Opinion

Dr Patrick Aust, conservation scientist for People for Wildlife, looks at how reptiles can help improve food security in Africa.

Dr Kedibone Modika and Tebogo Pitse, agricultural economists at the Agricultural Research Council, look at how the flavour, colour and tenderness of beef change during the freezing and thawing process.

Omololu Fagunwa, a research fellow at Queen’s University in Belfast, writes about the importance of fermented food in West African diets, and explains how to ensure that this food remains safe for eating.

Declines in women’s employment in agrifood systems are evident in most regions, and few women are involved in the more profitable activities across various value chains, according to a new report.

Precision fermentation will be unlikely to disrupt the livestock industry but may provide high-value products for niche markets, says Prof Paul Wood of Monash University Clayton Campus, in Victoria, Australia.

The illegal trade of wild succulents, particularly Conophytum species, has left some on the brink of extinction. Glenneis Kriel reports on the situation and what farmers can do to help.

In this segment, we speak to women in various industries of the agriculture sector about the challenges they face, and what they look forward to for the future of their businesses.

After my grandfather was retrenched in his mid-50s, he used his pension payout to buy a farm in the Karoo near Uniondale, where he farmed ostriches, goats and sheep. He didn’t know much about farming when he began, and this was exacerbated with the outbreak of bird flu in the late 1990s, which led to the ban on ostrich meat exports.

In the 28 July issue of Farmer’s Weekly we focus particularly on equipment and technology that can help improve the production of smaller farmers.

Justin Platt, founder and managing director of agricultural technical services companies Zylem and RegenZ, explains how South African agriculture stands to benefit by implementing traceability systems.

The ministerial task team responsible for identifying and recommending voluntary exit options and pathways from the captive lion industry has invited captive lion owners who are interested in complying into confidential discussions.

Automation and digitalisation present opportunities to enhance women’s agricultural productivity, according to Dr Elizabeth Mkandawire and Dr Selorm Dorvlo, researchers in South Africa and Ghana respectively.