CRI’s Chief Executive officer, Prof. Vaughan Hattingh and Phytosanitary specialist, Dr. Elma Carstens are based at the AGROHUB, Welgevallen Experimental Farm in Stellenbosch.

The CRI researchers seconded to the Department of Horticultural Science are hosted in the Lombardi building on the university campus and includes Portfolio Manager for Citriculture, Prof. Paul Cronje, Manager for Pre-harvest Production and Quality, Dr. Pieter Raath and Cold Chain Researcher, Dr. Tarl Berry. In addition Mrs. Jade North, who is a research technician and CRI’s cultivar evaluator for the southern citrus production areas, Mr. Werner Swiegers, are also based at this department. Programme Coordinator for HLB-RP Research, Prof. Hano Maree  and Biotechnology Researcher, Dr. Rachelle Bester are seconded to Stellenbosch University, Department of Genetics based in the JC Smuts building.

In the Dept of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, JS Marias building, CRI’s research entomologist is Dr. Martin Gilbert with Ms. Courtney Morris as research technician.

Situated in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), this research unit comprises the Portfolio Manager for IPM, Prof. Sean Moore and Biosecurity Operations Coordinator, Mr. Wayne Kirkman, Research Entomologist, Dr. Tammy Marsberg, IPM Research Technician, Ms. Mellissa Peyper and cultivar evaluator assistant, Mr. Zongezile Zondi. This personnel specialise not only in requirements for the Eastern Cape, but also in issues of national relevance. The National Extension Manager, Mr. Hannes Bester is based nearby in Jeffrey’s Bay and Citriculture technician, Ms. Johané Niemann is based in Kirkwood in Sundays River Valley.

 

PHYSICAL
Citrus Research International
63 Heugh Road
Walmer, Gqeberha, 6070
Eastern Cape
South Africa

The CRI Citrus Foundation Block (CFB) is located outside Kariega (Uitenhage) in the Eastern Cape province, and is the veritable ‘birthplace of citrus in South Africa.  About 80% of South Africa’s demand for certified disease-free rootstock cultivar seed and scion budwood is supplied directly from the CFB.  The CFB currently maintains and multiplies budwood for >500 cultivar lines in 2.5 ha insect-secure greenhouse structures.  A total of 23 rootstock cultivars are grown and seed is extracted from fruit produced in 8 ha of orchards.  To ensure the biosecurity of the CFB, a regulation prescribing a 5-km citrus-free buffer zone was promulgated under the Agricultural Pest Act in January 2011.

The Citrus Improvement Scheme (CIS) offices are also located on the CFB farm.  The CIS operations, which include nursery certification and advisory services, CIS and financial administration and rootstock seed and scion budwood production and supply, involves a staff compliment of 36 permanently employed people.

OUR STAFF

The CIS is managed by Dr. Paul Fourie, who is ably assisted by CIS Production Manager, Mrs. Jacolene Meyer,  CIS Administrator, Mrs. Michelle le Roux, CIS Nursery Advisor, Mr. Michael Nell and a very dedicated team of colleagues in CIS administration and CFB operations.