wards achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability
and a greener economy. It acknowledges his role as team leader of the
Mondi Ecological Networks Programme (MENP), a research group
based at Stellenbosch University
that develops and fine-tunes design
and management principles for ecological networks. Such networks are
formed from interconnected systems of conservation corridors and
remaining patches of natural habitat within forestry plantations, and
allow numerous species to survive
within the confines of commercial
endeavours.
Prof Samways is the author of more
than 375 scientific publications, including 15 books. He is recognized
as the most prolific producer of research globally in insect conservation, a field he developed from its
early days, and one of the world’s
most active researchers in the field
of biodiversity conservation. He is
not only an internationally recognised researcher and a respected
academic, but is also known for his
mentorship of staff and students
alike. He was chair of the SU Department of Conservation Ecology and
Entomology for more than a decade, and now serves as a distinguished professor and academic
principal in this department.
He is a former recipient of the Gold
Medal of the Academy of Science of
South Africa (ASSAf), Captain Scott
Medal and Gold Medal of the South
African Academy of Science and
Arts, John Herschel Medal of the
Royal Society of South Africa, and
has also been acknowledged for his
contribution to biodiversity and
conservation matters by the Global
Conference of Entomology and the
World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Species Survival Commission. He is
currently president of the International Orthopterists’ Society.
Willem Botes
Plant 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 (SU-PBL)
at the Welgevallen Experimental
Farm. Most notably his laboratory
currently leads a national wheat
pre-breeding platform funded by
Grain SA and the national Department of Science and Technology.
O ther partners in the initiative include the Agricultural Research
Council (ARC) and commercial entities such as Sensako and PANNAR.
Over the past 15 years, Botes has
obtained plant breeder rights for
one new rye cultivar and eight triticale cultivars. (Triticale is a cereal
grain that was created in the late
1800s when wheat and rye was
crossed). Most of these cultivars
have been successfully commercialised in partnership with seed companies and farmers’ cooperatives.
As part of the wheat pre-breeding
platform, the SU-PBL annually
makes a nursery of new germplasm
available to public and commercial
wheat breeding programmes in
South Africa, to be used among
others as crossing parents or as
direct introductions into breeding
programmes.
The cultivars and germplasm released through the SU-PBL help
producers to stay profitable by ensuring higher yields and cutting
down on input costs. Improvements made in the rust resistance
of various triticale cultivars have for
instance ensured that producers in
most cases no longer have to spray
again fungal diseases. This relieves
pressure on the environment and
also leads to a reduction in input
cost.