PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
This programme is subject to change based on the final outcome of the paper review process.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
This programme is subject to change based on the final outcome of the paper review process.
Day 1: Tuesday, 13 August 2024 | ||
07:30 – 18:00 | Registration | ICC Arena Foyer |
OPENING SESSION Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Dr Muhammad Kadwa |
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09:00 – 09:20 | Welcome | Dr Muhammad Kadwa, SASTA President |
09:20 – 10:05 | Keynote Address | Prof Narendra Mohan |
10:05 – 10:10 | Vote of Thanks | Dr Muhammad Kadwa, SASTA President |
10:10 – 10:20 | SASTA Patron | Adv. Fay Mukaddam |
10:20 – 11:00 | Tea / Coffee Break | Exhibition Hall |
PLENARY SESSION Sponsored by BMG Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Dr Sandy Snyman |
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11:00 – 11:25 | A Review of South African Sugarcane Production in the 2023/2024 Season: Climate, Production and Economics | Sithole P, Nicholson RJ, van Heerden PDF and Stranack RA |
11:25 – 11:45 | Biosecurity: An Overview of the 2022/2023 Season | Basdew IH, McFarlane SA and Stranack RA |
11:45 – 12:10 | Ninety-Ninth Annual Review of the Milling Season in Southern Africa (2023/2024) | Moletsane-Mbuyazi MR |
12:10 – 12:30 | SMRI 75th Anniversary | Dewar J and Davis SB |
12:30 – 12:50 | Towards Empowering Small-Scale Growers to Improve the Sustainability of Sugarcane Farming | Gokul A, Mofurutsi T, Buthelezi KNG, Mchunu L, Jumman A and Watt DA |
12:50 – 14:00 | Lunch Break | Exhibition Hall |
PANEL DISCUSSION: SO MUCH MORE THAN SUGAR (Open Session for SASTA Delegates) Hall 4C 5B Facilitator: Ben Durham (Chief Director: Bio-innovation, Department of Science and Innovation) |
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14:00 – 16:30 | Objectives of panel discussion:
– To update members on the latest developments in the Masterplan with a focus on diversification (Task Team 6). – To highlight progress and stumbling blocks. – To gain insights from an Indian perspective. |
Panellists Prof Narendra Mohan (India) |
16:30 – 18:30 | Meet & Greet Welcome Reception | Exhibition Hall |
Day 2: Wednesday, 14 August 2024 | |||||
07:30 – 17:00 | Registration | ICC Arena Foyer | |||
AGRICULTURE SESSION 1: SOILS AND NUTRITION Hall 4D Chairpersons: Dr Dimpho Elephant |
FACTORY SESSION 1: EXTRACTION AND BOILER Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Rainer Talanda |
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09:00 – 09:25 | An Assessment of Soil Fertility Status in Sugarcane Cropping System in Zimbabwe from 2018 – 2022 | Rambwawasvika H and Mutatu W | 09:00 – 09:10 | Comparison of Theoretical Assumptions Versus Real Life Measurement When Applying a Fatigue Failure Analysis to a Diffuser Headshaft | Gopaldass D and Vogel A |
09:25 – 09:45 | Boron Status in Zimbabwe Sugar Industry Soils | Johane T, Rambwawasvika H and Mutatu W | 09:10 – 09:35 | Accessing Boiler Health and Diagnosis of Faulty Boiler Components Using Data Driven Techniques | Van Den Berg CS, Marais F and Rawlins BT |
09:45 – 09:55 | Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Sugarcane: The Case of Ubombo Sugar | Shongwe S and Tfwala CM | 09:35 – 10:00 | Suitable Flue Gas Cleaning Equipment for Bagasse Fired Boilers to Comply with New Environmental Regulations | Moor BStC and Bezuidenhoudt D |
09:55 – 10:05 | Optifert: Development of An Application to Optimise Fertiliser Type and Rate | Rhodes R, Govender P, Singh S, Titshall L, Paraskevopoulos A and Wilkinson D | 10:00 – 10:20 | An Overview of the Traditional and Typical Equipment Located on the Back-end of Boilers in the Sugar Industry | Frost MC and Dauvellier R |
10:05 – 11:00 | Tea / Coffee Break | Exhibition Hall | 10:20 – 11:00 | Tea / Coffee Break | Exhibition Hall |
PLENARY SESSION Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Gavin Smith |
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11:00 – 11:20 | A Short Review of Industry Cane Quality Trends in South Africa: 1981-2023 | Davis SB and Kadwa M | |||
AGRICULTURE SESSION 2: VARIETIES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Hall 4D Chairpersons: Dr Shailesh Joshi |
FACTORY SESSION 2: BOILING HOUSE OPERATIONS Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Shaun Madho |
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11:30 – 11:55 | Sugarcane Traits Associated with Ratooning Ability | Dlamini NE, Zhou M and Franke AC | 11:30 – 11:40 | Hybrid Bagasse Dryer Technology – Integration of Waste Heat Recovery and Flue Gas Cleaning | Verma R and Verma P |
11:55 – 12:15 | Comparison of the Performance of Coastal and Midlands Varieties at Harding, a Hinterland Environment Along the South Coast of South Africa | Nxumalo TP, Zhou M and Khomo B | 11:40 – 12:05 | Sugar Drying and Conditioning Review: Debunking the Myths | Smith GT |
12:15 – 12:40 | Sugarcane Mutation Breeding at SASRI: From Herbicide Tolerant N12 Zapyr to Prospects for Developing Climate-Ready Cultivars | Rutherford RS and Snyman SJ | 12:05 – 12:30 | Using C-Centrifuge Camera Images to Improve Sucrose Recoveries | Loubser RC, Barker B, Ndinisa NV and Mbuthuma Y |
12:40 – 13:00 | Assessment of Transgene Copy Number in Genetically Modified Sugarcane for Borer Resistance | Makhetha T, Joshi SV, Jacob R and Ghai M | 12:30 – 12:55 | Comparative Results from White Boilings Using Conventional Slurry-Seeding and Seeding with Seed from A Continuous Seed Preparation System Utilising Sound Wave Induced Nucleation | Rahiman SN, Mbuthuma Y, Love DJ and Davis SB |
13:00 – 13:10 | NovaCane®: So Much More Than Pain-Free Seedcane! | Mkhize L and Snyman SJ | 12:55 – 13:20 | Improvements in Sugar Colour and Boiling House Recovery at Maidstone Mill | Naidoo S, Mncube F, Ndlovu V and Ninela M |
13:20 – 13:30 | Vertical Continuous Vacuum Pans for High- and Low-Grade Massecuites in Cane Sugar Factories | Thaval OP and Lehnberger A | |||
13:10 – 14:10 | Lunch Break | Exhibition Hall | 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch Break | Exhibition Hall |
AGRICULTURE SESSION 3: PATHOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY Hall 4D Chairpersons: Dr Malcolm Keeping |
FACTORY SESSION 3: PROCESS CHEMISTRY Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Dennis Walthew |
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14:10 – 14:20 | Forty Years of Service: Sugarcane Quarantine Facility at Mount Edgecombe | Koch AC, McFarlane SA and Snyman SJ | 14:30 – 14:55 | A Review of Maillard Reaction in Molasses Storage Tanks | Munsamy SS |
14:20 – 14:45 | Sugarcane Rusts: A Review | McFarlane SA, Kistan CJ, Koch AC and Rutherford RS | 14:55 – 15:20 | Evaluation of the Impact of Dextran on The Brix-Pol Factor at The Noodsberg Sugar Mill | Ngidi K and Chetty M |
14:45 – 14:55 | Orange Rust: Preliminary Research Findings | Kistan CJ and McFarlane SA | 15:20 – 15:30 | Steps Taken to Address Undetermined Losses at the Pongola Sugar Mill | Nkwanyana NG |
14:55 – 15:15 | Impact of Oxamyl and Imidacloprid on Sugarcane Yield Gain Under Different Stress Indices: Variety Evaluation | Nqayi SB, Nxumalo TP, Gokul A, Keeping MG and Rutherford RS | |||
15:15 – 15:35 | Dose Mapping of An X-Ray Irradiator with Application to the Sterile Insect Technique for the Control of Eldana saccharina in South African Sugarcane | Singh SA, Malinga LN, Weldon CW and Conlong DE | |||
14:00 – 17:00 | Exhibition Open Afternoon Cash bar sponsored by Rotex / GNV Enterprises (Pty) Ltd |
Exhibition Hall | |||
Evening | Authors Dinner (by Invitation Only) |
Day 3: Thursday, 15 August 2024 | |||||
07:30 – 17:00 | Registration | ICC Arena Foyer | |||
AGRICULTURE SESSION 4: IRRIGATION AND WATER MANAGEMENT Hall 4D Chairpersons: Dr Washington Mutatu |
FACTORY SESSION 4: HEAT EXCHANGE AND REFINERY OPERATIONS Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Malesedi Moletsane-Mbuyazi |
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09:00 – 09:10 | The Effectiveness of Elfer Percolate in the Reclamation of Saline-Sodic Soils – A Pot Experiment | Johane T, Rambwawasvika H and Mutatu W | 09:00 – 09:20 | Plate Condensers in the Sugar Industry | Dobrescu DM |
09:10 – 09:20 | Replanting Sugarcane with Subsurface Drip Tape in situ in the Cropping Season 2021/22 | Shabangu MW, Nkambule NT and Mkonta ST | 09:20 – 09:30 | Widegap Plate Heat Exchangers | Dobrescu DM |
09:20 – 09:40 | Impact of Polymer on the Sugarcane Yield and Water Use Under Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Eswatini | Mkhaliphi PV, Mhlanga BE, Dlamini EN and Mtsetfwa ZB | 09:30 – 09:55 | A Sustainable Approach to Decolourisation of Fructose Syrup at Tongaat Hulett Using Reactivated Granular Carbon | Phokwane K, Falconer JG, Rolfe W, Hardwick EK and Pokhan N |
09:55 – 10:20 | Improving and Standardising Refinery Yield Calculation | Ndinisa NV and Davis SB | |||
10:20 – 10:30 | Ion Exchange Resin Longevity Enhancement by Chemical Treatment | Khandelwal P, Yadav D, Sajith K and Mohan N | |||
09:40 – 11:00 | Tea / Coffee Break | Exhibition Hall | 10:30 – 11:00 | Tea / Coffee Break | Exhibition Hall |
PLENARY SESSION Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Dr Ruth Rhodes |
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11:00 – 11:20 | Value Analysis of Participatory Cane Quality Management Research | van Heerden PDR, Botha P and O’Neill BJ | |||
AGRICULTURE SESSION 5: MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS Hall 4D Chairpersons: Richard Nicholson |
FACTORY SESSION 5: BIOREFINERY AND QUALITY Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Steve Davis |
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11:30 – 11:50 | A Preliminary Estimation of The Financial Impact of Business Rescue on Sugarcane Growers In 2022/23 | Kadwa M and Nicholson RJ | 11:30 – 11:55 | A Holistic Approach to the Optimisation of Industrial Co-Generation Plants | Rawlins BT, Marais F and van den Berg CS |
11:50 – 12:00 | Comparative Analysis and Adoption of Farm Management Information Systems within the Sugarcane Sector | Msimango S | 11:55 – 12:20 | Upscaling the Production of Potassium Sulphate from Stillage at a Kilo-Scale | Urayayi J, Rambwawasvika H and Mutatu W |
12:00 – 12:20 | Implications of Water and Energy Access on Agricultural Production among Smallholder Farmers in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa | Kaula AT, Mudhara M, Senzanje A and Mukwedeya B | 12:20 – 12:30 | Packaging Powdery Sugar and Liquid By-Products into Various Compartments | Petereit CU |
12:20 – 12:30 | The Importance of Family Succession Planning within the Sugarcane Sector | Msimango S | 12:30 – 12:40 | Instruments for Dynamic Optimisation of the Separation Process in Batch and Continuous Centrifuges | Bartels B and Nielsen BC |
12:30 – 13:45 | Lunch Break | Exhibition Hall | 12:40 – 13:45 | Lunch Break | Exhibition Hall |
AGRICULTURE SESSION 6: DIGITAL AGRICULTURE Hall 4D Chairpersons: Dr Riekert van Heerden |
FACTORY SESSION 6: ENERGY Hall 4C 5B Chairpersons: Hylton Taylor |
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13:45 – 13:55 | Monitoring the Post-Harvest Deterioration of Sugarcane Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy | Kaseke K, Rambwawasvika H and Mutatu W | 13:45 – 13:55 | Active Control of Steam Turbines for More Efficiency in the South African Sugar Industry | Conrad M |
13:55 – 14:15 | Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Optical Data for Predicting Sugarcane Yield: A Case Study of the Nkomazi District | Parag M, Lottering R, Peerbhay K, Agjee N, Tweddle P and Poona NK | 13:55 – 14:05 | WEG Africa Optimising Operations: Exploring the Advantages of Repairing Versus Replacing Steam Turbines | Van Pype R |
14:15 – 14:35 | Drone-Captured Multispectral Imagery for In Situ Maturity and Ripener Efficacy Assessments of Sugarcane Crops | Hoffman N, van Heerden PDR, Thompson I, Poona NK | 14:05 – 14:15 | High-Efficiency Compact Drive to Reduce Energy Consumption in Sugar Mills | Patil M, Ramuageli R and Kristensen P |
14:15 – 14:25 | Novel Nano-Structured, Silicon-Doped Thin Films by E-Beam PVD for Solar Energy Materials | Seroka NS, Taziwac R and Khotseng L | |||
14:35 | Congress Closing and Awards by Dr Sumita Ramgareeb Chair: SASTA Congress Organising Committee |
Exhibition Hall |
SASTA is pleased to have secured Prof Narendra Mohan of the National Sugar Institute (NSI), India, as keynote speaker at this year’s Congress.
Prof. Mohan has a distinguished career in the sugar industry spanning four decades, including eleven years as Director of the institute, where he supervised and coordinated activities related to Sugar Technology, Sugar Engineering, Alcohol Technology, Agriculture Chemistry, Biochemistry and Instrumentation Engineering. He facilitated partnerships between the NSI, the sugar industry and other R&D institutions to attain common goals. He was also instrumental in increasing the institute’s global presence to the extent that NSI now provides services to various sugar producing countries including Austria, Switzerland, Indonesia, Nigeria, Bhutan, France, Kenya, Thailand, Egypt and Iran.
Prof Mohan has played a pivotal role in the diversification efforts of the Indian sugar industry which now produces bio-chemicals, other bio-products and bio-energy in addition to sugar. He has been involved in projects related to bagasse-based co-generation, ethanol blending in petrol and compressed biogas production from filter cake. He has formulated different models of sugar-ethanol production to suit relative economics and market demand, and was actively involved in developing technologies for production of graphene oxide, vanillin, surfactants, cosmetic ingredients, biochar and dietary fibre from bagasse. Furthermore, his passion to preserve natural resources saw many sugar factories moving to zero fresh water consumption.
He is the author of seven books, many book chapters and more than 200 scientific papers published in various reputed journals. For his contribution to improving the productivity and environmental sustainability of the Indian sugar industry, Prof Mohan has received numerous prestigious awards, including Dr Bansi Dhar Gold Medal, Industry Excellence Award, Global Education Leadership Award, Outstanding Academic Leader of the Year Award, Best Director of the Year Award, ABP News Award, ISSCT Excellence Award, Bharatiya Sugar Innovative Leader Award and Noel Deerr Gold Medal.
Prof Mohan remains a consultant to the Government of India and contributes significantly to many policy matters including price fixation mechanisms for ethanol made from different feedstocks and the minimum selling price of sugar.
We look forward to hearing about the Indian sugar industry’s diversification and sustainability journey.