Forestry in South Africa

FSA releases updated environmental management guidelines for commercial forestry plantations

Forestry South Africa has released the third version of its Environmental Management Guidelines for Commercial Forestry Plantations in South Africa to provide updated guidelines for the management of plantation forestry...

5 Jun 2017

Sustainable forestry: Striking the right balance for investors and the man on the street

For us to know that we are doing the right thing by investing in timber plantations, we needed to have an assurance that the initiative is sustainable and, most importantly, commercially viable - without long-term state support...

By Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais 2 Jun 2017

Alliance Media celebrates Africa Day

On Africa Day 2017, Alliance Media has decided to showcase how they embody the African spirit by making a pledge to plant 5,000 trees across African countries...

Issued by Alliance Media 25 May 2017

#AfricaMonth: The Africa market deserves respect - Wood-Mizer

A bit of patience and manners is some of what's required to be successful in the African context, says Jean-Jacques Pierre Oelofse, Wood-Mizer corporate director for emerging markets...

By Sindy Peters 4 May 2017

Trade and Industry gazettes Forest Sector Codes

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has gazetted the Amended Broad-Based Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Forest Sector Codes...

2 May 2017

Technology and big data are helping Cameroonians protect their forests

A project conducted by the African Conservation Foundation and the Environment and Rural Development Foundation shows that emerging technologies and big data can take conservation to a new level...

By Arend de Haas 24 Apr 2017

Forestry SA launches online guide to industry

The new portal offers itself as a beginner's guide to forestry in SA and covers the basics of forestry and forest products, and everything from water-use to recreation, pest control, ownership, and end-uses...

22 Mar 2017

Eyes in the sky and on the ground are helping forest conservation in Cameroon

The main driver of deforestation and forest degradation in Cameroon is agriculture. A new project facilitates information sharing between forest dependent communities and satellite images...

By Arend de Haas 17 Mar 2017

Cocoa industry agrees plan to tackle deforestation

Major chocolate makers, including Ferrero, Nestle, and Mars, agreed on a landmark initiative to tackle deforestation in top cocoa producers Ivory Coast and Ghana...

17 Mar 2017

Planting restrictions cause timber shortage

The government's stringent restrictions on the issuing of forestry and planting permits have led to a timber shortage...

By Colleen Goko 13 Mar 2017

Global future food security in jeopardy warns FAO report

Intensifying pressures on natural resources, mounting inequality, and climate change has put mankind's ability to feed itself in jeopardy a new report by FAO warns...

22 Feb 2017

Failure to help small farmers adapt will compromise future food production

Failure to make our food systems more resilient to climate change will "seriously compromise" food production in many regions and could doom international efforts to end hunger and poverty...

14 Feb 2017

#BestofBiz 2016: Agriculture

We've compiled our annual #BestofBiz 2016 lists across all our industries featuring our most popular articles, most-read contributors and brand press offices with the most views.

12 Dec 2016

Clanwilliam cedar could be extinct within the 21st century

A study by UCT researchers has confirmed a decline in the iconic conifer, the Clanwilliam cedar, which gives the name to the Cederberg Wilderness Area...

7 Dec 2016

International

AGT Foods CEO scoops EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 title

President and CEO of AGT Foods, Murad Al-Katib, was picked from 59 individuals representing 49 countries and named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017. He was chosen not only for his success in building a business empire focused on providing vegetable protein to the developing world, but also for helping to feed refugees.

20 Jun 2017

Disrupted agriculture, high food prices deepens food insecurity in Africa

While large agricultural harvests in some regions of the world are booming for global food supply, protracted fighting and unrest are increasing displaced and hungry people elsewhere. This according to the new FAO Crop Prospects and Food Situation report which shows that 37 countries - 28 of which are in Africa - require external assistance for food.

12 Jun 2017

Blockchain seen as tool in food safety

NEW YORK, US - The food industry is turning to the same technology used by virtual currencies to strengthen food safety and inventory management by tracking meats and crops from farm to table. Working with IBM, retail giant Wal-Mart Stores is testing the technology system on mangos in the United States and pork in China.

6 Jun 2017

Highly contagious disease can decimate tilapia populations

A highly contagious disease is spreading among farmed and wild tilapia, one of the world's most important fish species for human consumption. According to a special alert issued by FAO's Global Information and Early Warnings Systems, the outbreak should be treated with concern and countries importing tilapias should take appropriate risk management measures by intensifying diagnostics testing, enforcing health certificates, deploying quarantine measures and developing contingency plans.

29 May 2017

Introducing the Greenhouse In a Box

In recent years, global warming has lead to a rapidly changing climate in India, temperatures across the country have reached soaring highs, negatively affecting the crops of many farmers. In fact, farmer suicides in India reached over 8,000 in 2015 as a result of this. Now, a farming technology startup named Kheyti is hoping to remedy this with their Greenhouse in a Box (GIB).

16 May 2017