Welcome

Dear Industry Colleagues, Young Professionals and Students,

It is with great excitement that we look forward to welcoming you to the SAAFoST 26th Biennial Congress 2025, to be held at the CSIR International Convention Centre from August 25–27. This flagship event will be a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the remarkable advancements in food science and technology.

We are delighted to present a dynamic program that offers something for everyone. Explore the Exhibition Gamification feature, where you can interact with leading exhibitors, discover innovative solutions, and engage in friendly competition—all while earning points for exciting prizes. This interactive element promises to make your exhibition experience both educational and entertaining.

Take time to immerse yourself in the Scientific Posters, which showcase cutting-edge research and breakthroughs from talented professionals and emerging scientists. These displays provide valuable insights into the future of food science and technology. Complementing these are our Engaging Talks, where leading experts will share knowledge, challenge conventional thinking, and inspire meaningful discussions on the pressing issues and opportunities in our field.

In addition to the intellectual feast, we have planned memorable social events to enhance your experience. The Networking Cocktail Evening offers a relaxed setting to connect with colleagues, while the Gala Dinner provides an opportunity to celebrate in style, fostering relationships that will extend beyond the congress.

Your presence here reflects a shared commitment to advancing food science and technology, and we are grateful to have you as part of this vibrant community. Together, let us engage, learn, and collaborate as we shape the future of our industry.

Welcome to the SAAFoST Biennial Congress 2025—we look forward to an inspiring and memorable event with you!

Warm regards,

Gary Coulson
Local Organising Committee Chair

NSF

As a leading certification body, NSF has a comprehensive suite of food safety and quality services that span from farm to fork.

Achieve your continuous improvement goals through certification by efficiently navigating audits and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standards.

Our food safety audit services are built upon a world-class integrity program, a customer-centric approach, and unmatched technical excellence. Let’s build trust together. Across the global food supply chain, NSF is here and proud to work with you.

www.nsf.org

inqaba biotec™

inqaba biotec™, is a unique South African Genomics company that was established in 2002. Our in-house services include oligonucleotides/probes synthesis, Sanger and NGS sequencing, SNP & Methylation analysis, Bioinformatics support, and Phylogenetic & Molecular techniques courses. We are also distributors of strong leading international manufacturers of Food testing, Molecular Biology, Chemicals and instruments.

www.inqababiotec.co.za

Cranbrook Flavours

Cranbrook Flavours is a trusted, family-owned leader in flavour manufacturing in South Africa since 1984. With decades of experience in a competitive industry, we deliver high-quality, innovative solutions tailored to meet the needs of every customer. Our commitment to excellence is backed by our FSSC 22000, V6 certification, and our full Halaal and Kosher compliance, ensuring top-tier standards in food safety and quality. At Cranbrook Flavours, we focus on efficient processes, exceptional products, and customer satisfaction — all while fostering a positive work environment for our employees. From development through to production, our goal is simple: to consistently exceed expectations, setting the benchmark for flavour companies across Africa and beyond.

www.cranbrookflavours.com

Synercore

Synercore Holdings is a science-led investment company focused on innovation within the food industry in Africa. Along with an acute awareness of market developments and opportunities, Synercore aims to deliver research backed and commercially viable food solutions within growing markets. With the acquisition of various food and research companies, Synercore has established itself as a sustainable and dynamic group, with a unique service offering to the food industry.

www.synercore.co.za

Progress Excellence

At Progress Excellence we don’t just train people! We assist individuals to develop an understanding of food safety, quality, health and safety and environmental management systems through our training programmes.

Our passion is contagious, and every interaction is another opportunity for us to extend our influence and share our experience in the food industry.

As a customer-focused organization, we are constantly improving and updating our offerings to ensure delivery of up-to-date and industry-relevant programmes. Whether it be on-site, face-to-face or virtual training, we have something to suit your unique needs. We also offer public workshops as well as a range of online, self-paced training options. From introductory to intermediate and advanced programmes; we cater to all levels within your organization.

This year marks our 20th anniversary. That means 20 years of growing, learning and sharing. We are excited about the future…

www.progress-excellence.co.za

IMCD South Africa

IMCD South Africa is a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients, committed to providing innovative solutions to diverse industries across the region. Within the food and nutrition sector, IMCD South Africa’s Food and Nutrition Division plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, tailor-made ingredient solutions to manufacturers, helping them develop products that meet evolving consumer demands.

Leveraging global expertise and a deep understanding of local markets, the Food and Nutrition Division partners with world-class suppliers to offer a comprehensive portfolio of functional ingredients. These solutions cater to a variety of applications, from beverages, dairy, and bakery to snacks, confectionery, and savoury innovations.

IMCD South Africa’s Food and Nutrition Division prides itself on its customer-centric approach, offering technical support, formulation advice, and regulatory guidance to help clients overcome challenges and drive product development. The division is supported by a skilled team of food technologists and access to cutting-edge facilities, ensuring the delivery of solutions that align with global trends like health-conscious consumption, clean-label formulations, and sustainable production.

With a focus on innovation, expertise, and collaboration, IMCD South Africa’s Food and Nutrition Division is dedicated to empowering its customers to succeed in a competitive and rapidly changing market.

www.imcdgroup.com

Cape Foods

Cape Food Ingredients is your gateway to innovation and excellence. With our speciality divisions in Beverages, Dairy, Bakery, Sauces and Confectionery we specialise in cutting-edge technology, offering unique solutions tailored to meet African taste preferences and lower costs. Our services encompass product development, technical advisory and innovative solutions that set us apart in the market. Whether you are a prospective customer or simply curious about what we do, visit our stand to discover how we can elevate your product quality while lowering costs. Find out about the latest in sugar-reduction, flavours (savoury and sweet, liquid and powder) and new stabiliser options which enable cost savings. We are a global leader in natural sugar-reduction technologies.

www.capefoodingredients.com