Cultivating Success – Highlights from the 12th CRI Symposium
From August 19th to 21st, our team had the pleasure of attending the 12th CRI Symposium at the Champagne Sports Resort in the beautiful Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal. This event is a key gathering for the Southern African citrus industry, offering a great opportunity to share the latest citrus research. Our team, including our Managing Director Charl Nieder-Heitmann, Business Development Manager Norman Nieder-Heitmann, Project Engineer Heinrich Steyl, and Sales Consultants Gerard Meyer and Frikkie van Wyk, was excited to be part of it.
The symposium brought together researchers from Citrus Research International (CRI), universities, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and the private sector. They shared the results of two years of hard work. The event drew a wide range of people from the citrus world, including producers, consultants from the Southern African Citrus Consultants (SASCCON), exporters, nursery professionals from the South African Citrus Nurserymen’s Association (SACNA), and members of the Citrus Improvement Scheme (CIS). There were also members of the CRI Postharvest Technical Forum, the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB), logistics providers, and others from related industries. We also had international guest speakers, adding to the event’s importance.
Our team arrived on Sunday, August 18th, to set up our exhibition stand. Getting there early gave us plenty of time to get everything ready before the event officially began. After the setup, Gerard joined in for the Golf Day, which was a nice, relaxed start to the busy days ahead. That evening, CRI hosted a Welcome Dinner, where we had a chance to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new people in a casual setting.
On Monday, the symposium officially started, and our team was ready to jump into the day. Our stand was busy with visitors, giving us the chance to talk with both existing clients and new contacts. The day ended with a lively street food event, complete with food stalls, live music, and more networking. It was the perfect way to unwind and chat about the day in a relaxed atmosphere.
Tuesday was much the same, with the team continuing to connect with people at our stand. The evening brought a more formal dinner, which offered another chance to meet and talk with fellow attendees. By then, it was clear that the symposium was not just about sharing knowledge but also about building partnerships that will help the industry grow.
Wednesday was the final day of the symposium, and our team made the most of it. We kept networking, sharing insights, and getting feedback from others in the industry. As the day turned to evening, we dressed up for the Gala Night Dinner. This event was a great way to end the symposium, with live music, amazing food, and excellent wine. It was a night to celebrate the citrus industry and the teamwork that makes progress possible.
As we headed back on Thursday, we felt satisfied with our time at the symposium. We strengthened existing relationships and formed new partnerships. We’re grateful to everyone who helped organize this great event, to our clients who visited our stand, and to the new connections we made. We’re already looking forward to the next CRI Symposium in 2026 and continuing to support the growth and success of the citrus industry.