FABI welcomed six new members joining the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB) Internship in Phytosanitation and Biosecurity. The new interns are Beverly Buthane, Gcinokuhle Buthelezi, Julia Mashishi, Ronewa Nethononda, Precious Ramovha and Zoyolo Somi.

Professor Martin Coetzee welcomed them to FABI and outlined the structure and aims of the 12-month long programme. He explained that the internship aimed to expose them to the big world of science and the Institute’s research culture of working as a team for success in the agricultural and forestry fields. During the next 12 months, they will participate in all FABI’s activities and conduct research under the supervision of a supervisor. They will also attend a writing course, get PCR and sequencing training, attend a CV writing and a plagiarism course and participate in a phytosanitation course presented by Phyto Solutions’ Marianna Theyse. Another important component is their participation in field trips that give them an opportunity to interact with industry partners and get firsthand experience of seeing the impact of pests and pathogens in the field. FABI gratefully acknowledges the financial support of this programme received from its partners South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (SACTA) and Forestry South Africa (FSA).