Criteria
The nominee should have made an outstanding technological contribution to the sugar industry which has, as a consequence, benefited from the implementation of the design or innovation.
The innovation could take the form of (amongst others):
•  Processes which have improved factory operations and/or product quality.
•  Major contributions to sugarcane agriculture which have improved yields and/or reduced costs.
•  New equipment designs which have been implemented and benefitted the industry.

Mechanism
Any SASTA member may nominate a candidate. A detailed motivation must be sent to the SASTA Council for consideration. The Council meets four times a year to consider nominations. SASTA Council may choose to conduct an independent review of the motivation.

Prize
A 9-carat gold-plated medal with the SASTA logo on one side and the recipient’s name and reason for award on the other.

Criteria
Exceptional service to SASTA and/or ISSCT.
Exceptional service could include:
•  Long service to SASTA and/or ISSCT, as well as a combination of the following:
– Major contribution to the success of numerous SASTA events (Congresses/Workshops/Field trips etc.).
– Major contribution to the success of ISSCT events (Congresses/Workshops).
– Numerous award-winning SASTA papers.

Mechanism
Any SASTA member may nominate a candidate. A detailed motivation must be sent to the SASTA Council for consideration. The Council meets four times a year to consider nominations. SASTA Council may choose to conduct an independent review of the motivation.

Prize
A 9-carat gold-plated medal with the SASTA logo on one side and the recipient’s name and reason for award on the other.
Honorary membership of SASTA (free membership for life).

Robin Renton Memorial Award

Criteria

A young engineer, 35 years old or younger, who shows leadership and management potential, and who delivers an outstanding technical paper at SASTA Congress.

The award is based on content of the paper, as well as the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors who are engineers at or under the age of 35 (as of the day of their presentation) will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

R1200 and a certificate.

 

Talbot-Crosbie Prize

 Criteria

The best paper in the Factory Section of Congress.

The award is based on content of the paper, as well as the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors in the Factory section will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

 Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author, and certificates for all co-authors.

 

Cecil Renaud Award

 Criteria

The best paper in the Factory Section of Congress delivered by authors who are not part of either a scientific or technological institute.

In order to be eligible for the prize, there must be two or more co-authors, half of whom may not be part of a scientific or technological institute, and the main author/presenter must also not be part of such an organisation.

Members of sugar company head offices will not be considered as belonging to scientific or technological institutes.

The award is based on content of the paper, as well as the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors, based on the above criteria, will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author, and certificates for all co-authors.

 

Operational Paper Award

Criteria

The best Operational paper in the Factory Section of Congress.

The award is based on content of the paper, as well as the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors of Factory Operational papers will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

 Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author, and certificates for all co-authors.

 

Poster Award

 Criteria

The best poster for the Factory Section of Congress.

The award is based on content and quality of the poster, as well as the quality of the presentation, if applicable.

 

Mechanism

All Factory posters presented at Congress will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author, and certificates for all co-authors.

 

Student Award

Criteria

A prize is awarded in the Factory Section for the best paper written and delivered by a student. The student must be a registered student and must not be permanently employed. The presentation must be clear and well organised. Visual aids must be good quality and appropriate. Also evaluated are audibility, confidence and ability to handle questions, technical or scientific content, and value and general usefulness of the paper to the industry.

 Mechanism

All non-permanently employed students presenting papers in the Factory section at Congress will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

 Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author (the student) only.

 

Highly Commended Awards

 Criteria

The second-best papers for the Factory Section of Congress for the following prizes/awards:

• Talbot-Crosbie
• Cecil Renaud
• Operational
• Poster
• Student

The same criteria used in the selection of the paper for the relevant awards listed above will be applied for the Highly Commended Awards.

Mechanism

All papers presented at Congress will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

Certificates for the main author and all co-authors.

 

Jubilee Award

 Criteria

An exceptional paper/s presented in the Factory Section of Congress at the three Congresses preceding the closing date for submissions to the next ISSCT Congress.

The award is based on content of the paper/s, as well as the quality of the presentation/s at the Congresses. To be eligible for this award the main author of the paper must be a fully paid-up SASTA member. SASTA Council reserves the right to consider the eligibility criteria on a case-by-case basis.

Mechanism

All Congress authors (who are SASTA members) will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council. The highest-scoring paper and presentation at each year’s congress (over the Talbot-Crosbie, Cecil Renaud and Student Categories) will be put forward as that year’s Jubilee Award nominee. At the end of the three-year period preceding the ISSCT Congress, the Judging Panel will consider the three nominations on their merits and scores and submit the proposed winner to SASTA Council for their approval. Other outstanding papers by the same author during the three-year period may be taken into account when making the final decision.

Prize

A paid trip for the main author to either the ISSCT Congress, an ISSCT Workshop or other Workshop/Congress directly relevant to the sugar industry (subject to approval by SASTA Council). Where feasible, attendance should be to the next Congress/Workshop scheduled for the year following the receipt of the Award.

All Congress/Workshop membership, registration, air travel (economy class), accommodation (hotel selection to be approved by Council), visa (if applicable) and a daily stipend (SARS based) will be paid by SASTA. The prize excludes any pre- and post- congress trips and tours. The cost to attend a non-ISSCT Workshop/Congress should be similar to that of an ISSCT Workshop/Congress.

Award recipients will be required to present a paper at the ISSCT Congress/Workshop (or other Workshop/Congress) that is directly related, but not identical to, their winning paper Should the award recipient wish to present different research, a motivation will need to be submitted to SASTA Council for consideration and approval. Authors may be required to provide a copy of their intended presentation (at the Workshop/Congress) to SASTA Council for comment in advance of the trip. The author/s will be required to report back at either the next SASTA Congress or the SASTA AGM after their trip.

SASTA Council reserves the right not to nominate a paper for the Jubilee Award every year.

Robin Renton Memorial Award

Criteria

A young engineer, 35 years old or younger, who shows leadership and management potential, and who delivers an outstanding technical paper at SASTA Congress.

The award is based on content of the paper, as well as the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors who are engineers at or under the age of 35 (as of the day of their presentation) will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

R1200 and a certificate.

 

Kynoch Prize

 Criteria

The best paper in the Agricultural Section of Congress.

The award is based on content of the paper, as well as the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors in the Agricultural section will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author, and certificates for all co-authors.

 

Cecil Renaud Award

 Criteria

The best paper in the Agricultural Section of Congress delivered by authors who are not part of either a scientific or technological institute.

In order to be eligible for the prize, there must be two or more co-authors, half of whom may not be part of a scientific or technological institute, and the main author/presenter must also not be part of such an organisation.

Members of sugar company head offices will not be considered as belonging to scientific or technological institutes.

The award is based on content of the paper, as well as the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors, based on the above criteria, will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author, and certificates for all co-authors.

 

Practical Success Story Award

Criteria

The best Practical Success Story in the Agriculture Section of Congress.

The award is based on the quality of the presentation at the Congress.

Mechanism

All Congress authors of Agriculture Success Stories will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

 Prize

A certificate for the main author and all co-authors.

 

Poster Award

 Criteria

The best poster in the Agricultural Section of Congress.

The award is based on content and quality of the poster, as well as the quality of the presentation, if applicable.

Mechanism

All posters presented at Congress will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author, and certificates for all co-authors.

 

Student Award

Criteria

A prize is awarded in the Agricultural Section for the best paper written and delivered by a student. The student must be a registered student and must not be permanently employed. The presentation must be clear and well organised. Visual aids must be good quality and appropriate. Also evaluated are audibility, confidence and ability to handle questions, technical or scientific content, and value and general usefulness of the paper to the industry.

 Mechanism

All non-permanently employed students presenting papers at Congress will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

 Prize

R1200 and a certificate for the main author (the student) only.

 

Highly Commended Awards

 Criteria

The second-best papers for the Agricultural Section of Congress for the following prizes/awards:

• Kynoch Prize
• Cecil Renaud Award
• Poster Award
• Practical Success Story
• Student Award

 

The same criteria used in the selection of the paper for the relevant awards listed above will be applied for the Highly Commended Awards.

Mechanism

All papers presented at Congress will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council.

Prize

Certificates for the main author and all co-authors.

 

Jubilee Award

 Criteria

An exceptional paper/s presented in the Agricultural Section of Congress at the three Congresses preceding the closing date for submissions to the next ISSCT Congress.

The award is based on content of the paper/s, as well as the quality of the presentation/s at the Congresses. To be eligible for this award the main author of the paper must be a fully paid-up SASTA member. SASTA Council reserves the right to consider the eligibility criteria on a case-by-case basis.

Mechanism

All Congress authors (who are SASTA members) will automatically be considered by the Judging Panel appointed by Council. The highest-scoring paper and presentation at each year’s congress (over the Kynoch, Cecil Renaud and Student Categories) will be put forward as that year’s Jubilee Award nominee. At the end of the three-year period preceding the ISSCT Congress, the Judging Panel will consider the three nominations on their merits and scores and submit the proposed winner to SASTA Council for their approval. Other outstanding papers by the same author during the three-year period may be taken into account when making the final decision.

Prize

A paid trip for the main author to either the ISSCT Congress, an ISSCT Workshop or other Workshop/Congress directly relevant to the sugar industry (subject to approval by SASTA Council). Where feasible, attendance should be to the next Congress/Workshop scheduled for the year following the receipt of the Award.

All Congress/Workshop membership, registration, air travel (economy class), accommodation (hotel selection to be approved by Council), visa (if applicable) and a daily stipend (SARS based) will be paid by SASTA. The prize excludes any pre- and post- congress trips and tours. The cost to attend a non-ISSCT Workshop/Congress should be similar to that of an ISSCT Workshop/Congress.

Award recipients will be required to present a paper at the ISSCT Congress/Workshop (or other Workshop/Congress) that is directly related, but not identical to, their winning paper Should the award recipient wish to present different research, a motivation will need to be submitted to SASTA Council for consideration and approval. Authors may be required to provide a copy of their intended presentation (at the Workshop/Congress) to SASTA Council for comment in advance of the trip. The author/s will be required to report back at either the next SASTA Congress or the SASTA AGM after their trip.

SASTA Council reserves the right not to nominate a paper for the Jubilee Award every year.

The 2026 SASTA Congress celebrated excellence in research, innovation and technical achievement through its annual awards, recognising individuals whose work continues to advance the sugar industry. The awards acknowledge outstanding papers and posters across the agricultural and factory sectors, highlighting the dedication, expertise and valuable research undertaken by
scientists, researchers and industry professionals.

Downlaod PDF containing details of 2026 Award Winners.