Professor Michael Wingfield, founding director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria (UP), has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in recognition of his pioneering contributions to global forest science.

Prof Wingfield has spent his career tracing the hidden enemies of the world’s forests, like fungal pathogens and pests that threaten ecosystems, industries, and human survival itself. From Pretoria to Minnesota, from the laboratories of FABI to the global networks of the International Union for Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), Wingfield’s influence has stretched far beyond national borders. His research has transformed forestry science, inspired new generations of plant pathologists, and elevated South African science onto the world stage.

For Prof Wingfield, receiving the award was humbling. For science, it was a celebration.

“I felt incredibly privileged to have had a career as a scientist and academic. I hugely appreciated this amazing honour that SLU chose to grant me,” Prof Wingfield said. “It was never about me alone. This reflects the support of my family, my students, my colleagues, and a global community of scientists. In every way, it was a recognition of contributions from many people, a supportive home environment, and amazing collaborators who have been the driving force of what I have been able to achieve.”

The doctorate symbolises more than personal recognition to Prof Winfield; he sees it as a tribute to the power of science itself. “It was a celebration of science and the creation of new knowledge. The recognition really went to a worldwide network of collaborators committed to discovery and innovation.”

That sense of collective achievement has defined his 40-year career. Prof Wingfield consistently credits his teams, his students, and his peers for helping to shape FABI into one of the leading research institutes in plant and forest health.

Looking back, he points to key milestones that paved the way for the honour. Early in his career, he studied under specialists at the University of Minnesota, an experience he calls foundational. Later, he returned to South Africa and established the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), which became a central hub for industry-driven forestry research.

A significant milestone in his career came when he established an entirely new research institute, FABI, at UP in 1998. Today, the institute is recognised worldwide for its contributions to understanding and managing diseases that threaten trees and forests. “Many former FABI students are now global leaders,” Wingfield said proudly. “Their impact has been immense, and it all reflects positively on the FABI team and the University of Pretoria.”

Prof Wingfield also acknowledged the role of family in his scientific journey. “I have been married to a remarkable academic and scientist for 46 years,” he said. “She has been an integral part of my research and my career.”

His work has never stopped at South Africa’s borders. His deep involvement with IUFRO, which represents more than 15 000 forest scientists globally, has amplified his reach. He credits both FABI and IUFRO as the “most powerful influences” in shaping his career and recognition. Through these collaborations, his colleagues and students have made substantial contributions to solving urgent challenges, ranging from destructive tree diseases to the global sustainability of forestry. Their work continues to provide tools for managing some of the greatest threats facing forests worldwide.

Prof Wingfield sees the award as an inspiration for young researchers. “The sky is the limit,” he said.  “There are so many opportunities to excel in research and science. Don’t underestimate them; they are everywhere if you’re willing to look for them. I can think of no better career than one in research.”

He hopes the recognition reminds students and emerging scientists that their contributions matter. In his view, the next breakthroughs will come from those who embrace curiosity, collaboration, and persistence.

Even in celebration, Prof Wingfield turned attention to urgent global concerns. “We totally underestimate the importance of plant health,” he said. “People forget that trees give us water and clean air. Without trees, we would all be dead.”

His words carried the urgency of a scientist who has spent decades witnessing the fragile balance between forests and human survival.

The award stands as a milestone not only for Prof Wingfield but also for South African research as a whole. By recognising his achievements, SLU has also acknowledged the global stature of South African science and its vital role in shaping international forestry research.

“Professor Wingfield’s honorary doctorate is a fitting recognition of a career dedicated to advancing forest science and inspiring generations of researchers,” said Prof Sunil Maharaj, UP Vice-Principal for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education. “At UP, we are proud to see one of our own making such a profound global impact. His work reminds our students and young scientists that excellence, curiosity, and collaboration can take South African science to the world stage.”

The recognition reinforces UP’s position as a hub of excellence, and it highlights more than two decades of FABI’s contributions to forest health. For South Africa, it signals the country’s growing impact in advancing scientific knowledge worldwide.