FABI was honoured to host the Joint International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) meeting of IUFRO working parties 7.03.13 and 7.03.16: Intersection of Behavioural / Chemical Ecology and Biological Control in Forest Ecosystems at the Future Africa campus from 28-30 October. The meeting focussed on research related to the biological control, insect behaviour and chemical ecology of forest pests, and explored the interaction between these different disciplines.

Forty delegates from South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Hungary, Sweden, Uruguay and Vietnam.

Prof. Jolanda Roux of Sappi Forests was a guest speaker and gave a detailed overview of the forestry and forest research in South Africa. The meeting was planned to give a lot of time for discussions on various topics, so presentations were concluded in two morning sessions while afternoons were spent in discussions. The presentations also varied from keynote speakers to five-minute speed talks.

Delegates were given a tour of the FABI Biocontrol Facility prior to the start of the meeting where they were shown how these facilities underpin biocontrol research at the Institute. Guests were also taken on a tour of FABI the following days where they were also treated to a drumming session prior to a dinner. The three-day meeting was concluded with a visit to forestry industry partners in the Mpumalanga Lowveld before the delegates spent a night in the Kruger National Park.