By Invitation

By implementing regenerative practices, South African maize farmers have the power to help prevent a food security crisis, say researchers Mary Maluleke and Prof James Blignaut.

Innovation and premium brands characterise the tea market, which is attracting a growing number of young buyers, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The buck stops with government, whose policymakers should stop scapegoating and allow South Africa’s economy to flourish in a free market, writes Temba Nolutshungu of the Free Market Foundation.

Ideal climatic conditions and access to irrigation have helped to propel South Africa’s raisin industry to ever-greater heights. But deficient logistics infrastructure and a lack of processing capacity are hampering further expansion, says Pieter Botha, Nedbank Business Banking’s area client manager for the Northern Cape.

In a recent report, the Namibia Agricultural Union outlined the state of that country’s agriculture sector, and how it has been affected by COVID-19 and other factors.

Groundwater is an essential tool in agricultural production. However, it remains an untapped resource in Africa, as this recently published report shows.

Energy-related challenges pose a significant obstacle to the agriculture sector’s continued growth in South Africa, says Abraham Cambridge, founder and CEO of The Sun Exchange, which specialises in solar-energy projects.

According to a UN report, there is evidence that captive breeding is being used in some instances as a guise for the illegal trafficking of wildlife and their body parts.

A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme says wildfires will become an increasing reality for the world due to climate change and other factors. Thus, fire management and risk reduction are essential.

A new report states that the lack of coordinated action on climate change poses profound dangers to society. Amongst these is an increase in already stark inequalities.

While the use of plastics has helped farmers to produce more with less, the material presents an enormous environmental issue. This report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations looks at alternatives that can be introduced by farmers and governments to reduce reliance on plastics in agricultural production and thereby cut down on pollution.

In South Africa, about 30% of local agricultural production is wasted every year, which is equivalent to an estimated R60 billion, or around 2% of GDP. In a country where 30% of households are at risk of hunger, 31% experience hunger and 13 million children live in poverty, this waste is unsustainable and needs to change, says James Brand, a senior associate in ENSafrica’s Natural Resources and Environment department.