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No place for

weakest links

T

he 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

http://www.agbizgrain.co.za/en/informa-

tion/mini-symposium-2017

.

69

RELEVANT

RUTH SCHULTZ,

SA Graan/Grain

contributor