SAHRI

The South African Herbicide Resistance Initiative (SAHRI) program was launched in 2012 in order to provide an independent platform to investigate cases of herbicide resistance in various weeds in South Africa. The program combines traditional herbicide screening techniques with modern molecular DNA and biochemical techniques to confirm cases of resistance as well as the underlying resistance mechanisms.

Since the implementation of the program we have successfully completed resistance studies on various important weed species such as hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis), goosegrass (Eleusine indica) and most recently on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus).

The program also has a strong element of community engagement, both with industry and farmers in order to communicate findings, developing management strategies as well as general education involving herbicide resistance prevention and management.