Opinion

The new year has started in much the same way as 2015 ended – on a spectacular low, with the rand weakening to historic levels against major currencies, little relief from what is fast turning into a catastrophic drought, and the downgrade of South Africa’s credit rating to just one level above junk status.

As industrialising countries struggle to feed themselves, the world will look increasingly to Africa to be the solution. But according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the first step is for African food security efforts to become more urgent so that the continent can thrive.

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Farmers today produce a staggering 50% more food than is needed to feed everyone on earth. Why then are millions of people still hungry? The reason, suggests the National Agricultural Marketing Council, lies mainly in the widespread wastage of food.

For a few days at the end of 2015, South Africa’s working class could allow itself to be blinded by fireworks and twinkling Christmas decorations.

Given enough opportunity, women entrepreneurs can increase economic growth in Africa, according to Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Agency. She was speaking at the recent second conference for Women in Agribusiness in Durban.

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Climate change alarmism is profoundly influencing policymakers. Yet some experts question the received wisdom on the issue, and worry that current policies can cause harm. Environmental specialist, Dr John Ledger, addressed the issue at the De Beers Diamond Route Conference.

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At the end of every year, most of us are naturally drawn to reflection. This habit is encouraged by news-carrying media, which often focus on the stories that made headlines during the year.

Gerhard Damm, the editor of African Indaba, Conservation Force’s African newsletter, reviews some of the points raised in a recent online debate concerning hunting as a conservation tool.

South Africa was treated to a taste of Chinese propaganda with President Xi Jinping’s visit earlier this month.

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos once said one of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent a way out, and when I think of tight boxes in this context, I can’t help but think of the drought we’re experiencing at the moment.

The global population hit the seven billion mark in October 2011, and with it came greater public awareness of food security.

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To make it in the market these days, you have to know exactly who your customer is and satisfy her specific demands. A ‘shotgun’ approach to marketing will get you nowhere. This was the message of Dr Johan van Deventer, managing director of Freshmark, speaking at the Undercover Farming Conference held at Simondium in the Western Cape recently.

I doubt whether there were many farmers – many South Africans in fact – who enjoyed seeing President Jacob Zuma chortle his way through his last parliamentary question-and-answer session for the year.

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Namibia’s commercial farmers have endured hardship over the past year, with their resilience tested by a harsh extended drought and ongoing foot-and-mouth disease. Derek Wright, exiting president of the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU), paid them tribute at the official opening of the 2015 NAU congress in Windhoek.

The Big Bang left the universe in a constant state of change, and the climate here on planet Earth is no exception.