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Research at ARC-SGI is
directed on a national level
N
ot many research institutions in
South Africa have the privilege to
direct their research on a national
level through the evaluation and
approval of all role-players in the respective
industry. This is however exactly wat hap-
pens at the ARC-Small Grain Institute (ARC-
SGI) in Bethlehem each year.
A very successful Planning Committee
Meeting was held recently in Bethlehem
to which representatives of the various
sections of the small grain industry were
invited.
The purpose of this meeting is to iden-
tify new research needs that the industry
might have, to co-ordinate current research
activities and to ensure that the research
focus of the ARC-SGI is in line with that of
the total small grain value chain.
This year the focus was specifically on the
need-driven research projects of our clients.
An important aspect that was attended
to was food safety and food security. It is
important to ensure food security through
local production, and the emphasis of
research should be on good technology
to make sure the entire value chain is
successful.
Representatives of Grain SA, the Winter
Cereals Trust, various universities, the
National and Provincial Departments of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the
SA Chamber of Baking, CenGen (Pty) Ltd,
the ARC, as well as commercial produc-
ers gathered on a cold winter’s morning to
discuss the research activities at the ARC-
SGI. Two renowned scientists, namely
Prof Sakkie Pretorius from the University
of the Free State, and Dr Reneé Prins from
CenGen, were invited to deliver keynote
addresses.
Who is winning the rust race?
This was
the question posed by Dr Pretorius in his
very informative talk on wheat rusts in
which he stated that the first documented
publication on rust dates back to 1726! He
emphasised that research must address in-
dustry needs.
Dr Prins elaborated on the impact of new
technologies on wheat research and the
importance of DNA markers. She also re-
ported on the successes that have been
accomplished, although there were a few
challenges for the incorporation of these
new technologies in South Africa. It is
however important that we should have
an in-house knowledge of proven adapted
cultivars.
At this meeting there was also a lengthy
discussion on conservation agriculture (CA)
strategies for the Eastern Free State, which
is seen as the only long-term solution for
the declining wheat production in the Free
State. Soil acidity however remains a chal-
lenge that needs to be managed.
Reports were delivered by the program-
me leaders on the progress that has been
made with current research projects at
the ARC-SGI. The research conducted over
the past year was evaluated and measured
against international standards. After im-
portant discussions on certain projects,
the committee approved all the current
projects and supported their continuation.
Five new projects, aimed at addressing
the needs of the small grain industry, were
presented to the committee. These pro-
jects dealt with aspects such as dual-pur-
pose dryland wheat cultivars for the mixed
crop-livestock systems of South Africa, im-
proved nutritional quality in bread wheat,
planting wheat under supplementary ir-
rigation, drought tolerance of wheat and
forgotten wheat diseases such as Septoria
and powdery mildew.
These new projects were all supported by
the committee and will be presented again
to various funding bodies for funding.
Although the wheat industry is currently in
turmoil, the ARC-SGI will continue to de-
liver on the challenges and needs of the
industry. From a scientific viewpoint, we
would assist the wheat value chain to
become more competitive and more
productive in order to secure local wheat
production.
Through these need-driven initiatives, we
will deliver the same dedicated research
results to strengthen current partnerships
even further. The more successful the pro-
ducers and the industry are, the more suc-
cessful the researchers are.
ANNELIE BARNARD,
ARC-Small Grain Institute, Bethlehem
1: Dr Reneé Prins, Joseph Mahlabe (Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries),
Jaco Breytenbach (commercial producer and
member of Grain SA), Petru Fourie
(Grain SA), Lebogang Jack (Department of
Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, North West
Province), Prof Sakkie Pretorius and Dr Jasper
Rees (ARC-SGI).
2: A very successful Planning Committee
Meeting was held recently at the ARC-SGI in
Bethlehem to which representatives of the
various sections of the small grain industry
were invited.
1
2
September 2015
106
RELEVANT