During the conversation sessions at this year’s Nation in Conversation (NIC), participants, under the guidance of expert facilitators, will explore how agriculture can remain resilient, relevant, and competitive within the constraints of global and local challenges such as the collapse of rural infrastructure, geopolitical and market uncertainty, sustainability and societal demands, and policy reform.
According to Anlie Hattingh, content producer at Brand Republic and an NIC facilitator, the importance of these conversations should not be underestimated.
“Conversations foster connections among industry experts and policymakers, creating a sense of shared purpose. We aim to create opportunities for effective communication so that we can address misunderstandings and resolve conflicts.
“Open dialogue can raise awareness of important issues and challenges faced by the sector, and we hope that through these conversations we can inspire understanding and, most importantly, action towards positive change,” she told Farmer’s Weekly.
Session 1: Tuesday, 12 May, 10am
The first NIC session this year will focus on the important and emotionally loaded question: is farming still worthwhile?
Panel members are Hansie Viljoen, producer from Leeudoringstad in North West and the 2025 Grain SA/Syngenta Grain Producer of the Year; Jaco Minnaar, a producer from Hennenman in the Free State and former AgriSA president; Richard Krige, a farmer from Caledon in the Western Cape and chairperson of Grain SA; and Japie Grobler, a producer from Bothaville and former president of AgriSA.
The discussion will be facilitated by Theo Vorster, investment strategist and CEO of Galileo Capital, who has extensive experience in financial markets, portfolio management, and economic analysis. He has also authored several books on family businesses and works closely with many agricultural clients, advising on family business constitutions, intergenerational wealth planning, and investment strategy.
Session 2: Wednesday, 13 May, 10am
The day will kick off with a discussion on the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. This session will be facilitated by Landbouweekblad Editor-in-Chief Chris Burgess. The panel members are Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services; Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen; Johann Kotzé, CEO of AgriSA; Kobus Bester, a beef producer, Stud Breeder Federation representative, and FMD Industry Coordination Council member; and Dr Dirk Verwoerd, head feedlot veterinarian at Karan Beef, where one of the first major outbreaks was reported.
Session 3: Wednesday, 13 May, 1pm
During this session, the panel will dissect contentious issues surrounding water use and allocation against the backdrop of new legislation. The facilitator will be Dr John Purchase, former CEO of Agbiz and Grain SA, who remains active in the industry in a consultative capacity as an expert on policy formation.
Panel members are Gregory Smith, CEO of the South African Association for Water User Associations; Janse Rabie, legal and policy executive and head of natural resources at AgriSA; Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz; and Prof Mike Müller, visiting adjunct professor at the University of the Witwatersrand Graduate School of Governance, a registered professional civil engineer, and a development specialist with expertise in water governance, public policy, and infrastructure delivery.
At 3pm, there will be a special focus on the biofuel industry. The development of a biofuel industry could be a game-changer for South Africa.
A panel comprising Steenhuisen; Prof Ferdi Meyer, managing director (MD) of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy and an extraordinary professor in agricultural economics at Stellenbosch University (SU); Derek Mathews, MD of Silverton Farming Enterprises, a fourth-generation family farming operation near Lichtenburg in North West and an early adopter of on-farm ethanol production; and Peter Starling, executive chairperson of AlcoNCP, South Africa’s primary fermentation ethanol manufacturer, will discuss the challenges and opportunities of biofuels as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Vorster will facilitate the session.
Session 4: Thursday, 14 May, 10am
This session, facilitated by Hattingh, will focus on how the agricultural narrative can be turned into action.
Panel members are Dr Mpumelelo Mkhabela, a political analyst; Helena Wasserman, editor of News24 Business; Prof Johann Kirsten, professor of agricultural economics and director of the Bureau for Economic Research at SU; Nick Serfontein, chairperson of Sernick Group, one of South Africa’s leading integrated beef enterprises, and the 2019 Agricultural Writers SA Farmer of the Year; Wandile Sihlobo, South Africa’s presidential envoy on agriculture and land, chief economist at Agbiz, and the 2018 Agricultural Writers SA Agriculturist of the Year.
Session 5: Friday, 15 May, 10am
The final session will focus on the impact of trade wars and tariffs and the opportunities within this environment.
The panel will examine the challenges and opportunities in the global market. Panel members are Sihlobo; Meyer; Donald MacKay, director of XA Global Trade Advisors; and Ovizikhungo Sicwetsha, head of transactional banking in Nedbank’s Mid Corp: Business and Commercial Banking division.
The session will be facilitated by Professor Nick Binedell, professor of strategy, strategic leadership, and geopolitics at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science and founding dean of the school.
For more information email [email protected].
