The XXXII ISSCT Centennial Congress and Pre-Congress Tour was held in Cali, Colombia, between 22 and 28 August 2025. The Congress was attended by 1,100 delegates from more than 50 countries, and the scientific programme comprised five parallel sessions.

The technical programme consisted of 290 oral and poster papers across 10 disciplines: Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Germplasm & Breeding, Entomology, Molecular Biology, Pathology, Processing, Engineering, Co-products, and Management. An impressive trade exhibition showcased the latest innovations by more than 70 leading technology provider companies.

The Colombian sugarcane agro-industry is a similar size to the South African sector except for the ethanol production:

• 2024 figures: 15 mills crushed 22.1 million tons of sugarcane from 239,472 ha under cane.
• Production figures: 2 million tons sugar, 184 000 tons molasses, 406 million L bioethanol, 1,876 GWh electricity, 6.3 million tons bagasse were used for co-gen and paper production, 322,000 metric tons of organic fertilisers.

The South African delegation to the Congress consisted of SASRI Director Dr Shadrack Moephuli, SASRI scientists Dr Sandy Snyman, Dr Riekert van Heerden, Dr Marvellous Zhou, Dr Lawrence Malinga, Dr Shailesh Joshi and Sharon McFarlane (whose attended as the SASTA Jubilee Prize recipient). Other delegates from South Africa included representatives from South African Cane Growers’ Association (SACGA), Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI), Illovo Sugar Africa, Vision Sugar, and Umfolozi Sugar Mill (USM).

Papers were delivered by SASRI’s specialists as follows:

• Joshi SV et al. Quantification of transgene copies in genetically modified borer-resistant sugarcane.
• Malinga LM et al. Selection of an oviposition substrate by females of the sugarcane stalk borer Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for use in the sterile insect technique.
• Malinga LM et al. Genetically modified sugarcane in combination with sterile insect releases to control Eldana saccharina: a shade house trial.
• McFarlane SA et al. Importance of partnerships in monitoring and managing diseases in the South African sugarcane industry.
• Snyman SJ et al. Cryo- and osmo-therapy to eliminate viruses from infected sugarcane. Poster.
• van Heerden PDR et al. Scientific and participatory research strategies towards better sugarcane quality management in South Africa.
• Zhou M. Genetic control of sucrose content among unselected progeny populations.

The Congress was preceded by a pre-congress tour on 22 and 23 August to the Colombian Sugarcane Research Center (Cenicaña) and the miller-cum-planter groups Manuelita, Mayagüez, Incauca, Providencia and Risaralda.

As the ISSCT celebrated its centenary, each commission  reviewed milestone achievements and acknowledged the contributions of three scientists per 25-year period, and it was pleasing to note that many SASRI staff members featured in this list.