11 Sep 2012

Agriculture, Horticulture & Forestry

 

Climate change will hit food prices

Perhaps while we have an agricultural sector that allows us to feed ourselves, we should look after it. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), climate change is set to affect food prices severely. And while we complain about high food prices as it is, if we end up having to import most of our food, prices will go through the roof and that Sunday roast - and even a staple like bread - will cost a great deal more.

They're non-lethal, apparently... teargas and the like - but some critics are still concerned that SA sold weapons to Zimbabwe.

On the green front, it seems more and more South Africans are looking to live in 'green' homes. Hence, such homes are scarce as demand rises. The question is: do those seeking to live in such homes know much about what 'green' is, and do they understand the subject adequately. It seems not, on both counts, apparently.

On the back of the furore surrounding Woolworths and its recruitment policy, a lawyer in the field says employers should exercise caution when banning non-designated racial groups. Johan Botes reckons that in certain cases, such exclusions could amount to unfair discrimination.

Rod Baker, content director

Submit your company news to agriculturenews@bizcommunity.com. Exclusive contributions may be sent to contributors-agriculture@bizcommunity.com.

Top stories


Editorial news

Agriculture, Horticulture & Forestry


Maize closes weaker‚ while wheat rises
Maize closed weaker on Friday on the back of a stronger rand‚ while wheat prices were higher due to higher Chicago Board of trade prices. Read more >>

Advertisement:


Dwarf maize could cut input costs
Dwarf maize plants that use much less water and fertilizer than normal maize plants but produce the same amount of grain have been produced by a US-based plant biochemical and genetics expert. Read more >>

Global food prices steady in August: FAO
ROME: Global food prices remained steady in August, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday (6 September 2012), following a jump of six percent in July stemming from a spike in US corn prices. Read more >>

African female leaders awarded the Yara Prize
The Yara Prize 2012, which aims to contribute to the transformation of African agriculture and food availability within a sustainable context, thereby helping to reduce hunger and poverty, are being awarded to Dr. Agnes Kalibata, minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Rwanda, and to Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin, outgoing CEO of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) in Ethiopia. Read more >>

Waterkloof Estate welcomes another Percheron
Waterkloof Estate near Somerset West in the Western Cape, where a golden thread of sustainability runs right through every aspect of the farm, has welcomed a new 'green machine' in its stable, Black Jack. Completing the estate's Percheron seven, this thoroughbred gelding is the latest addition to aid to the farm's bio-dynamic farming and non-interventionist practices. Read more >>

Farming


Climate change to affect food prices severely: FAO
[Hopewell Radebe] While current prices did not justify talk of a world food crisis on the scale last seen in 2008/9‚ the international community should still move to calm markets further‚ said the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva on Thursday at the release of its food price index in Rome. Read more >>

Farmers offered water and fertiliser guidelines
Dairy farmers are generally over- fertilising pasturage and not watering it optimally, according to a five-year study the Water Research Commission (WRC) is using to promote a better water and fertiliser management policy in SA. Read more >>

Airtel, GSMA to empower small-holder Kenyan farmers
Airtel Africa have announced that it is working with the GSMA to initiate a project to provide approximately 250 000 small-holder farmers in Kenya reliable and relevant agricultural information via their mobile phones. Read more >>

Bird flu culling 'risks wiping out SA's ostriches'
[Hopewell Radebe] SA risks wiping out its ostrich industry if it continues culling all ostriches in a region affected by the bird flu virus‚ and should consider alternative methods such as vaccination‚ said Ernst Janovsky‚ head of Absa AgriBusiness. Read more >>

Water cuts a worry for farmers
Talking about nationalising things, did you know that water has been nationalised? In terms of the National Water Act, all water belongs to the nation. I ask because I have come across a case relating to the Inkomati water catchment area (one of nine across the country) in Mpumalanga, in terms of which farmers making use of irrigation have had their allocations cut by 40%. Read more >>


All industry news

Marketing & Media


Medical


Retail


Government


Mining


CSI


Finance, Accounting & Banking


Arts & Entertainment


Building & Construction


Environment & Conservation


Human Resources & Recruitment


Legal


Manufacturing


Property & Real Estate


Military & Security


Education & Training


Tourism, Travel & Hospitality


IT & Telecommunications


Fishing & Maritime


Sport


Logistics


Science & Technology


Lifestyle


Automotive



Print - Print any item in this newsletter.
Email - Email any item in this newsletter.
Comment - Comment on any item in this newsletter.




Today's weather

Cpt

21°C
10°C
Jhb

23°C
7°C
PE

21°C
11°C
Dur

24°C
17°C
Bloem

25°C
5°C

Click here to customise weather


New people on biz

Evan Smit
Owner at Aqua Hortus Projects
Peter Chiwawa
Consultant
chipo njerere
horticulturalist

Portals

  • Marketing & Media | South Africa
  • Marketing & Media | Africa
  • Agriculture
  • Arts
  • Automotive
  • Building & Construction
  • Conservation
  • CSI
  • Education
  • Finance
  • Government
  • Human Resources
  • IT & Telecommunications
  • Legal
  • Lifestyle
  • Logistics
  • Manufacturing
  • Maritime
  • Medical
  • Mining
  • Property
  • Retail
  • Science & Technology
  • Security
  • Sport
  • Tourism & Hospitality


  • Follow us

    PRESS RELEASES: Distribute your news professionally to Agriculture, Horticulture & Forestry subscribers and website readers. Press office info.

    EDITORIAL: We welcome your news, views or discussion topics: please send these to agriculturenews@bizcommunity.com

    ADVERTISING: We welcome your sales enquiries: sales@bizcommunity.com, Advertising rates.
    Cape Town: (021) 680 3500, 24 On Main, Main Street, Rosebank, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
    Johannesburg: (011) 612 3003, Sutton Square, The Business Centre, 8 Gemsbok Rd, cnr 12th Ave, Rivonia, Gauteng

    Invite your friends, colleagues, suppliers, customers and partners to subscribe.


    Copyright © 2012 Bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved. Bizcommunity.com, its sponsors, contributors and advertisers disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, injury or expense that might arise from the use of, or reliance upon, the services contained herein.
    Unsubscribe, Manage subscriptions. Subscribe. Change email address. Change frequency to DAILY.