62 Scientific community engagement RESEARCH AND POLICY CONFERENCES During the past year, Grain SA’s research team actively engaged in several national and international platforms to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange across the agricultural science community. Highlights included sponsoring and participating in the inaugural International Conference for Pantoea Research at Kruger National Park, which advanced global dialogue on plant health and biosecurity. The team also contributed to the Soilborne Plant Diseases Symposium hosted by ARC-PHP, where discussions on soil health indicators and microbial diversity informed future approaches to sustainable grain production. Further reinforcing Grain SA’s strategic influence, the team participated in the G20 National Dialogue on Agricultural Science (MACS-G20), shaping South Africa’s priorities for global agricultural policy and research collaboration. The research team also presented at Science Forum South Africa 2024, highlighting the importance of professionalised extension services and climate-smart agriculture. The annual National Grain Research Programme (NGRP) meeting, co-hosted by North-West University (NWU) and the ARC, provided a platform for innovation and capacity building under the theme ‘Farming 2.0: Smarter & Greener’. Finally, the team contributed to the Science-Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Priorities in Southern Africa, ensuring that farmer-centred research remains aligned with climate and sustainability goals. INSTITUTIONAL VISITS AND RESEARCHER ROUNDTABLES Over the past year, Grain SA strengthened its research partnerships through a series of strategic meetings and site visits with national and academic research institutions. Engagements with ARC-Small Grain and ARC Grain Crops deepened mutual understanding of ongoing work in cultivar development, pest monitoring, and sustainable production systems. Discussions centred on aligning research priorities around herbicide resistance, diagnostics and biosecurity and on fostering innovation through ‘Centres of Excellence’ and coordinated strategic planning. The team also visited CenGen in Worcester, a DIPLOMICS partner lab, to learn more about their ongoing contributions to agricultural research and development and molecular services for the sector. These meetings reaffirmed Grain SA’s commitment to both public and private research collaboration that enhances producer competitiveness and supports long-term sustainability in the grain industry. Further collaboration under the DSTI and TIA partnership advanced several key initiatives, including the Wheat Breeding Platform, Soilborne Disease research and the DIFM project. Site visits to research partners in the Western and Eastern Cape highlighted progress on adaptability trials, breeding programme and the integration of big data into precision agriculture. Through these engagements, Grain SA continues to drive applied research that translates into practical, science-based solutions for producers, ensuring a more resilient and future-ready grain industry. RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT THE RESEARCH TEAM ATTENDED VARIOUS CONFERENCES THIS PAST YEAR.
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