Two internationally renowned professors from the University of Pretoria's (UP) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and founding members of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), Profs Mike and Brenda Wingfield, received prestigious awards at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress held in Stockholm during July this year. IUFRO is the world’s oldest scientific union, founded in 1892, and it serves more than 15 000 forest scientists worldwide.

Prof Brenda Wingfield received the IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award and was recognised for her pivotal role in driving applied biotechnology in the forestry industry. Her pioneering work in using molecular techniques to diagnose tree diseases has enabled earlier and more accurate detection of pathogens, thereby facilitating the implementation of more effective control measures. She has also mentored over 100 postgraduate students and collaborated with researchers worldwide.

“Winning the IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award is a profound honour that validates my lifelong dedication to studying fungal pathogens and their impact on global forest health. This recognition acknowledges the hard work and perseverance of my students, colleagues and collaborators. It underscores our work's importance in understanding and mitigating the threats of fungal pathogens to forests worldwide. The award inspires me to continue pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and will continue to foster international collaboration in forestry research,” Prof Brenda said.

“Over the past three decades, my research has primarily focused on the global movement and evolution of fungal pathogens, particularly those affecting trees. One of my significant contributions is in fungal genomics, where I have worked extensively to decode the genetic makeup of various tree pathogens. This work has been fundamental to identifying new species and understanding the mechanisms underpinning pathogenicity and the interactions between pathogens and their tree hosts.”

Prof Brenda has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and advancing forestry research through her involvement with IUFRO. She organised the IUFRO Tree Biotechnology Conference in South Africa in 2011, bringing together leading scientists to discuss the latest advancements in tree genetics and biotechnology. Her efforts have facilitated numerous research collaborations and strengthened her position in the global forestry research community.

She added, “I am also one of the founding members of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at UP, where I have served in various leadership roles, including the Director of the DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology and Deputy Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies. My work has been published in over 450 peer-reviewed papers, and I hold the DSI-NRF SARChI research chair in Fungal Genomics. These achievements underscore my commitment to education, student mentorship and advancing our global understanding of tree pathogens of importance to forest health management.”

“Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to receive several prestigious awards. I was honoured with the South African Society of Microbiology Gold Medal in 2018, becoming the first female to receive that award. In 2022, I received the Hartig-Patterson Award for Achievement in Forest Pathology from the IUFRO Research Group 7.02.00 “Pathology.” Most recently, in 2023, I was awarded the John F W Herschel Medal by the Royal Society of South Africa. While appreciated, these accolades reflect not only my work but also those of outstanding students and amazing colleagues that I deeply appreciate,” she concluded.

Prof Mike Wingfield received the highest honour of IUFRO, namely Honorary Membership. Over the years, he has made a significant impact on the organisation. Prof Mike became involved in IUFRO activities as a young scientist in 1977, first participating in a Working Party dealing with diseases of pines grown in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere.  

Since then, he has been involved in numerous activities of IUFRO, including in several leadership positions, as coordinator of Working Parties, Research Groups, Congress Scientific Committees and as  Co-coordinator of Division 7 (Forest Health), the IUFRO Board and the IUFRO Management Committee. In 2010, Mike became the Vice President responsible for IUFRO Divisions, culminating in his position as IUFRO President (2014-2019). He became the first IUFRO President from the African continent.

During his term as IUFRO’s President, IUFRO’s focus on improving communication led to a considerably increased visibility of IUFRO. He also initiated a process to establish a closer engagement of IUFRO with the private sector, with Mondi as a first partner. IUFRO celebrated its 125th anniversary during his term as President, and he was deeply involved in leading the celebrations marking this important milestone, including the 125th Anniversary Congress held in Freiburg, Germany. Prof Mike Wingfield has always seen it as one of his most important roles to foster and support the youth in forestry. He takes pride in having been an advisor to numerous MSc and more than 100 PhD students, many of whom now hold very senior positions globally.

During his term as President of IUFRO, further strengthening the Union’s relationship with the youth was one of his priorities, which included enhancing IUFRO’s ties with IFSA, the International Forestry Students' Association. Among other achievements, he made a grant to the IUFRO-IFSA Task Force on Forests and Education, which was used mainly to further forest education in Africa.