As has become custom during the past few years, the management committee of the TPCP-CTHB research programmes in FABI has met for two days off-campus to strategise for the year ahead. The team, under leadership of Prof. Mike Wingfield, spent the time to align research priorities, industry and goverment funding, student projects and administrative issues for 2016.

On Friday afternoon the leadership met with the whole team, including students and all technical and administrative personnel, to provide feedback about the meeting but also to give them an opportunity to voice suggestions for improvement of research activities in FABI. The afternoon culminated in a braai and social event for the whole team of almost 120 people, giving the team the chance to welcome and get to know new team members.

We look forward to a productive 2016 with many students completing Honours, Masters and Phd degrees and many many research publications. At the same time we shall continue to provide science-based solutions to pest and disease problems to the South African forestry industry.