SAAFoST

About SAAFoST

SAAFoST is the South African Association for Food Science and Technology. It is the professional body for food scientists, technologists and other professionals who serve the food and allied industries. The association is based in Pretoria, with a national secretariat in Durban and regional branches around the country. Its work centres on professional development, networking and sharing knowledge.

Membership is tiered. Large food companies, including Nestlé, Unilever, Coca-Cola and McCain, belong as custodian members. Through its MySAAFoST platform, the association also reaches students and young professionals with webinars, career information and job connections.

How SAAFoST supports students

Food safety and quality depend on well-trained people. To grow the next generation, the SAAFoST Foundation funds bursaries for food science students. According to the association, the Foundation has helped 95 graduates start their careers, and it continues to look for donors to support more.

The Foundation has offered three main awards. The Matriculant Bursary is for learners in matric who plan to study food science and technology full-time. The Undergraduate Bursary supports full-time students working towards a first degree or diploma in the field. A separate part-time bursary has helped paid-up members studying towards a BSc Honours or BTech.

Selection is based on academic merit, employment equity and potential. In past calls, the bursary paid actual tuition fees, as shown on the institution's statement of account, up to R30,000 a year until graduation. Check the current advert for the present maximum.

Food science is a small but important field. Graduates work in product development, quality assurance, food safety, research and manufacturing. A professional body such as SAAFoST gives students a link to employers early in their studies. For example, students who use MySAAFoST can follow industry webinars and see how the sector works. Because the bursary is tied to the association, applicants should show real commitment to the food industry.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens, and some calls also accepted permanent residents who had lived in the country for at least three years. Study must be in food science and technology, usually a BSc or BTech. Undergraduate calls have asked for SAAFoST membership of about twelve months before applying, so join early if you are already studying.

Closing dates differ for each bursary. The matric bursary for the 2026 cycle closes on 30 October 2026, with reviews in November and results in December. Undergraduate applicants should expect an early-year deadline, which has been at the end of January in past rounds.

Published calls have not mentioned a work-back period. Even so, read the agreement closely. Visit the official SAAFoST website for current forms, criteria and dates.