SA Grain November 2017

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No place for weakest links
The grain and oilseed industry is
continuously identifying, analysing,
evaluating and addressing issues
that can put the industry at risk.
Agbiz Grain invited various speakers to its
annual mini symposium in August this year
to address industry role-players on risk-
related topics.
In their presentations Mr Andries Theron
(specialist representative: Winter cereals,
Grain SA) and Dr Marinda Visser (manag-
er: Research and Policy Centre, Grain SA)
focused on two risks that are very relevant
to the industry at present.
Sustainability of wheat
industry
Theron discussed the perceptions regard-
ing the statutory wheat levy and the new
breeding and technology levy on wheat.
He explained that the newly founded South
African Cultivar and Technology Agency
(SACTA), which will collect these breeding
and technology levies for open pollinated
grain and oilseed crops, aims to also help
revive the wheat industry.
According to Theron a breeding and tech-
nology levy for wheat in South Africa was
implemented, since there were many is-
sues in the local wheat industry that
put pressure on the sustainability of the
industry. Moreover, the industry is in-
creasingly dependent on imports. ‘In 1990
1,5 million ha wheat were planted in South
Africa, while in 2015 only 496 350 ha were
planted.
‘South African wheat breeding has in the
past always concentrated mainly on crop
quality at the expense of yield. It is not
business as usual anymore; we must adapt
and access the available technology to in-
crease our yields. We have to revisit the
value chain which is full of weak links and
move away from a one size fits all system,’
he said.
However, Theron, who is also a wheat pro-
ducer, gave credit to the wheat industry. He
said that the introduction of breeding and
technology levies and the establishment of
SACTA was producer driven. ’The sustain-
ability of the wheat industry was yield dri-
ven, not price driven, and the status quo is
not an option anymore,’ he said.
There are opportunities that come with
these changes in the industry. ‘Farm-saved
seed is a reality and will always be with us,
but access to new cultivars is a must. New
business development models must there-
fore be formed between Agbiz Grain and
producers,’ Theron concluded.
Biosecurity issues:
Eradicate or manage
Dr Visser made presentation on ranking
biosecurity issues for the grain industry.
‘Six routine practices to reduce threats on
your farm include: Know the normal pests
associated with your crop, ensure seed is
pest free, keep seed clean, check your crop,
abide by the law and regulations, and lastly,
report anything unusual on your farm.’
She also mentioned the drivers for the cur-
rent surge of emerging diseases, which
include: Changes in agriculture (intensifi-
cation, diversification and globalisation),
evolution of diseases (i.e. more interaction,
more recombination, more selection), cli-
mate change resulting in increases in the
occurrence of extreme events and move-
ment of people and agricultural goods in
trade.
Dr Visser also focused on possible disease
threats for South Africa, like maize lethal
necrosis (MLN), the fall armyworm and red
locust. She discussed the symptoms of
these diseases and the projects that are
currently running to manage these diseases.
The industry and government plant pest
surveillance programme entails partner-
ships and supporting collaborative projects,
policy research, outreach and education
to protect Southern African agriculture
from the damaging effects of invasive spe-
cies like Karnal Bunt, Khapra beetle and
the western corn rootworm. ‘An early
warning system (EWS) was established
through pest monitoring on farms and crop
imaging,’ she said.
According to Dr Visser there are two emer-
gency responses for the above-mentioned
issues – eradication and management. ‘A
timely response is needed to prevent dam-
age. The first choice is eradication, but it
can only take place when the insects are
not very mobile, are confined like in a green-
house or when infestation is limited. When
eradication cannot take place, a manage-
ment programme is developed,’ she said.
For more information on these presenta-
tions or those of other speakers present
on the day, visit the Agbiz Grain website at
tion/mini-symposium-2017.
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RELEVANT
RUTH SCHULTZ, SA Graan/Grain contributor