Southern Africa Conference Presentations 2025

Please click on an abstract of your choice to access the relevant downloadable papers. Please note, you will need to be logged in as member in order to access the proceeding abstracts.

Kwelera National Botanical Garden developments

Author: Nomama Mei

OVERVIEW

  • SANBI has a network of 11 Botanic garden in the country
  • Kwelera is SANBI’s 10th National Botanic Garden
  • It is 20km North of East London in the Buffalo City Municipality in EC.
  • It extends from the Kwelera estuary to Gonubie estuary in the wild coast.
  • Launched in September 2014 and opened in 2015 August.
  • The total area is 170 ha of land 160 which a pristine and 10 ha will be the cultivated area.
  • 160 ha land portion now co-managed by SANBI and ECPTA
  • Representative of coastal dune forest, coastal grassland, Albany Thicket
  • There are two villages that are nestled in our garden Sunrise On Sea and Kwelera Village
Optimising Greenhouse Control

Author: Joel van der Schyff

A Data-Driven Comparison of Automation Strategies

Four new species of Ledebouria from the high altitude grasslands of the Steenkampsberg, South Africa.

Author: Andrew Hankey

This paper was published in Haseltonia 31 : 2024.

 Here we will present an overview of the paper as well as extracts from the De Hoop NR Botanical report. We will also provide emphasis on the autecology of the four species, and the uniqueness of the location.

THE FUTURE OF PLANT PROTECTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Author: Dr Gerhard Verdoorn

Critical overview and futuristic perspectives.

Regulatory framework with a direct effect on current and long-term availability of plant protection solutions (pesticides) in South Africa

Secondary influences on the current and short-term availability of plant protection solutions (pesticides) in South Africa

The potential survival rate of pesticides in South Africa

The long-term future of plant protection technology in South Africa

Solutions for healthy long-term plant protection in South Africa

Some final personal thoughts on long-term plant protection in South Africa







How Balanced Nutrition & Soil Health Leads to Success

Author: Rob Jeffrey

In Summary

  • Photosynthesis is key – start here
  • Organic forms of nutrition are the most energy efficient forms of plant nutrition
  • “Plant nutrients should be available, but not soluble” - William Albrecht
Modern Technologies in Horticulture

Author: Mpumelelo Dlamini

Modern technologies in horticulture – Integrating remote sensing at a nursery level.

Introduction
Methods and materials
Auto model and model optimisation
Model description 
Results & Applications of thermal imaging in nurseries

Babylonstoren, Know and Grow

Author: Ernst van Jaarsveld

Babylonstoren, Know and Grow
The history of the Babylonstoren gardens

Chloe Bawden, Exchangee Report

Author: Chloe Bawden

Australia Region Exchangee report

Nosipho Ndlovu, Exchangee Report

Author: Nosipho Ndlovu

Southern Africa Region Exchangee report