Table of contents for Vol 21 - No 4 2024 in AgriProbe

During September 2024, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) hosted the 8th U6+ International Conference at the District Six campus. The U6+ is a consortium of universities across the African continent that consists of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (South Africa), Kwara State University (Nigeria), University of Gambia, University of Cape Coast (Ghana), Jaramogi Oginga University of Science & Technology (Kenya), as well as University of Ilorin and University of Abuja, both from Nigeria. The theme of the 8th conference was “Innovation for sustainable development and transformation in Africa”. Papers were submitted under the following sub-themes: • Food security, health and wellness• Climate change and sustainable environment• Designing for sustainable communities• Business, leadership and governance• New frontiers in science, engineering and technology• Education, quality and culture• ICT, media…

The South African Wine Industry Professional Body (SAWIPB) hosted a Knowledge Donation Day for final-year students of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, Stellenbosch University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The programme, which was proudly sponsored by South African Wine, FELCO Tools South Africa and Kaap Agri, included the annual intervarsity pruning competition, an information session on SAWIPB and two guest speakers that shared their work experience in the viticulture and wine recruitment industry. The pruning competition was the highlight and was very competitive. It was a proud moment when the winners were announced. Elsenburg students, Carlo de Vries and De Villiers Coetzee took second and third positions respectively, while Stellenbosch University student Talitha Liebenberg scooped the first position. On this memorable day new friendships were formed and knowledge was…

So, what is Champagne and why is it so popular? Champagne comes from the area with the similar name in the northern part of France and can be regarded as the most famous wine style. Champagne became a popular novelty with French royalty and this resulted in Champagne houses being established to meet the demand for fine sparkling wine. Ruinart was first to open its cellar doors in 1729, followed by Taittinger (formerly Forrest Fourneaux) in 1734. And then Moët opened in 1743. Figure 1: Sweetness levels in Champagne. (Source:tinyurl.com/49jd374y) The Champagne area has 35 000ha under vine. Only three wine cultivars can be used to produce Champagne, namely Chardonnay (white grape), Pinot Noir (red grape) and Pinot Meunier (red grape). Chardonnay gives finesse, freshness and floral notes to the…

The 9th WCCA was a tremendous success, attracting 490 delegates from 41 countries across six continents. Held at the CTICC in Cape Town, it was hosted by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Landbouweekblad, Conservation Agriculture Western Cape and the African Tillage Network, with solid support from local and international sponsors. The congress featured numerous keynotes, panel discussions, 93 oral presentations and 43 posters. Special sessions covered sustainable mechanisation for smallholders, scaling Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Africa, gender equity, youth and social inclusion in CA, and the intersection of CA and Agroecology. Landbouweekblad hosted sessions on legumes in the Western Cape, technology in conservation farming, food safety, human nutrition, climate change and insights from pioneer CA farmers. The Directorate Plant Sciences of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture contributed 12…

Between October 2024 and March 2025, Southern Africa is expected to experience La Niña conditions. This climate event is forecast to bring above-average rainfall, providing much-needed relief. In the Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape Province, rainfall is expected to be normal to above normal from February, extending the 2025 rainy season while shortening the dry-hot period. This increase in rainfall will boost the growth of staple crops like grains and beans, as well as pastures such as perennial ryegrass, which are essential for ruminant livestock in the province. Figure 1. Rainfall forecast for January-February-March 2025. Source: Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum-29 Figure 2. From left: Mycotoxins deoxynivalenol under microscope, in pasture and grains with moulds. Understanding mycotoxins Mycotoxins are toxic by-products produced by fungi like Aspergillus, Fusarium and…

On Friday, 27 September 2024, we joined the world in celebrating International Tourism Day, a significant occasion to underscore the substantial economic role of tourism. In the Western Cape, tourism injects a robust R28 billion into the economy and sustains over 250 000 jobs. This thriving sector is a key player in our provincial economy and we are committed to fostering its growth. However, this growth is contingent on the understanding and support of our communities. As the provincial minister also responsible for tourism in the Western Cape, I have set the following priorities for the next five years: • First, the improvement of infrastructure and tourism product development, especially in areas such as agritourism.• Second, creating a supportive business climate. Here, one thinks about the role of visas and…

At the end of August 2024, the Department attended the George Agricultural Show at the George Show Grounds. Despite the severe cold weather, the show attracted more than 10 400 visitors over the three days. On the Saturday the weather thankfully provided a sunny day, which led to over 6 000 visitors to the show. The departmental exhibition was housed in the main exhibition tent and exhibited the services rendered by all programmes. In addition to the exhibition, the APSD programme hosted a calf rearing and disease control information session, while a schools’ programme was also rolled out. A total of 330 Grade 9-11 learners from two secondary schools in George visited the Departmental exhibition. Learners were also given a guided tour on the show grounds to look at a…

IGenadendal Livestock Farmers’ Day In May this year, the community gathered at the Hester Dorothea Conference Hall for the Genadendal Livestock Farmers’ Day. This event, organised by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), brought together farmers, agricultural experts and stakeholders to discuss and promote sustainable livestock farming practices. The programme kicked off with a warm welcome and introductions by Recardo Carelsen of the WCDoA, who outlined the event’s purpose and provided an overview of the day’s agenda. George Juries from the Genadendal Transformation Committee and the Genadendal Smallholder Farmers’ Association then discussed local communication channels and developmental initiatives. His presentation emphasised the importance of coordinated agricultural projects in driving community growth and sustainability. Dr Klaas Jan Leeuw from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) delivered an informative session on livestock…

The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) presented the Agricultural Outlook 2024-2033 at Stellenbosch in August. The BFAP Baseline launch has become an important annual event on the Western Cape agriculture calendar bringing together various stakeholders representing government, industry and academia. Under the theme “South Africa: Current realities and future expectations” related topics were discussed on the performance of agriculture in the country. Data-driven and evidence-based insights are critical to inform planning and policy development. The outlook for the next 10 years painted a positive growth picture for horticulture and animal agriculture but less positive for the field crops sub-sector. The agricultural sector as a whole is expected to remain relatively stable, with other factors, such as climate change, remaining less disruptive. "Data-driven and evidence-based insights are critical to…

In the eyes of many, the Elsenburg vineyard research farm is just an idle piece of land abutting to the Muldersvlei road, off the R44 road between Stellenbosch and Klapmuts in the Western Cape. Legend has it that the EATI is the oldest agricultural training facility in South Africa (some say in Sub-Saharan Africa) and dates back to 1898 when the first group of students enrolled. Given the nature of farming in the Western Cape, viticulture and oenology have traditionally been a key part of the curriculum, and approximately 80% of South Africa’s winemakers are trained at Elsenburg. In addition to the cellar, 28.6ha of Elsenburg farmland was planted to vineyards. As this farm is part of the “Golden Triangle”, which forms the heart of the Stellenbosch Wine region, it…

1 Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Economic Services 1. Introduction The South African production of macadamia increased by 13%, from 68 840 tons in 2022 to 77 532 in 2023, responding to global demand and trends towards healthy diets (SAMAC, 2024). Macadamia trees are cultivated for their edible kernel and are used in snacks, baked goods and confectionery, cosmetics, beverages, and oils industries. The biggest threats to the production of macadamia include extreme weather conditions such as droughts and heavy frost due to a changing climate. It is clear that climatic variations frequently negatively impact crop growth leading to production losses and price volatility in the international market. Agriculture and changes in climate are inextricably linked and have an impact on each other (Nugroho, et al., 2023). The agricultural…

Christmas just isn’t the same without rum balls, but they’re great to keep on hand year-round for gifting or impressing dinner guests. The blend of chocolate and macadamias creates a melt-in-your-mouth sensation, and a splash or two of rum makes it the ultimate grown-up treat. SERVINGS 15 rum balls INGREDIENTS 200g good quality shortbread biscuits½ cup macadamia halves⅓ cup cocoa powder½ cup condensed milk2 tbsp dark rum Ideas to decorate ½ cup macadamia pieces½ cup cocoa powder½ cup chocolate sprinkles½ cup melted chocolate INSTRUCTIONS Place the shortbread biscuits, macadamias and cocoa powder into the bowl of a food processor and process until almost smooth. Place in a large bowl and stir in the condensed milk and dark rum. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes, until firm enough to roll into…

The Western Cape – Bourgogne Franche-Comté Alumni Network was officially launched in August this year with a memorable event at Elsenburg’s Percheron Hall. Under the patronage of the French Embassy and the Department, cellar workers, cheese makers and protégé student alumni gathered to celebrate their shared experiences from the Burgundy Exchange programme and explore new opportunities for collaboration. Brenton Maarman, Programme Director, welcomed guests and set the tone for the evening. This was followed by a message of support from Marius Paulse, Chevalier and former head of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, who emphasised the importance of international partnerships and the invaluable experiences gained from the programme, especially in today’s interconnected and ever-changing world. Darryl Jacobs, Chevalier and Deputy Director General of Agricultural Development and Support Services, addressed the audience…

The 5th annual NAMPO Cape Expo in Bredasdorp, held in September this year, was an agricultural spectacle like no other, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) stood out as a beacon of innovation and sustainability. At stands 185-191 in the BKB Hall, the WCDoA’s exhibition highlighted this year’s theme, “Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture”. Visitors were immersed in solutions addressing climate challenges, such as the SmartAgri Plan and Conservation Agriculture practices. The interactive CapeFarm Mapper tool offered insights into sustainable land use, while the One Home, One Garden initiative inspired food security at a household level. The LandCare projects, focusing on alien clearing, river restoration and indigenous tree planting, emphasised the Department’s commitment to sustainable resource management. Livestock farmers gained information on biosecurity and the WCDoA’s efforts in…

1 The first event was the SSK Winter Cereal Day at Riversdale. This is probably the best-attended farmers’ day in the cereal industry. With 360 attendees, this year was no exception. The day is a partnership between the Department, SSK co-op and Janpha Farms. Plant Sciences is responsible for planning the trial site and executing 99% of the trials on view. SSK takes responsibility for advertising the event and organising the sponsorships. Jan-Hendrik Joubert of Janpha Farms is the gracious host on whose farm the trials are conducted. 2 The SKOG Farmers’ Day followed a week after the Riversdale event. The Department, together with Overberg Agri, KAL Group and the Protein Research Foundation, are the principals of this group and hosted the event. It showcases research in wheat, canola, legumes and…

In the heart of Western Cape’s agricultural sector, farmers serve as the backbone, often without receiving the recognition they deserve. Among these unsung heroes are the dairy farmers who have stepped up to support esteemed institutions like the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute (EATI) in its mission to cultivate the next generation of agricultural professionals. The EATI, widely respected for its excellence in agricultural education, stands as one of the few institutions in the country offering a specialised course in Bovine Artificial Insemination (AI). This intensive two-month programme immerses students in both the theoretical and practical aspects of AI, equipping them with the knowledge and technical skills required to master this intricate procedure. Under the expert guidance of Dr Annelie Cloete, students engage in a comprehensive study of bovine reproductive anatomy,…

In June 2024, the Western Cape Veterinary Services Sub-programme: Veterinary Public Health (VPH), implemented its meat microbiological surveillance programme. Good hygiene practices are the cornerstone of food safety. Meat and meat products can transmit serious microbiological hazards that cause foodborne illnesses, and elimination of these hazards during the animal slaughter process is challenging. Therefore, it is important that strict hygiene practices are maintained throughout slaughter. Microbiological testing is conducted on meat to indicate the safety of these products for human consumption, and to verify that the food safety assurances made by the establishments producing our meat are met. When conducting microbiological tests, there are numerous organisms we look at to indicate the safety of meat and meat products. 1 The first group are called indicator organisms and as the name…

1 Macro and Resource Economics, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Elsenburg. The South African potato industry has identified foreign market development as a crucial growth strategy for 2020 to 2025. In 2021, the industry generated approximately R8 billion at primary production level, supporting around 50 000 to 60 000 jobs. The agriculture and agro-processing master plan projects the potential creation of 15 715 jobs by 2030. Over the past two decades, South Africa has expanded its potato cultivation areas by 24.8%, reaching 66.8 thousand hectares in 2022. However, the Western Cape (WC) potato exports continue to face challenges and opportunities. Productivity, prices and consumer trends From 2000 to 2022, potato productivity increased by 30% worldwide, 42% in Africa, and 19% in South Africa (SA). The global potato production value has…