A t the Hortgro Symposium held in Somerset West earlier this year, Johan Kotze, production head at Dutoit Agri's Eastern Cape business division, quoted a PwC report, according to which climate change was identified as a major world threat, especially to agriculture.
"PWC expects food production to decline by 16% globally and 28% in Africa over the next 50 years due to unpredictable weather. This, in turn, is expected to drive up the demand for energy by 50% and water by 40%, while adding pressure on green economies and food security," Kotze said.
CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE The crisis is sparking a greater awareness of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Kotze said the idea behind climatesmart agriculture was to enhance the climate resilience of farming systems, increase production and produce food with a higher nutritional value, all while using less synthetic fertilisers and pesticides and without adding strain on natural resources.
For him, climate-smart agriculture starts with good preparation for changing climatic conditions, especially when planning future orchards: "You need to start early, with a detailed and comprehensive plan, and make sure you think of everything." Kotze identified water availability and quality, the micro and macro climate, soil quality and health, and genetics as the key considerations when developing climate-smart orchards.
WATER REQUIREMENTS
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
