It is against this backdrop that Forestry South Africa (FSA) has sponsored a cash prize of R60,000 towards the Agristars Youth Award for Forestry in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). This prize was awarded to bioresources engineering students Lesego Mokou and Kholofelo Moloko from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. They received their award along with other young entrepreneurs and innovators in Pretoria on Thursday, 30 June, at a high-profile dinner hosted by DAFF Deputy Minister General Bheki Cele.

The Minister issued a clarion call to South Africa’s young entrepreneurs, innovators and scientists. “Don’t get your PhD and masters, and then look for a job. Your job is to look far, far ahead. We want you to come with answers.”

Engineering answers for emerging timber growers

Together with Simon Ackerman, research scientist at the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) and UKZN peers, Thankslord Hadebe and Namisani Nduli, Mokou and Moloko engineered a cost-effective timber winch proposed as a production tool to assist small-scale growers and contractors to productively extract timber grown on steep terrain.

The development and prototyping was established as a collaborative project with the UKZN Bioresources Engineering Department forming part of their final year student training undergraduate curriculum.

The project – initiated in 2015 by Hadebe and Nduli – resulted in the development of a chainsaw-powered winch as the base for future work. The prototype showed great promise and was further developed this year, incorporating a change in the drive mechanism, and an overall revamping of the structural design. Mokou and Moloko have been responsible for bringing this design to the point where it is ready for prototype manufacture.

Stars of agriculture, forestry and fisheries light up SA’s future

The event showcased the excellence and exceptional achievements of young graduates, entrepreneurs and producers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the hope of attracting and absorbing more young people into these sectors as a desirable and ‘cool’ career.

The initiative forms part of DAFF’s Young Producers and Entrepreneur Strategy (YPES), which aims to bridge the gaps of mature producers while reducing youth unemployment and poverty. The strategy supports the establishment of youth-owned and/or managed enterprises, youth entrepreneurs and activities that encourage the active participation of young people in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector.

Vibrant sector, value-add and rural development

South Africa has a vibrant commercial forestry sector, which plays an important role in meeting domestic wood and wood product needs. It also earns valuable foreign currency through wood chip and cellulose exports. In addition, tree growing contributes to the development and improvement of rural livelihoods.

FSA executive director Michael Peter highlights the sector’s socio-economic importance: “The forestry industry provides significant social and enterprise support to local people. More than 24,000 small-scale timber growers have entered the market over the past two decades, many of whom have gone on to become very successful and to create employment for more people.”

He adds that forestry companies provide formal employment for approximately 145,000 people, in addition to tens of thousands of related upstream and downstream jobs along the wood and paper product value chains.

FSA’s members and partners provide bursaries throughout the forest product value chain, and fund the University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) and the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) where many more young people are supported in their forestry-related professions.

DST sees the wood for the trees

For the past eight years, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has funded FABI’s Forest Molecular Genetics Programme, which has evolved into a multifaceted tree-breeding platform. The Industry Innovation Partnership initiative established in 2013 saw an initial allocation of R500 million with a reservation of R166 million for the development of the Sector Innovation Fund (SIF) as part of the broader initiative.

The forestry SIF – ‘Future Plantation Forests for the South African Bio-economy’ – implemented and coordinated by FSA, has attracted a DST investment of R25 million over three-and-a-half years. It is expected that at least R20 million will be funded by industry, as a direct cash contribution.

DAFF leads the industry in pest and disease control

DAFF and FSA have continued to co-fund the multi-million Rand Sirex Woodwasp Control Programme. The programme, implemented through FABI and the ICFR, has saved the plantation industry from massive losses to this damaging pest. DAFF and FSA also co-fund the Tree Protection Co-operative Partnership at FABI, which remains a global leader in the field of pest and disease research.

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Forestry South Africa (FSA) represents South Africa’s timber growers with membership spanning all 11 active corporate forestry companies, approximately 1,300 commercial timber farmers and some 20,000 small-scale growers. Collectively, FSA’s members own or control no less than 93% of the country’s total plantation area.

In South Africa, around 1.3 million hectares of fast-growing tree plantations are grown as short-rotation woody biomass crops to produce approximately 20 million tonnes of renewable biomass feedstock. These industrial wood plantations are managed by growers and processors for a wide array of end products, with a shift away from traditional pulp and paper towards bioenergy and chemical feedstocks. These require cutting edge science, technology and innovation.

Globally, the forestry sector contributes around $600 billion annually to GDP and provides employment to more than 50 million people.

The post Low-cost timber winch wins two KZN student engineers the inaugural Agristars Forestry Award first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).

“The pulp, paper and packaging industry is brimming with opportunity, especially in the areas of research into green and sustainable energy technologies, innovative processes and how we can explore the potential of one of our world’s most natural and renewable resources – the tree,” says Mike Nash, head of PAMSA’s Process Research Unit.

Successful candidates will gain advanced skills during their post-graduate training in fields such as wood science, chemical analysis, separation techniques and material and energy balances. Not only will they have access to an industrial mentor during their studies, but they will be placed in an engineer-in-training programme at one of PAMSA’s member companies.

Dirk Postma completed his MSc at the University of Stellenbosch’s Department of Process Engineering, focusing on the modification of hemicelluloses using chemical and physical methods for use in the pulp and paper industry.

“PAMSA and SAPPI opened my eyes to the interesting world of the pulp and paper and offered me a great opportunity to learn from people who have had decades of experience in the industry,” he says.

Stephen Swart, who completed his MSc in chemical engineering through the University of Pretoria, obtained valuable experience in both the research and industrial environment as his MSc project involved the design, construction and commissioning of a novel system for the production of a renewable liquid fuel at the University of Pretoria. This project is a collaborative effort between the university and the United States Department of Agriculture which has the potential of becoming a commercial operation.

“I was given the opportunity to attend and present my work at several conferences in South Africa and around the world,” says Swart.

Applications are welcome from post-graduate chemical engineering students who meet the following requirements:

• BScEng (chemical engineering) candidates interested in enrolling for MScEng studies in fields that satisfy the aims of the pulp, paper and packaging industry.
• A good academic record with a minimum 60% average in the final year of study.
• Applicants must have completed their studies in five years or less.
• Candidates should indicate their areas of interest. For example, energy efficiency, renewable energy and biopolymers.

“The unit, which has formed partnerships with the universities of Stellenbosch, Pretoria and KwaZulu-Natal, is focused on developing some fundamental research thrusts to further unlock the potential of paper in all its forms,” adds Nash.

These will most likely be in areas that will ‘unlock’ the potential of the biomass used as a feedstock as well as developing new and innovative final products to the consumer. These relate particlularly to the development of cellulose into new disciplines or products, including bio-plastics, nano products and smart packaging.

PAMSA’s Process Research Unit was formed to develop, manage and expand a regional research initiative and further support, promote and improve the sustainability of the local pulp, paper and packaging industry.

Apart from its bursary programme, the unit coordinates research for the development of processes to efficiently utilise biomass feedstock (trees) for conversion to bio-products (paper and chemicals) and energy with minimal environmental impact and seeks to develop academic/research centres of excellence, both locally and abroad. It also engages in collaborative partnerships with industry and government agencies.

“We plan to expand our reach to other South African institutions, depending on the field of study being followed and the institution’s expertise in that field. We also plan to include overseas institutions into the mix,” explains Nash.

Applications – which should include a full CV and a motivation letter – can be directed to:

Patti Webster

patti.webster[@]pamsa.co.za

Tel: +27 (0) 11 803 5063

Fax: +27 (0) 11 803 6708

The post Exciting research and bursary opportunities for postgraduate chemical engineers first appeared on The Paper Story (PAMSA).