A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting Brogdale, home of the National Fruit Collection, and East Malling, the birthplace of modern rootstock breeding.
The purpose of the trip was straightforward. Through a Hortgro-funded project, I was collecting quince accessions that will contribute to research aimed at making true-to-typeness testing of pear rootstocks more accessible and affordable for the South African industry.
Yet what stayed with me was not the plant material I collected, but the recurring conversations I had about the challenge of sustaining long-term research.
The value built over generations
Walking through collections assembled over decades and reflecting on the impact these institutions have had on fruit production around the world, I was struck by how much of what we value today exists because someone chose to invest in it long before there was a clear return.
A germplasm collection. A breeding programme. Research infrastructure. Scientific expertise. None of these are easy to justify if viewed only through the lens of immediate return. Yet standing there, their value feels undeniable.
Not everything that matters can justify its existence through profit alone.
Many of the opportunities we have today exist because previous generations chose to invest in possibility.
They invested in knowledge, genetics, institutions and people without knowing exactly what those investments would become.
I realised that I am also a product of those decisions.
Investing in people and potential
I joined Provar as an intern. Like many young people entering the industry, I was given opportunities to learn, make mistakes, develop confidence and grow. I benefited from study leaders and mentors who invested their time, from an organisation willing to support my development, and from an industry that continues to invest in research and people despite returns that are often only realised years later.
In many ways, this first edition of Measured tells that same story.
You will read about the founding and evolution of Provar, the development of young researchers, the experiences of interns, the importance of diversity in science and new approaches to strengthening evaluation systems. While the subjects differ, they are connected by a common thread: a willingness to invest in the future before its value is fully visible.
Research is one of the clearest expressions of this principle. The benefits are often delayed, the outcomes uncertain and the impact difficult to measure in the short term. Yet the future resilience and competitiveness of our industry depend on the decisions we make today to build knowledge, capability, and understanding.
Why long-term investment in horticultural research matters
Markets are exceptionally good at rewarding what creates immediate value, but less effective at protecting what may only prove valuable years or even decades later. That is why long-term thinking matters. It is why stewardship matters.
Left entirely to short-term incentives, many of the opportunities we benefit from today might never have existed. Someone chose to invest in them anyway. Perhaps that is one of the most important human responsibilities we have: to recognise potential before it becomes obvious, and to create opportunities before we know exactly where they will lead.
Creating opportunities for those who follow
Over the past few months, I reflected on the kind of impact leadership can have over time. I am here because others chose to invest in research, people and institutions long before there was any certainty about the outcome. Looking back, it is clear that those investments created opportunities that could not have been predicted at the time. Looking forward, I believe we have a responsibility to create the same opportunities for those who follow.
Future generations will inherit the consequences of what we choose to build, preserve and support now.
I hope you enjoy the first edition of Measured and the stories it contains.
Tristan serves as the CEO and Pome Rootstock Researcher at Provar. He holds a Master of Science in Horticultural Sciences from Stellenbosch University and specialises in the interactions between genotype and environment that affect adaptability in diverse production and management conditions. His research combines applied science with commercial horticulture, focusing on converting field-based evidence into practical information that supports decision-making for producers and industry stakeholders.
