The 36^th Annual Meeting of the Tree Protection Co-Operative Programme (TPCP) gathered 250 academics, students and industry, research and government partners at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa campus to reflect and engage on this year’s theme ‘Partnerships for sustainable and productive plantation forestry’. These annual meetings are an opportunity to celebrate achievements, reflect on what has been done in the past year, and look forward to the future and the harnessing of new technologies to answer research questions to keep trees healthy.

FABI Director Prof. Bernard Slippers reflected on the big geopolitical upheavals in 2024/2025, that has resulted in the loss of large amounts of agricultural and medical research funding. But, while this has caused significant challenges for research institutions and NGOs, Prof. Slippers said that it also presents an opportunity for countries to look after their own interests and fund research initiatives specific to their needs. In a world of growing uncertainty, the TPCP provides a strong anchor rooted in science and trust.

Opening the meeting, the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, Prof. Francis Petersen said that it was important to engage as collaborators with partners from industry, government and academia. He concluded that strong partnerships are why the TPCP has lasted this long, and appreciated the fact that the programme continues to grow rather than lose momentum. This is also the reason why forestry industry partners prioritise attending the symposium and young academics in the field view it as an unparalleled learning experience. He said that the TPCP has shown that the best route to success is through partnerships such as this FABI/UP-forestry industry partnership.  In closing he stated that the TPCP Symposium is a key opportunity to engage with a broad range of industry academia and government, and expressed his hope that this meeting would further strengthen these partnerships.

General Manager of Innovation Africa @UP, Dr Osmond Mlonyeni was invited to speak about ‘Elements of success in business model innovation critical for industry-government-university success’. These insightful findings were from a study that was part of his recently completed MBA degree and that will contribute to growth in transdisciplinary research at UP going forward.

Sappi’s CEO, Graeme Wild, who was the invited industry speaker, gave a perspective on the current state of the forestry industry in South Africa. He stated that the industry’s primary function was to turn trees into products, and that partnerships such as with the TPCP are important for its success. He paid tribute to his predecessors Dr Andrew Morris and Charlie Clarke who recognised the importance of research, and specifically collaborative research, to establish and support the establishment of the TPCP, which is now in its 37^th year of existence. He pointed out that no company has the luxury to have world class leaders in all fields, but that the industry received great support in South Africa from its partners FABI, the ICFR, Wits, Stellenbosch University and others, and that the industry needs their expertise to grow.

The strength of the TPCP lies in strong domestic, regional and international partnerships and this year two international guest speakers shared their experience in tree health.

Dr Sam van Holsbeeck, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia gave an overview of priority solutions for operational pest and disease management in Australian forestry plantations, while Prof. Romina Gazis, of the University of Florida, USA, spoke on how new frontier technologies are changing tree heath diagnostics. 

An exciting new project is with the collaborative Open Air Laboratory that has been established in the Western Cape by the University of Stellenbosch’s Prof. David Drew. The TPCP and FMG-EPPI are partners in this research project will partner with Prof. Drew to create a similar Eucalyptus Open Air Lab at the Innovation Africa @UP campus of the University of Pretoria. Following on this presentation, York Timbers’ Dr Jaco-Pierre van der Merwe also spoke on the company’s plans for a Pine Open Air Lab in Mpumalanga. These projects will provide valuable data to predict the impact of climate change on tree growth.

The TPCP in FABI and the ICFR have a long and successful partnership track record on numerous projects. The ICFR’s Dr Ilaria Germishuizen spoke on the use of remote sensing technology to manage forest health and the requirement for greater financial support to utilize this valuable tool. Dr Yolandi Ernst from Wits’ Global Change Institute also gave an overview of the climate change resources available to the South African forestry industry. In both cases the digital Information Hub platform of IA@UP provides a valuable collaborative data platform.

FABI researchers and students also presented several talks on research projects, new pests and diseases, the work of the diagnostic clinic, the use of new frontier science technologies and also updates on several pests and diseases impacting the local plantations.

Finally, a panel discussion unpacked the complexity of establishing sustainable and effective government-industry-university partnerships for forest health. The panellists included Forestry SA’s Dr Ronald Heath, FABI’s Prof. Brett Hurley, Dr Yolandi Ernst, Dr Ilaria Germishuizen and DALRRD representative and FABI postgraduate student Ms. Aviwe Simandla.

Visitors to the symposium were given the opportunity to visit the FABI Biocontrol centre and nursery where they could see firsthand the projects being run at the facility and how this supports forest health research.

The TPCP Board held is main annual meeting following the TPCP symposium, to oversee the finances of the program, assess programs of the past year and look forward to the year ahead.

FABI looks forward to next year’s symposium that will be held in partnership with the Forest Molecular Genetics research programme at Future Africa from 9-11 March 2026.