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Stuart Symington, formerly of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum, was recently appointed the new CEO of the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB). He spoke to Denene Erasmus about its plans to add value to the industry and about changes in South Africa’s fresh fruit export market.

Part-time sheep farmer, and managing director of the International School of Tanning Technology in Grahamstown, Dr Clive Jackson-Moss, talks about the hides and skins industry.

KwaZulu-Natal stands to benefit from a number of massive infrastructure projects. Dr Zweli Mkhize, the premier of the province, gave a round-up of developments in his State of the Province address on 21 February 2012.

SA farmers naturally have to operate within the confines of labour law. Yet our legislation is onerous and erodes our international competitiveness, says Pieter Breytenbach, general manager of LWO, an employers’ organisation that offers labour advice to farmers. Peter Mashala spoke to him.

Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers highlighted the organisation’s goals and objectives for 2012 at regional meetings that precede the annual congress on 7 and 8 March in Bothaville. Annelie Coleman attended the Bothaville regional meeting at which it was announced that Grain SA’s management structures will be revisited.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers in more than 200 countries with over 1,7 billion servings daily. Denise Knight, the company’s director of sustainable agriculture, recently visited South Africa. She spoke to Robyn Joubert about Coca-Cola’s initiatives to promote sustainable sugar cane production.

Instead of integrating with African cultures, the first European settlers adopted a strategy of social escape and more recently used conservation to justify their sense of belonging, which fuelled land invasions in Zimbabwe. This is according to American anthropologist David Mcdermott Hughes, who spoke to Sean Christie about the provocative statements he made in his latest book, Whiteness in Zimbabwe – Race, Landscape, and the Problem of Belonging.

Land Bank CEO Phakamani Hadebe has been responsible for the positive turnaround of the bank and making the institution financially credible once again. He speaks candidly to Lindi van Rooyen about the past shortcomings of Land Bank and the bright future ahead.

Ongoing land reform claims is one of the top concerns of local commercial farmers. The land reform department has already legally dealt with many land reform claims and promises that it will be over soon. Mtobeli Mxotwa, spokesperson for Rural Development and Land Reform minister Gugile Nkwinti, spoke to Lindi van Rooyen.

Dr Gert Dry, vice president of Wildlife Ranching SA (WRSA), spoke to Roelof Bezuidenhout about the Seventh International Wildlife Symposium recently held in Kimberley and how the industry has modernised since the first symposium 23 years ago.

After nine months on the job, Jannie de Villiers has settled comfortably into the seat of CEO at Grain SA.

The sugar industry is ready to generate renewable electricity for the national grid from sugar cane bagasse, a by-product of the sugar milling process. The SA Sugar Association's executive director, Trix Trikam, explains the potential and the pitfalls to Lloyd Phillips