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Ntombi Msimang is the chairperson of the Agri-Sector Unity Forum (ASUF), which was established in November last year amid calls for greater unity in agriculture. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to her.

Investment in companies that provide sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions to agricultural production is gaining momentum as concern grows over farming’s impact on the earth’s resources. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to Rudi van Niekerk, investment advisor at private equity investment fund Agri-Vie, about investing in bio-crop production company Hygrotech.

With renewable energy increasingly being promoted internationally as better for the environment, Eskom is in the process of incorporating renewably-produced electricity into the national grid. Eskom’s CEO, Brian Dames, explained this process to Lloyd Phillips.

After nearly six years at the National Agriculture Marketing Council (NAMC), Prof André Jooste recently took over as CEO of Potatoes South Africa (PSA). He spoke to Robyn Joubert about his vision for the future.

In the political dust cloud kicked up in the wake of the farm strikes in the Western Cape, it has been difficult to see exactly why the strikes took place in the first place. Now that the various parties are locked in negotiations, it is even more difficult to see what the outcomes of the negotiations are likely to be, and beyond this, what consequences the country should brace for. Professor Mohammad Karaan of Stellenbosch University has observed these historic events from a ringside seat (when he hasn’t been participating directly). Sean Christie caught up with him.

Brienne van der Walt was recently appointed managing executive of Absa AgriBusiness as part of the bank’s restructuring. He spoke to Lindi van Rooyen about Absa AgriBusiness’s renewed focus on the farmer and branching into Africa.

Agriculture remains the main source of employment and income in rural areas, where the majority of the world’s poor and hungry people live. Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, explains how, through its Purchase for Progress initiative, the organisation supports smallholder farmers, whose pooled resources provide them more buying and negotiating power.

The Glenconner & District Predator Management Forum said in an article published in Farmer’s Weekly last week that jackal and caracal populations are increasing and that drastic steps must be taken for small-stock producers to survive. Dr Dan Parker of the Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group at Rhodes University responds. Nan Smith reports.

Arthur Rudman, chairperson of the Glenconner and District Predator Management Forum, describes how predator control is being tackled as a community project in the Uitenhage bushveld. Roelof Bezuidenhout interviewed him.

Grain SA’s Farmer Development Programme chairperson, Victor Mongoato, says land is only valuable if it is used properly. He told Annelie Coleman that the programme’s main aim therefore is to train and support farmers who are not producing grain optimally on their land.

SABMiller has expanded its African beer brand, Chibuku, into 10 countries across Africa. Hloni Matsela, director of Corporate Affairs at SABMiller Africa, gives an overview of its plans. Robyn Joubert reports.

Integrated poultry producer Astral is stepping up its presence in Mozambique. Robyn Joubert spoke to Astral CEO Chris Schutte about its African strategy.

It may not be widely known outside South Africa’s commercial forestry industry, but problem animals are responsible for causing extensive damage and financial losses in timber plantations. Professor Justin O’Riain and his team are researching ways around this problem. He spoke to Lloyd Phillips.

In early 2010, the South African police began work on a new rural safety strategy. The architects of that plan reached out to organised agriculture. A positive, committed response from Agri SA and its provincial organisations has resulted in a renewal of healthy relations between farming communities and the police. Sean Christie spoke to Kobus Visser, of Agri SA’s Rural Safety Committee and André Botha, chairperson of the committee, about the strategy.

Sweden’s agricultural sector is largely based on environmental principles and organic farming. This has posed many challenges for Swedish farmers, who are losing market share to cheaper imports. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to Helena Jonsson, president of the Federation of Swedish Farmers, about overcoming these challenges.

In its recently released annual financial report, Land Bank announced that its finances were in good shape. Chief financial officer Lebogang Serithi shared the institution’s recipe for success with Peter Mashala.

Political analyst Max du Preez says SA commercial farmers can no longer afford a laager mentality: by familiarising themselves with the political dynamics and the inner workings of the ANC, they’ll be able to tell the loudmouths from the power players, and spotlight themselves as food producers and fighters against poverty. Annelie Coleman reports.

It’s been less than three years since Woolworths launched its Farming for the Future programme and it has already become one of the major focuses of its sustainability drive. Justin Smith, Woolworths’ head of sustainability, speaks to Robyn Joubert about the programme.

AfriForum has been among the most prominent of South Africa’s civil society organisations in recent years. Much of their advocacy is around politically sensitive issues such as land reform and farm violence. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel spoke to Sean Christie

Farm murders: State-endorsed conspiracy, or just like any other violent crime in SA? On 9 July on the Redi Thlabi Show on Talk Radio 702, the various positions on farm violence were well articulated by guest speaker Ruth Hall, associate professor at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), and Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel.