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RELEVANT
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT
needed for sustainable food security
´F
ood security relies on three key
aspects, namely food availability,
food access and food use.´
This is according to Mr Jerry Maritz
(chairman of Agbiz Grain) who opened the
second annual Agbiz Grain mini symposium
in August this year. ´Food security exists
when all people, at all times, have physical,
social and economic access to sufficient,
safe and nutritious food which meets their
dietary needs and food preferences for an
active and healthy life,´ he said.
He believes that a sustainable food system
is made up of the following key elements:
Environmental health and economic vita-
lity as well as social equity and human
health. ´Agbiz Grain and its members are at
the centre of these elements since we are
influenced by production and food con-
sumption as well as the processing, dis-
tribution and marketing side of the system.´
Crop quality
The Southern African Grain Laboratory
(SAGL) team addressed issues regarding
crop quality. Ms Wiana Louw emphasised
the importance of ring tests as a valuable
tool to maintain quality standards in the
grain industry. ´All phases in the grain value
chain are based on reliable measurements.
Ring tests or inter-laboratory comparisons
are used to monitor equipment, personnel
and methods.´
The benefits of ring tests for the grain in-
dustry include: Regular independent checks
on the quality of analytical measurements
and grading; performance is compared with
an independent laboratory; competence is
demonstrated to customers, thus facilitat-
ing dispute resolutions; trends are monitor-
ed over time; methods and instrumentation
are evaluated; staff training and customer
education takes place, and participants can
meet customer requirements and optimise
quality control systems.
Ms Jolanda Nortjé explained the value of
crop quality reports and the importance of
providing correct, representative samples
to the SAGL. ´A detailed database contain-
ing information collected over a number
of seasons and regions is essential to pro-
vide scientific and statistically valid data on
which reliable, informed decisions can be
based. The results obtained from crop qual-
ity surveys enable comparisons to be made
between production areas, regions and sea-
sons, and give insight as to what is being
experienced in practice.´
Dr Corinda Erasmus shared some interest-
ing information on data mining of crop
quality survey results over the past eleven
years. ´The goal of this project is to evalu-
ate crop quality data in order to identify
unique South African trends and to
provide maize industry stakeholders with
a decision-making tool that assists in the
identification of potential problems in maize
quality and guides the focus of future
research activities.´
Issues impacting the wheat industry were
discussed by Mr Pieter Esterhuysen (grain
industry consultant). A decrease in espe-
cially the Free State’s wheat production
hectares indicates a business model that
is questionable. ´Dryland Free State com-
prised about 50% of South Africa’s total
hectares of wheat planted during the 80’s,
but now it is down to only about 14%,´
Esterhuysen stated.
Climate change, South Africa’s relative in-
ternational competitiveness and relative
profitability of alternative crops are some of
the factors that influence wheat production
in South Africa. ´The wheat forum recog-
nised the serious condition of the domestic
wheat market and decided to take action
to save the industry. A proposed action plan
is in place,´ Esterhuysen said and elaborat-
ed on this plan.
Road versus rail
Ms Nadia Viljoen (GAIN Group) discussed
models and ongoing research initiatives
that can provide intelligence regarding
grain freight flows, logistics costs and road
transport trends. ´These models could ad-
vise Agbiz Grain and its members in matters
relating to lobbying and cross-cutting in-
dustry initiatives, but we first need Agbiz
Grain and its members to buy in,´ she said.
Mr Peter Lyne (principal engineer: South
African Sugar Association) demonstrated
the successes resulting from implement-
ing the Road Traffic Management System
(RTMS) in the sugarcane industry. Some of
the success stories include: Safer vehicles,
significant cost savings, improved safety,
improved loading practices, reduced road
damage, reduced insurance costs and re-
duced finance charges.
Mr Nick Porée (from Nick Porée and
Associates) gave a review of the national
freight logistics strategy.
Enterprise development
Mr Ishmael Tshiame (manager of the Grain
Farmer Development Association [GFADA]),
informed guests on the work that GFADA
does and on enhancing collaboration with
Agbiz Grain members in the commer-
cialisation of new era farmers. ´GFADA
envisages facilitating the establishment of
200 black commercial producers by 2020,
of which GFADA will fully assist at
least 50 through its comprehensive sup-
port programme.´
Strategic alliances with stakeholders such
as the government, financial institutions,
agribusinesses and producer associations
are important. ´We will need support from
agribusinesses in terms of production in-
puts, production loans with discount for
new era farmers, complimentary services
(e.g. agronomists and economists), market
access and access to new technologies.
From the producers associations’ side we
will need support in terms of mentorship
(skills) and training,´ he said.
RUTH SCHULTZ,
SA Graan/Grain
contributor
Jolanda Nortjé, Wiana Louw and Dr Corinda
Erasmus along with Jerry Maritz and Pieter
Esterhuysen. Maritz was elected as the new
chairman of Agbiz Grain at their annual
general meeting that took place after the
symposium.
Desember 2015
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