l news l nuus l news l nuus Niks ‘plain’ aan dié Rooiplein-wyn...

El camino a seguir (the way to go)Proffs Karen Theron and Wiehann Steyn of the Department of Horticultural

Science visited Spain during May on invitation of Dr Joan Bonany, Pip & Stone Fruits subprogram director at IRTA (http://www.irta.cat/en­US/Pages/default.aspx). Discussions centred on cultivar and rootstock evaluation (the 20­year­old IRTA programme has evaluated more than 1200 pome and stone cultivars) and trends in nursery tree production. They visited the impressive orchards of the IRTA breeding programme, fruit tree nurseries and Agromillora (http://www.agromillora.com/eng) tissue culture nursery.

Proffs Steyn and Theron in a commercial nursery with Celina® pear trees which are part of a batch of 100 000 trees delivered by Agromillora and represent some of the 80 million plants projected to be produced worldwide by Agromillora this year.

Sharing research of value to the local fruit industryStaff and postgraduate students of various depart­

ments in the Faculty were well represented at the annual HORTGRO Science Technical Sym po sium, which took place at Allée Bleue in Groot Drakenstein recently.

They presented their most recent research results, as did many alumni of the Faculty now working in the local fruit industry. SU presenters, among others, shared their knowledge on irrigation matters, crop pro tection, chilling models, rootstocks, soil water con­ditions, pest management and the control of scab. On the postharvest side, presentations were made on the latest trends in packaging research, the exporting of Japanese plums and internal browning in apples.

PhD student Tarl Berry of the Department of Horticultural Science gave a talk about the latest design strategies for the packaging of fruit and other horticultural products.

Lorette de ViLLiers (picture), of the Department of Agricultural Economics, has been appointed as Administrative Officer in the DVO. She takes up the position vacated by Karin Vergeer and starts on 1 July. Lorette holds a BSc in Natural Sciences, as well as a Higher Educational Diploma. She is well acquainted with the University environment and has thorough working experience in academic administration. Her new colleagues say they are looking forward to welcoming her in their ranks.

Precision Forestry Symposium in early 2017 at SUThe Precision Forestry Symposium planned over three days – 28 February to 2 March 2017 – at the Wallenberg Research Centre on the Stellenbosch campus will be the fourth of a series of international symposia aligned to the theme of precision forestry and presented in co­operation with the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO). For more information and registration visit http://conferences.sun.ac.za/index.php/pf/2017/index

Ruforum African Higher Education WeekIt gives us great pleasure as the Organising Committee, to invite you to the Fifth Ruforum Biennial Conference 2016 also known as the ‘African Higher Education Week’ to take place 17­21 October 2016 at the Century City Conference Centre, Cape Town, under the Theme ‘Linking Agricultural Universities with Civil Society, the Private Sector, Governments and other Stakeholders in support of Agricultural Development in Africa’. More information at biennial@ruforum.org; info@rb2016.org