Report on the CST-SA-ICC International Grains Symposium

South Africa is proud to celebrate its diversity by describing itself as the "rainbow nation". The International Grains Symposium organised by Cereal Science and Technology South Africa (CST-SA) and the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC) certainly celebrated the diversity with around 150 scientists and technologists (a number which exceeded the organisers expectations) from 17 countries gathering to discuss Quality and Safety of Grain Crops and Foods at the International Grains Symposium in the University of Pretoria on 3-5 February 2010.

This wide ranging symposium programme highlighted the diversity and complexity of grain-based foods. The scientific sessions were well attended with a capacity audience present from start to finish. In addition to the scientific sessions there were a large number of posters to read and a technical exhibition to visit. Before the gala dinner guest were entertained by the University of Pretoria (UP) Chorale who were formed some 12 years ago. The members of the Chorale all come from the University and they performed a variety of songs and dances that are indigenous to South Africa. At the end of the symposium it was very clear the entertainment had ensured that South Africa lived up to its reputation as the "rainbow nation" and all concerned with the organisation of the event had demonstrated a degree of professionalism at least the equal to other events in the cereals world. To read more about the content of the sessions, please refer to the ICC/MoniQA Journal QAS - Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods, Volume 2, Issue 2 or online at www.icc.or.at/journal/qas.