The 2025 cohort of interns from the Centre for Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB) Internship in Phytosanitation and Biosecurity programme celebrated the completion of their 12-month training programme at a farewell ceremony on 24 January. The gathering included South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (SACTA) Transformation Manager, Mr Sandile Mahlangu, FABI Director Prof. Bernard Slippers and the interns’ FABI mentors.

Prof. Martin Coetzee thanked these mentors, Dr Nicky Creux, Dr David Nsibo, Dr David Read, Prof. Cobus Visagie and Dr Markus Wilken as well as the programme administrator Ms. Heidi Fysh for their hard work and commitment to making the programme a success. He also thanked SACTA for their support and trusting FABI to be a partner in this important programme.

Martin also thanked the interns for their contribution to FABI: assisting in the disease clinic, and biocontrol centre, participating in fieldtrips in which they contributed to FABI, the University of Pretoria and industry. He wished them well on their next chapter where they will implement the knowledge and experience gained in FABI in their work and personal life. This was also echoed by prof. Bernard Slippers who wished them well on their future journey but reminded them that they remained a part of the FABI family.

The interns were also given a gift of a hand lens, an essential tool for plant pathologists. Prof. Coetzee said this gift was not just to use in the field but to also remind them that while life is big and busy there are still small, beautiful things in life and the world to brighten your day.

FABI gratefully acknowledges the financial support of this programme received from its partners SACTA and Forestry South Africa (FSA) that partnered with FABI to sponsor six of the interns’ training. SACTA was created as the legitimate central institution which administers the breeding levies for all self-pollinated grain and oilseed crops, specifically wheat, barley, soya beans and some canola cultivars.