Opinion

South African plantings of genetically modified crops are surging ahead without any evidence of ill-effects on humans, animals, or the environment, said Dr Pieter Mulder, deputy minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, at a recent biotech crop press conference in Pretoria.

Heard of ‘flash trading’? No? Neither have I and the majority of grain producers in the country. Well, Boeta, this is mind-boggling technology that might very well affect you on your farm without you even knowing it.

Too many people in SA still do not get enough to eat. To attain ‘zero-hunger’, organisations such as Grain SA need to work with government to ensure enough affordable food for our nation, says Derek Hanekom, deputy minister of science and technology.

“He who sees the invisible will achieve the impossible,” said Helen Keller, and coming from that great man Brand Pretorius it’s not just another nice quotation one remembers for a while and then forgets about it.

Our commercial farmers must get credit for the good that they do in their local communities.

Bonani Nyhodo, researcher at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, says EU-Africa trade liberalisation will be of little benefit to the continent. Africa must build its infrastructure and trade internally.

My heart bleeds for Ian Player, that grand old man of nature conservation in South Africa. Oom Ian, I’m so sorry for what they’re doing to the rhinos you and your band of brave men worked so hard for.

Hats off to Jannie de Villiers and the Grain SA team for an exciting new approach to the organisation’s 2012 congress!

It’s crucial for farmers to know what’s expected of them once the proposed land legislation becomes law. Land occupiers will be given greater rights, but it’s not all bad news, says labour and land lawyer Rob McCarthy of McCarthy and Associates in KwaZulu-Natal.

Forget about the international economic meltdown, the inequalities of the past and or the beautiful pie in the sky dreams of the politicians --- the one thing that is holding South Africa back now is a lack of common sense.

Transnet’s proposed 18,06% increase in port dues will probably be implemented by the middle of the year. Mihalis Chasomeris, economics lecturer at the Graduate School of Business & Leadership, University of KZN, explains how South Africa’s port pricing is impeding trade.

Dinga Fatman, researcher at Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies, warns that Geographic Indication is not a quick fix to your bottom line.