News

SA Wine Industry Information and Systems (SAWIS) recently revised the wine grape harvest estimate downward for the fourth time, making it the smallest harvest in 19 years.

The 2022/23 orange crop in the US is forecast to be the smallest since 1937, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation recently handed a petition over to Thoko Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, demanding a ban on pit bulls as domestic pets in South Africa.

In the run-up to the 2022/23 summer grain harvesting season, agribusiness NWK recently commenced grading some 1 400km of gravel roads leading to its silos in North West.

The court judgment states that the temporary or permanent transfer of water-use entitlements is supported by the Water Act, contrary to the view held by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Gledhow sugar mill has become the second mill to be placed under business rescue, thereby increasing concerns over the future viability of the sugar cane production industry in South Africa.

African horse sickness (AHS) cases are increasing in Gauteng while vaccines have been unavailable since last year, according to reports. Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), which is responsible for manufacturing the vaccines, has allegedly been without stock for several months.

Industry stakeholders have expressed concern over the lack of tenure security provided for in a new bill on communal land.

South Africa is set to deliver another bumper crop of macadamia nuts this year, surpassing last year’s total yield of 68 840t dry-nut-in-shell at 1,5% moisture, to reach nearly 78 000t.

The Western Cape recently became the first province to formally launch a Cannabis Framework and Implementation Plan (CanPlan) for the agriculture sector.

Small-scale crop farmers in the Zambezi region of Namibia recently called on the Namibian government to compensate them for the actual value of crops destroyed by wildlife such as elephants and hippos.

Farmer groups in Italy have welcomed a government-backed bill tabled in that country’s parliament that could ultimately result in the banning of laboratory-produced meat and other synthetic food.

The latest grain crop estimate released by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) shows an increase in yields for most grain crops in South Africa, alleviating fears that erratic weather would have curtailed the harvest. This means South Africa will have sufficient staple food supplies in the 2023/24 marketing year.

A major part of Namibia is experiencing an acute drought, with the situation particularly serious south of the capital, Windhoek, with little or no rain received during the 2022/23 rainy season. According to Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of Namibia’s Livestock Producers’ Organisation, some parts south of Keetmanshoop had not received any rain.

The Competition Commission (CompCom) recently launched the Fresh Produce Market Inquiry to identify features that could impede, distort or restrict competition along the fresh produce value chain.

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 African Snakebite Institute.

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) emissions by 2050.

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.

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 Report 2023, released on Tuesday ahead of the United Nations Water Conference, which started in New York today.

Retail prices for ginger have sunk as low as R30/kg as ample rains have diminished quality and larger volumes flow into the market.