Institute overview 2025
FABI in a Nutshell
The Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria is a postgraduate training and research institute that was established in 1997, based on a recognition that the future of forestry and agriculture in South Africa will strongly depend on the incorporation of new and emerging technologies into these industries. Major opportunities for these industries have emerged in recent times, from the applications of biotechnology and information sciences to many others.
Download the brochure (PDF, 2.6 MB)Graduates: FABI records. Papers: FABI journal articles in the publications database, updated as publications are added. Citations: OpenAlex, updated weekly. Hover over or tap a number to see how it is counted.
- 3A-ratings
- 9B-ratings
- 18C-ratings
- 1P-rating
- 5Y-ratings
- 37Full-time academic staff
- 29External research associates
- 30Postdoctoral / research fellows
- 86PhD students
- 111MSc students
- 40Honours students
- 9Interns
- 46Professional support staff
- Teresa Coutinho
- Pedro Crous
- Almuth Hammerbacher
- Christiaan Pirk
- Jolanda Roux
- Bernard Slippers
- Eva Stukenbrock
- Cobus Visagie
- Brenda Wingfield
- Mike Wingfield
- Neriman Yilmaz
- African Plant Systems Biology for the Bioeconomy (APSB)
- Applied Mycology
- Bacterial Genomics and Host Pathogen Interactions
- Biophysics
- Citrus Health
- Crop Floral Biology and Environments (CFBE)
- Forest Molecular Genetics (FMG) Research Group and the Eucalyptus and Pine Pathogen Interactions (EPPI) Research Group
- DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Fungal Genomics
- Endophyte Ecology
- Hans Merensky Chair in Avocado Research
- Kiwifruit Protection Programme (KPP)
- Macadamia Protection Programme (MaPP)
- Molecular Plant Physiology
- Molecular Plant-Pathogen Interactions (MPPI)
- National Grain Research Platform (NGRP)
- Phytobacteriology
- Plant Virology
- Social Insects Research Group
- Systematics and Evolution of Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
- Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP)
Worldwide collaboration
Countries highlighted show where FABI's co-authors were institutionally affiliated on published papers; countries in grey indicate no recorded collaborations.
The association of FABI with the University of Pretoria, the largest residential University in South Africa, provides access to a wide range of human and technological resources. Talent from the Departments of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Plant and Soil Science, Physics, and Zoology and Entomology are associated with FABI, affording us the opportunity to build future resources in biotechnology and information technology which will be crucial to the future of forestry and agriculture in South Africa.
FABI's core mission
- Advance the fields of biotechnology and information technology in plant science through research of the highest possible calibre.
- Promote advanced education in these fields as it relates to forestry, agriculture and the environment.
- Produce new and improved products and services to support competitiveness and resilience of plant based industries.
- Impact plant productivity and resilience, environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation through a transdisciplinary approach.
- In partnership with industries and government, provide both short and longer term benefits to the forestry and agricultural sectors of South Africa and beyond.
Director
Prof. Bernard Slippers
Tel: +27 (0)12 420 3938
Email: bernard.slippers@fabi.up.ac.za
All contact details →