Farming for Tomorrow

Keep up to date with the latest farming technology and precision farming updates from South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Raw materials include biscuits, ice-cream cones and chocolate

Dutch company’s success in turning food waste into feed

A Dutch company that produces animal feed from food waste says this is the only way in which agriculture can remain sustainable. Gerhard Uys spoke to Karel van der Velden...
Sappi goes green with bio-based products

Sappi goes green with bio-based products

According to Sappi CEO Steve Binnie, the group’s latest financial results show that it is ready to capitalise on market moves away from plastic to natural fibre and paper-based packaging....
Desalination plant

Learning from Israel’s water woes

During a recent tour to farms and the AgriTech Israel exhibition in Israel, it was revealed that despite the large volumes of water used during irrigation, South Africa could learn...
Avocados

Prepare to sell much more fruit and veg online

The marketplace for fresh fruit and vegetables is becoming increasingly globalised and interconnected. This affects the way that fresh produce is transported from its origin to its destination. The Fruit...
Maize crop

Use nitrogen efficiently to save cash and the environment

Nitrogen may be an essential element in crop production, but its inefficient use wastes farmers’ money as well as contributing to potentially deadly pollution of the environment. Dr Alan Manson,...
Jain Logic

A masterclass in irrigation efficiency by Israel

The improvements that Israeli companies have made to drip irrigation have seen them emerge as world leaders in irrigation efficiency. Inventors from all parts of the world take inspiration from...
Berg River Catchment

Rethinking sustainable development

Growing awareness of the interconnectedness between water, energy and food security is resulting in a more holistic way of measuring sustainability, says Dr Nadine Methner from the African Climate and...
Drone technology: a step towards zero defect orchard management

Drone technology maximises macadamia production

Drone technology, combined with satellite images and soil samples, provides macadamia farmers with more precise orchard health data than ever before. Gerhard Uys spoke to Martin Taljaard and Jaco Prinsloo...
Groundwater conservation: a long-term investment

Groundwater conservation: a long-term investment

Groundwater resource conservation should be the most important aspect of any irrigation farming concern in South Africa, say geohydrology consultant JL van Vuuren and drilling contractor Marnus Nel. A lack...
Factors that influence the adoption of smart agriculture in SA

Factors that influence the adoption of smart agriculture in SA

Smart technology is a hot topic these days – and notably so in agriculture, where there are many uses, from drones and remote water monitoring, to soil analysis, animal tracking,...
Dr Michael Cramer

Termites and grazers: a complex, subtle relationship

After a number of farmers near Middelburg in the Eastern Cape expressed concern about increasing termite activity, James Hagan, an MSc student in ecology, conducted a study on the effects...
Do you know how healthy your ‘soil skin’ is?

Do you know how healthy your ‘soil skin’ is?

The crucial link between soil health and optimal, sustainable crop yield is well established. Dr Neil Miles, a soil scientist with the South African Sugarcane Research Institute, explores this subject,...
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