Chemometrics in South Africa and the development of the South African Chemometrics Society

In the south-western (Cape) region of South Africa, extensive use is made of chemometric techniques to characterize and quantify food, herbal, and agricultural products. A large proportion of the analyses involve processes of wine production and storage. Several groups make use of various analytical techniques and chemometric evaluations to support vineyard management, and to determine different properties of wine and the conditions under which to produce quality wine. For institutions located in the central part of South Africa (Gauteng province), the emphasis of research involves mainly industrial processes, the optimization of these processes, and the monitoring of their effects on the environment. The initiative to establish the South African Chemometrics Society in 2006 originated in the Institute for Wine Biotechnology at Stellenbosch University. At present there are enthusiastic members of the society from the entire country who contribute to the recognition of Chemometrics in South Africa.