Shortage of snake antivenom in South Africa a “major disaster”
The shortage of snakebite antivenom in South Africa was a source of serious concern as this threatened the lives of animals and humans, according to Johan Marais, CEO of the...
‘Net zero isn’t feasible for agriculture sector’
Red meat production has once again come under fire, this time in a study detailing a pathway for South Africa to achieve its goal of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide (CO₂)...
No clarity yet on names for alternative proteins
The lack of regulations over terminology for alternative protein products is causing confusion about food labels worldwide and has already led to several court cases in South Africa.
‘Collaboration is key to the world’s growing water scarcity problem’
Twenty-six percent of the world’s population still does not have access to safe drinking water, while 46% lack access to basic sanitation, according to the United Nations World Water Development...
Ginger prices drop to a tenth of COVID-19 highs
Retail prices for ginger have sunk as low as R30/kg as ample rains have diminished quality and larger volumes flow into the market.
Despite easing, Zim’s food price inflation remains highest in the world
Food price pressures that have beset Zimbabwe have persisted, giving the Southern African country the unenviable position of having the world’s worst inflation, despite some slight moderation, a recent report...
Food security under pressure as Ukraine export corridor deal stalls
The UN-brokered deal that has created a protected sea transit corridor for grain exported from Ukraine's three ports on the Black Sea expires later this month.
Greater focus on gene sequencing needed to boost agriculture
Advances in gene sequencing are uncovering a wealth of information that will have far-reaching consequences for stable, ongoing food production.
Ramaphosa defends Expropriation Bill amid criticism
The Land Expropriation Bill will not be used “willy-nilly”, President Cyril Ramaphosa recently said in response to questions in the National Assembly.
Food supply vulnerable to cyber crime
Agriculture’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks was highlighted at the Africa Agri Tech conference in Pretoria this week. Billy Petzer, researcher of cyber security systems at the CSIR said, if risks were...
Agribusiness confidence falls in Q1 of 2023
The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index has dropped five points to 44 in the first quarter of 2023, taking it to its lowest level since the second quarter of 2020 when...
Beware of deregistered stud breeders, says Namibian Meat Board
The Namibian Meat Board (NMB) recently issued a warning to livestock buyers in Namibia to beware of buying animals from stud breeders who have been deregistered and are no longer...
Commodity markets jittery as EU deforestation regulation looms
The new EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains, which comes into effect later this year, has been met with mixed reaction by stakeholders.
‘Unity in SA’s grain production sector vital for the future’
The time had come for all role players in the South African grain production sector to re-evaluate their relevance and to co-operate in good faith. This was according to Derek...
North West’s road maintenance plan welcomed
North West Premier Bushy Maape announced in his recent State of the Province address that a multibillion- rand routine road maintenance plan was to be rolled out in all four...
Big decisions ahead for new Land Bank CEO
Themba Rikhotso has been appointed as the new CEO of Land Bank, effective from 1 April. He takes over from Khensani Mukhari, who in May last year was appointed as...
Namibian mutton and lamb exports on the increase
Since its reopening in the second half of 2022, the Farmers’ Meat Market export abattoir in Mariental, Namibia, has processed payment of R10,9 m, excluding VAT, to 46 sheep producers...
‘Doomsday’ seed vault sees the addition of 19 500 new samples
Efforts to secure global food supplies are being ramped up due to growing concern about climate change. As a result, the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, located on Norway's Spitsbergen...
Drop in agri employment a cause for great concern – Agri SA
The decrease in employment in the agriculture sector in the fourth quarter of 2022 (Q4 2022) was cause for serious concern, according to Johan Wege, chair of Agri SA’s Centre...
‘Africa must invest more in agriculture’
Rising costs of food and energy, and their impact on food security and the climate, featured widely at this year’s World Economic Forum conference in Davos, Switzerland.
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