The Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being (IFNuW) of the University of Pretoria (UP) is the driving force behind an important initiative aimed at ensuring the adequacy of food, not only in quantity but also in quality, that is available to the South African public.
 

The current lack of evidence regarding food safety standards in South Africa induced IFNuW’s Prof Lise Korsten to address the need for thorough and accurate measurement and evaluation of food safety standards at all levels in the food supply chain. UP researchers across the broad domain of food security were assembled to form a panel with IFNuW experts to share knowledge and discuss country-wide improvements.

IFNuW acknowledges the importance of having accredited facilities and systems in the food industry to provide adequate food safety standards, and for this reason it has partnered with the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). As a research and training facility, it is imperative for IFNuW to introduce people to the accreditation landscape and highlight the importance of laboratory accreditation and good laboratory practices. Through this partnership, an initiative to develop capacity in food safety and laboratory accreditation was established, and SANAS now offers bursaries and mentorship programmes to UP students. These programmes include training related to quality infrastructure and international accreditation bodies, and exposure to careers in laboratory accreditation, such as assessors and technical experts. Two UP honours students have received SANAS bursaries for 2014, namely Ntombifuthi Tina Nkosi (in the field of medical physics) and Sphumelele Felicity Mkhize (in the field of plant pathology).

IFNuW hopes that an accreditation framework will be implemented at all academic institutions and that their non-accredited laboratories will come on board. If institutions are familiar with the accreditation framework they will be able to implement good laboratory practice, such as ensuring the suitability of environmental conditions and the suitability, calibration and maintenance of equipment, even if their laboratories are not accredited. This will contribute to producing well-qualified and efficient individuals who will exercise control. With 11 laboratories across different faculties that have been accredited by SANAS, UP is leading the way among tertiary institutions and setting a good example.

This initiative will not only benefit the people of South Africa, but it can provide a model for other countries on the continent in terms of investing in the capacity of young people, particularly in regard to career choices (ranging from production to policy-making) related to the unique area of food security.

The driving force behind this initiative and partnership, Prof Lise Korsten, is a three-time recipient of UP’s Exceptional Achiever Award, and she twice received special recognition from SANAS for her significant contribution to improving and promoting SANAS accreditation.

She previously served on the boards of the National Laboratory Association, the Post-harvest Innovation Programme of the Department of Science and Technology and the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum. She is a member of the Specialist Technical Committee of SANAS. She is a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and leads the programme on “Ensuring safer food through effective control and regulation” at IFNuW. Prof Korsten has also been elected to serve on the International Society for Plant Pathology (ISPP) and chairs the Global Food Security Task Force.

SANAS is recognised by the South African government as the only national body for the accreditation of laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, proficiency testing scheme providers and good laboratory practice test facilities, and it is mandated to ensure that all related tasks are carried out competently and in terms of the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Act, 2006 (Act 19 of 2006).[1]

[1] http:/home.sanas.co.za/