daff2 january 2012 daffnews no. 1 departmental editor piwe mbiko (012) 319 6936 [email protected]...

DAFFOfficial newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

January 2012

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Honourable Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, at Donkerhoek during the launch of the Masibambisane Rural Development Initiative in Mpumalanga Province. The first launch of the project was in the Nkandla/Mlalazi areas in KwaZulu-Natal Province last year. This nationwide initiative was co-founded by President Zuma and businessman Daebo Mzobe.

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Forest Sector Charter

Masibambisane roll out to Mpumalanga

DAFF fights the spread of citrus greening

Increasing produc-tivity and quality of plants

Wetland community recognises contribu-tions

Boost for small-holder cotton farmers

Atlantic bluefin tuna

Distell awarded as Distillery of the Year

January 2012 DAFFnews No. 12

Departmental

Editor Piwe Mbiko (012) 319 6936 [email protected] Thuli Dube (012) 319 7929 [email protected] Samuel Kgatla (012) 319 7181 [email protected] Innocent Mhlanga (012) 319 7827 [email protected] Rony Moremi (012) 319 6622 [email protected] Percy Sepaela (012) 319 6866 [email protected] Mercia Smith (012) 319 6666 [email protected] Willie de Jager (012) 319 6636 [email protected] Pam Sutherland (012) 319 7104 [email protected]

DAFFnews is the newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Private Bag X250, PRETORIA 0001. It is published by the Directorate Agricultural Information Services, Private Bag X144, PRETORIA 0001.

Opinions expressed in DAFFnews are not necessarily those of the editorial team. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without prior permission from the editor.

Appointment of Deputy Director-General: Economic Development, Trade and Marketing

Kindly be informed that Mr N.H.T. Mkhwanazi has been appointed as Deputy Director-General: Economic Development, Trade and Marketing, with effect from January 2012.

The department wishes to congratulate him on his appointment.

The Forest Sector Transformation Charter process was launched by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry in 2005.

The Forestry Broad-Based Black Empow-erment Transformation Charter was signed by the former Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry and stakeholders on 22 May 2008. The charter, now a section 9 Sector Code, is legally binding to all qualifying enterprises operating in the sector.

The charter provides a roadmap for monitoring transformation in the sector. Its main objective is to promote Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment in the for-est sector that will ensure that the benefits of the sector are extended to blacks who were previously excluded from meaningful participation in the sector.

The charter contains a scorecard reflect-ing on the seven elements and the targets for each element. This scorecard is used for setting standards for transformation and each qualifying enterprise is meas-ured against these elements. In addition, the charter commits government, industry, labour and communities to certain actions known as “undertakings” that are aimed at creating an enabling environment for enterprises to achieve their BEE targets.

The Forest Sector Charter Council, also known as the “Council,” was launched on 22 May 2008. It is legally constituted as a section 21 company. It consists of representatives from industry, government, labour, communities and representatives from FIETA and IDC. The Minister of Ag-riculture, Forestry and Fisheries appointed Mr Pasco Dyani as the successor of Ms

Gugu Moloi (former chairperson). The Council reports to the President’s BEE Ad-visory Council and the Ministers of Trade and Industry and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The main responsibility of the Council is to oversee, encourage, monitor and report on the implementation of the Sec-tor Code.

The Council has released its first report reflecting on the transformation status of the sector. The report indicates that the sector is a level 5 contributor. The report

Forest Sector Charter

also shows that good progress has been achieved in enterprise development and socio-economic development.

For further information, the Council can be reached at the contact details reflected below.

The Forest Sector Charter CouncilP.O. Box 9682PRETORIA, 0001Tel: +27 (0) 12 336 7740Fax: +27 (0) 12 336 6663E-mail: [email protected]

No. 1 DAFFnews January 2012 3

Departmental

Farmers, farm workers, job seekers and poor people in Mpumalanga will greatly benefit from the second successful launch of the Masibam-bisane Rural Development Initiative (MRDI) campaign at Donkerhoek, Gert Sibande District Municipality, on 6 November.

The first launch of the project was in Nkandla/Mlalazi areas, KwaZulu-Natal last year in December. This nationwide ini-tiative was co-founded by President Jacob Zuma and businessman Daebo Mzobe.

President Zuma has been leading or chairing the campaign with the support of various business people and Ministers, in-cluding the Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson. After the start of the project, President Zuma, Ministers, Provincial MECs and business people visited KwaZulu-Natal again for weeding purposes. The project is viable and helped many impoverished people, but now the focus is on Mpuma-langa where similar activities are expected to unfold.

In Mpumalanga, Zuma was accompa-nied by DAFF Minister as usual, Public Enterprises Minister, Malusi Gigaba, Public Works Minister, Thulas Nxesi, Mpuma-langa Premier David Mabuza, Deputy Ministers and provincial MECs.

Of all the projects, 25 Drakensberger heifers and 2 bulls were handed to Zama-Okunzima CPA, 10 Drakensberger bulls to Impumelelo CPA and 7 Drakensberger bulls to Donkerhoek Agricultural Com-munity. A further number of Drakensberger cattle were also supplied to Mooihoek (Madabukela) project. Mahlobo royal kraal, the Yende and Mthethwa royal kraal gave arable lands to communities. More-over, Mhlonga-Mvula CPA was assisted with ploughing and planting of maize on 600 ha by the department of agriculture through the Masibuyele-eMasimini Pro-gramme. The President handed over five houses in the area around Piet Retief and the newly built Ezakheni Combined Board-ing School, in Donkerhoek. The school will

accommodate children from child-headed families.

The farming communities will be con-tributing to food security in their area by giving seeds to other villages in the area that will be unable to participate in the planting of crops. The local chiefs also identified households per chief in their areas who were food insecure to receive the packages of crops.

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga has received a major boost from the corporate sectors and government Ministers pledging their support.

DAFF promised more seeds, fertilisers, boreholes and overalls. Minister Pettersson also stressed the issue of people having food and pleaded with people to plant their own food. Public Enterprises pledged support of R1 million for electrification of 63 houses and the construction of a rail-way line. The Department of Public Works will build the Masibambisane Office in Mpumalanga. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform will focus on the issue of land redistribution. The Department of Higher Education vowed to build a university and more colleges in the

province. Other departments also made some notable contributions. Business sec-tors promised to promote entrepreneurship and assist farmers.

Zuma has urged emerging farmers in Donkerhoek and surrounding areas, to use their farms to create jobs and allevi-ate poverty. He promised that offices of the Masibambisane Rural Development Initiative would be built in Mpumalanga soon.

“We have taken a resolution to build offices here in Mpumalanga, where Mpu-malanga people can access them easily. We want people, including businessmen, to volunteer and boost projects in their communities,” said Zuma.

“We do not want the community to buy food from supermarkets, but let supermar-kets buy from them. People are crying of hunger, but with this project we want all of you to have food and be able to go to school. The project is also helping some business people who have been with us from the beginning.”

He accentuated that people must go to colleges because it is for free.

Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson at the second successful Rural Develop-ment Initiative c a m p a i g n a t Donkerhoek in M p u m a l a n g a Province.

By Samuel Kgatla


Departmental

The Department of Agriculture, Forest-ry and Fisheries has urged all Eastern Cape citrus farmers to be vigilant and meticulous about contagious citrus greening.

This was revealed during a one-day Citrus Awareness Workshop held at the Premier Hotel, Port Edward, on 26 Octo-ber. The main purpose of the special coor-dinating workshop was to raise awareness about citrus greening among the local famers, extension officers and nursery owners to look at the current geographic distribution of the disease and provide farmers with precautionary measures to control the disease.

Citrus greening is one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. It is a bacterial disease that greatly reduces production, destroys the economic value of fruit and shortens the lifespan of the citrus trees. It has significantly reduced citrus production in Asia, Africa, the Ara-bian Peninsula and Brazil. Once infected, there is no cure for a tree with the disease except uprooting the tree.

The disease specifically attacks citrus and presents no threat to humans or ani-mals. It is primarily spread by two species of insects: the Asian citrus psyllid (not yet present in SA) and the African citrus psyl-lid (present in South Africa). Citrus plants that are affected initially may not show symptoms for some time. The challenging factor with the symptoms is that they can often be confused with the mineral defi-ciency symptoms and laboratory analysis is therefore important to identify the disease. The psyllid can be controlled by using a pesticide containing an active ingredient called imidachloprid (the trade name is Confidor).

In South Africa, the disease was first discovered in 1932 in Rustenburg, from where it spread to Limpopo Province in 1946 and other provinces such as Gau-teng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal in 1953 and Western Cape in 1995. It prefers cooler areas where the temperature is 27 °C. If farmers neglect the disease, their citrus plantings will be wiped out. The disease is officially controlled in terms of

By Samuel Kgatla

DAFF fights the spread of citrus greening

Citrus greening is a bacterial disease that greatly reduces production, destroys the economic value of fruit and it shortens

the lifespan of the citrus trees.

the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983), and control measure R110 of 27 January 1984 as amended, to prevent further introduction, spread and establishment in provinces that are not yet infested.

Ms Nomahlubi Zulu, Deputy Director from the Directorate Plant Health, urged all farmers to give their cooperation in controlling the disease.

“Our departmental officials will be visit-ing some farms to advise farmers about citrus greening. These officials will also be testing the chemicals you are using on your citrus trees. We must understand each other, especially when an official tells you to remove or cut down the affected trees. We want you to reap the benefits of your citrus products,” she said.

Moreover, she advised farmers to buy citrus plants from the registered nurseries and to follow all the necessary control measures to prevent the spread of this disease from the infested areas to the non-infested areas. Zulu also praised farmers for attending the workshop.


Departmental

Citrus is one of the most important commodities contributing towards food security, job creation and economic growth.

South Africa is currently the second big-gest exporter of citrus fruit in the world, exporting to countries in Africa, Europe, North America, Middle East and the Far East. Citrus is produced for export in most provinces in South Africa, ena-bling the country to supply high-quality citrus to markets around the world for more than 7 months of the year. Despite this, there are still challenges that need to be ad-dressed in the process of gain-ing access to new markets, which includes support and resources for emerging farm-ers.

An annual cit-rus coordinating meeting is held to ensure that all role players in the citrus industry work together with the Department of Agricul-ture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and ensure compliance with phytosanitary conditions with the aim to gain access to new markets while maintaining the existing programme. The following directorates in the department meet with the South Afri-can citrus industry annually: Plant Health, Inspection Services, and Food Safety and

Quality Assurance. The aim of the meet-ings is to plan for the next export season as well as to discuss previous challenges encountered during the export season. DAFF also uses this platform to provide information on new programmes and logistic arrangements for the next sea-son. The recent meeting was held at the ARC –Infruitec offices in Stellenbosch on

08 September 2011. Traditionally, these meetings take place towards the end of the export season but before the new one starts.

Mr Mike Holtzhausen from DAFF, who chaired the meeting, mentioned the good response and a positive development in partnerships with the citrus industry over the years. “It is interesting to see how the different role players have developed into

DAFF fights the spread of citrus greening Citrus export in South Africa

By Piwe Mbiko

a big family with a main objective to enter new markets,” he said. He further empha-sised the importance of establishing new markets for the growth of the economy and increasing the volume of fruit production so as to contribute towards food security.

The presence of new pests such as Bac-trocera invadens in the SADC regions is threatening citrus export in South Africa;

however, surveil-lance for this pest in South Africa is still on-going. Suc-cessful fruit export also depends on compliance with import conditions of the importing countries to pre-vent the introduc-tion and spread of pests. Therefore, in an effort to reduce the introduction and spread of new pests and diseases into the country, DAFF officials rou-tinely screen and inspect all imported consignments at all border posts, sea ports and airports. Items may be re-

jected, destroyed or returned to the country of origin based on the outcome of these inspections. The department also encour-ages travellers to declare all agricultural products such as meat, fruit, vegetables, plants, honey, insects and dairy products. Persons failing to declare items will face fines of up to R20 000 or imprisonment as the department has issued the warning “Don’t bag a bug”!

“Don’t bag a bug”!


One of the main objectives of plant breeding in agriculture is to increase productivity and quality of plants by developing varieties with improved yield and better resistance to plant pests or diseases.

Breeders of new plant varieties are granted plant breeders’ rights for protec-tion of their varieties against exploitation without their permission. A plant breeder’s right is a form of intellectual properties rights which provides the holder with a means of gaining financial remuneration for his efforts, encouraging breeders to continue with the breeding of new and better varieties, a process that is very time-consuming and expensive.

The Directorate Genetic Resources within the Department of Agriculture, For-estry and Fisheries (DAFF) administers the Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Act 1976 (Act No. 15 of 1976). The objective of this Act is to provide for a system through which plant breeders’ rights relating to varieties of certain kinds of plants may be granted and registered, for the requirements which have to be complied with for the granting of such rights, the protection of such rights and the granting of licences in respect of the exercise thereof and other incidental matters. South Africa has been a member country of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) since 1977, and the PBR Act is aligned with the 1978 International con-vention (UPOV). The convention prescribes the standardised law on PBR, to determine procedures for the testing of new varieties and to promote cooperation between member countries, thereby encouraging the breeding of new varieties for the benefit of society.

The implementation of plant breeders’ rights in South Africa has been a major stimulus for the plant breeding industry. Not only does it provide for financial remuneration, but it also gives local plant breeders and producers access to high-quality new varieties from foreign

countries. Foreign owners of varieties are not keen to sup-ply propagating ma-terial to individuals in other countries, if such material cannot be protected by plant breeders’ rights. This would impact nega-tively, among others, on the export mar-ket, as we would not be able to produce the new, sought after varieties. It is of the utmost importance for the economy to obtain new and im-proved plant varie-ties as varieties with improved yields may lead to reductions in the price of end-products for con-sumers, or varieties with improved quality may lead to higher value products with increased marketabil-ity. Furthermore, the development of breed-ing programmes for certain species can remove the threat to the survival of these species in the wild.

To be eligible for protection, plant varie-ties must be new, distinct, uniform, stable and have an acceptable denomination. A variety is considered:

New: if the propagating or harvested material of a variety has not been sold or otherwise been available in South Africa for more than 1 year, and propagating or harvested material has not been sold or otherwise been available in any other country for more than 6 years in the case of trees and vines, or in the case of any other plant, for more than 4 years, before the date of filing of the application for a

plant breeder’s right.DUS (Distinct, Uniform, Stable); if it is

clearly distinguishable from any other va-riety, all the plants of a variety look similar and are sufficiently uniform in relevant characteristics; the relevant characteristics of the variety remain unchanged after repeated propagation.

South Africa has a dual testing system. For seed crops and most ornamentals, the trials are established at one of the three National Evaluation Centres where DUS tests are performed. The National Author-ity (DAFF) maintains the seed reference collections. For fruit and some ornamen-tals, the breeder or his agent establishes

Departmental

Increasing productivity and quality of plants

to p 7


Departmental

the trials on their premises according to the prescripts provided by the National Authority. The official DUS examiners visit these sites during the growing cycle to perform the DUS tests. As soon as all the necessary tests have been completed and the variety has passed the test, a plant breeder’s right is granted and a certificate issued.

The breeder of a new variety must maintain the variety and guarantee that propagating material, which still conforms to the original description, is always avail-able. If he fails to do this, the Registrar may cancel his right.

A plant breeder’s right is valid for a

period of 20 years for non-woody plants and 25 years for woody plants com-mencing from the date on which the right was granted. The holder of the right may surrender the right at any time before this period expires, notifying the Registrar of the Plant Breeders’ Rights of such a decision. During the first 5 to 8 years (sole right period) the owner has the sole right to produce and market propagating material of the variety. During the next 15 to 17 years the holder is compelled to issue licences to other persons who also wish to use and market such material. If the holder of the right refuses to issue licences, these individuals may apply to

the Registrar of Plant Breeders’ Rights for a compulsory licence.

Only after the expiry of the full period of a plant breeder’s right, does the variety become public property and anyone may then propagate and sell it.

The use of a protected variety for private, non-commercial and experimental pur-poses does not constitute an infringement of the rights of the holder. Farmers are al-lowed to replant seed of protected varieties on their own holding for own use without paying the royalties to the holder.

Importing plant material into South Africa for evaluation is subjected to the national phytosanitary legislation.

The implementation of plant breeders’ rights in South Africa has been a major stimulus for the plant breeding industry.

The development of breeding programme for certain species can remove the threat to the survival of these species in the wild.

from p 6

Increasing productivity and quality of plants


Departmental

The South African wetland com-munity recently held its annual National Wetland Indaba in the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Trans-frontier Park.

This park is a World Heritage and Ram-sar site and was a very appropriate setting for this prestigious event on the South African wetland calendar.This year’s meeting was special in that it was the first time since 2003 that the South African wetland community would recognise its members for outstanding service.The new National Wetland Awards, sponsored by paper giant Mondi, will be awarded annually to recognise outstanding contributions of those doing wetland work. These will be presented as floating trophies to recognise outstanding contributions or achievements in the broad wetland community and to showcase successful or innovative work by the wetland sector to the public through media coverage.The awards highlight achievements in the better management of wetlands through stewardship, the development of skills for improved wetland management and conservation as well as achievements in wetland scientific research.Recipients

Mr David Kleyn received the •Wetland Stewardship Award for furthering wetland and mire conservation and applying the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act in the national Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Mr Donovan Kotze received the wet-•land Scientific Research Award for his solid contribution to wetland research in South Africa, which with his high standards and by good practice had led to a significant improvement in how we understand and manage wetlands in this country.

Wetland community recognises contributions

The Mpumalanga Wetland Forum •(MPF) was awarded for “Promoting the wise use, effective management and rehabilitation of wetlands in the

Recipients of the South African National Wetland Awards, from left Messrs Gavin Cowden, Chair: Mpumalanga Wetland Forum, Chris Burchmore from Mondi who sponsored the awards, Donovan Kotze and David Kleyn.

Mpumalanga Province through coop-erative governance by engaging all public and private sectors to achieve its objectives”.

The International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG) is an international network of specialists who;internationally promote, encourage and, where appropriate, coordinate the conservation of mire and related ecosystems,internationally enhance the exchange of information and experience relat-ing to mire and factors affecting them.The network encompasses a wide spectrum of expertise and interests, from research scientists to consultants, government agency specialists to peatland site managers. The network currently has over 400 contacts in 60 countries.

The International Mire Conservation Group


Sector

The Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC) recently announced the final ‘proof of concept’ for an enterprise development strategy designed to put the rural poor back to work by taking them back to the land.

MIC is so confident its novel concept is sustainable it has opened up its unique pilot project for media inspection. The approach combines corporate social responsibility with rural enterprise devel-opment.

In one area of Mpumalanga alone, MIC’s groundbreaking trial has enabled three start-up farmers to move from subsistence to small-scale commercial agriculture, creating jobs for 12 perma-nent workers while making a difference in the lives of the project pioneers and their communities.

Paul Nkuna, MIC’s chief executive of-ficer, commented: “Doing good while making a profit and building a business is win-win-win from our perspective.

“Profit, enterprise development and positive outcomes for families and com-

munities are all evident in our Mpuma-langa ‘proving ground’.”

On one eight-hectare plot of ground, Leon Mnisi grows cabbage, butternut, mango and maize for sale to independent hawkers and a community group running a children’s feeding scheme. The 26-year-old farmer employs six permanent workers. MIC assistance with the purchase of farm equipment made expansion onto a proper commercial footing possible.

Nearby, on another eight hectares, Kepas Mashego provides jobs for six per-manent staff and eight casual workers. He also specialises in macadamia nut produc-tion and is about to become a supplier to Shoprite Checkers.

Raymond Sibiya is also going into com-mercial production on his six-hectare piece of ground. He grows cabbage, tomato, spinach, onion and chillies.

Typically, MIC provides help with seed, fertiliser, other inputs and equipment after first screening would-be farmers to ensure they have entrepreneurial get-up-and-go

Taking rural poor back to the land

MIC is 100% BBBEE investment company established in 1995 by the Mineworkers In-vestment Trust (MIT) to create a sustainable asset base for the benefit of mine, energy and construction workers and their dependants. MIC has total assets under management of over R10 billion and over the past 15 years has disbursed over R368 million to the MIT which has, in turn, advanced the money to fund its social development programmes. In the past three years, MIC has also initi-ated its own directly funded CSI programmes in development and agriculture.

Mineworkers Investment Company announced their enterprise development strategy that is designed to put the rural poor back to work by taking them

back to the land.

and a strong work ethic. MIC then works with retailers such as Shoprite, Pick n Pay and JD Group to open up a route to the market.

MIC’s technical partner, TIPA (Techno-Agriculture Innovation for Poverty Allevia-tion) helps boost yields by applying modern drip irrigation techniques. The Department of Agriculture also helps the start-up farm-ers deliver the consistent quality demanded by retailers and wholesalers.

Nkuna pointed out: “Sustainability is vital whether MIC is making an acquisi-tion or making a commitment to social beneficiaries. We were therefore careful to create a model that is scalable and sustainable.

“Once viability is assured, we can rede-ploy resources and help new would-be en-trepreneurs, leaving the initial beneficiaries to stand on their own two feet. Viability is already evident. Proof of concept has been delivered. We will now look to expand the footprint.”

The Mineworkers Investment Company


Sector

In the Moutse area, Limpopo, 63 smallholder cotton farmers received a welcome boost from a donation of 57 x 25 kg bags of Bollgard (Bt) Roundup Ready (RR) cotton seed from Monsanto. This is sufficient to plant 197 ha this season.

Calculated at an average price of R5,50 kg/seed cotton and a yield of 800 kg/ha = R4 400/ha with input costs of R2 400/ha, profit R2 000/ha means a net income of R394 000 for these farmers.

In Moutse West 27 farmers received 19 bags to plant 63 ha. In Moutse East 36 farmers received 38 bags to plant 134 ha. Seed for refugia was also provided.

Mr Percy Macaskill, an agriculturalist,

was appointed by Cotton SA as mentor to assist the farmers.

Mr Gert Heyns, marketing manager seed, sub-Sahara Africa, Monsanto, who presented the seed to the farmers, said it was a privilege to contribute to the well-being of smallholder cotton farmers.

Globally, Monsanto is a leading par-ticipant in the cotton industry, not only as far as commercial farmers are concerned but also to the benefit of smallholder farmers.

In Burkina Faso Monsanto is involved with more than 300 000 ha of Bt cotton developed successfully by smallholder farmers and increasing annually.

“Smallholder cotton farmers in South

Africa are just as important to us. Our cotton technology is the best in the world to benefit farmers who have been well rewarded. Smallholder farmers have been equally successful,” said Heyns.

Mr Hennie Bruwer, CEO, Cotton SA, said the donation was a one off. Farmers must now save money to buy seed for the next season.

Two of the main objectives of the Na-tional Cotton Strategy Plan, developed by Cotton SA and other role players are to enable small producers to contribute an average 25% of the crop by 2015 and to raise productivity by providing intensive training to smallholder cotton growers.

With any technology designed to con-trol insect pests, the evolution of pest resistance is a concern. Therefore, insect resistance management (IRM) is part of the stewardship of Bt crops, says Dr Graham Head, global man-ager for Monsanto’s insect resistant management programmes.

Based at the company’s St Louis head-quarters in the US, he was one of the keynote speakers at the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference 2011 (ABIC) held in Johannesburg and hosted by AfricaBio.

“An appropriate refuge planting for the production of susceptible target insects has been successful in delaying resistance evolution. Effective insect resistance man-agement (IRM) programmes are needed to maintain the value of Bt crops that will delay resistance for at least until the next generation of products is available, more or less 15 to 20 years,” Dr Head emphasised.

He said Bt crops that control the maize

stalk borer such as YieldGard have been planted in the USA since 1997 and are now grown on over 20 million hectares with no record of any resistance. In addi-tion, Bt crops have been commercialised in 29 countries planted by more than 15 million farmers on 148 million ha, reflect-ing growers’ recognition and the value of increased yields.

In some cases Bt crops represent the only effective alternative to controlling pests that feed primarily within the crop plant. Their value is particularly evident in tropical systems where insect pest pressure can be very high.

He pointed out, however, that several examples of resistance to the first genera-tion of Bt crops have been reported and are being addressed by Monsanto through the introduction of second generation technologies that combine multiple Bt pro-teins for more effective and durable insect control, such as YieldGard ll, Mon 89034 X NK 603 stacked gene, now available in South Africa for the coming planting sea-

son 2011/12 and with increased emphasis on appropriate refuge plantings.

Where resistance has occurred it has undoubtedly been attributed to lack of grower compliance of refuge plantings. Grower compliance may be problematic. Even in the US and Canada, with legal contracts in place to implement refuges, refuge compliance has been a challenge. This challenge is increased with small-holders.

“Effective IRM strategies may include pyramid products as seed mixes in which Bt and refuge seed are provided as a mix-ture in a single bag, removing the need for grower-planted refuges. This simplifies refuge planting and management and overcomes refuge compliance concerns,” said Head.

South Africa has successfully grown about 10 million hectares of white and yel-low GM maize in the 10 year period 2001 to 2010. South Africa was ranked ninth in the world, planting 2,2 million hectares of biotech maize, soya bean and cotton.

Risk of insect resistance in GM crops

Boost for smallholder cotton farmers


Sector

Scientists from the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG) have produced rice with high enough iron levels to meet daily recommended requirements for iron intake.

The team, based at the Universities of Adelaide, Melbourne and South Australia, and Flinders University, and funded by the Australian Research Council and Harvest-Plus, genetically modified rice to increase the quantity of iron that is transported to the endosperm of the grain (the part that people eat). This resulted in rice that has up to four times more iron than conven-tional rice. The rice also has doubled zinc levels.

‘Rice is the primary source of food for roughly half of the world’s population, particularly in developing countries, yet the polished grain, also known as white

High iron and zinc rice gives hope to micronutrient deficient billions

rice, contains insufficient concentrations of iron, zinc and pro-vitamin A to meet daily nutritional requirements,’ said Dr Alex Johnson from the ACPFG.

‘A lack of genetic variation in rice has hindered efforts by conventional breed-ing programmes to address iron levels. These programmes have not been able to achieve the level of iron and zinc in the rice grain that we are able to achieve with a biotech approach in our glasshouse experiments,’ said Dr Johnson.

This research represents the first time rice lines have been reported with iron levels at or higher than the daily recom-mended levels.

According to the World Health Organi-zation, iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the

world and affects more than two billion people (30% of the world’s population). Symptoms include poor mental develop-ment, depressed immune function and anaemia.

‘The development of new cereal varieties containing increased concentrations of iron and other essential micronutrients, an approach known as biofortification, offers an inexpensive and sustainable solution to the chronic micronutrient malnutrition problems that currently plague people in developing countries,’ said Dr Johnson.

The results of this research were pub-lished yesterday in the online peer re-viewed journal PLoS ONE: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0024476

Work is now underway to test this tech-nology in field trials.

The United States and the European Commission recently signed a joint statement vowing to combat illigeal fishing.

The agreement acknowledges the devastating environmental and socioeco-nomic effects of seafood black markets, yet marks only a small step forward for fisheries management, as it does little more at a practical level than reaffirm a commitment to enforcing established fish-ing regulation.

Atlantic bluefin tuna is one example of a fishery with a thriving black market that has decimated populations. CITES, the major global treaty on endagered species, has a record of saving species negatively affected by international trade. Listing bluefin under CITES would improve catch documentation and certification and stop illigeal operators from benefiting from the

sale of fish.“The high seas are

an impossibly vast area to enforce fish-ing regulations, so pulling bluefin tuna from the brink of ex-tinction demands strict rules and oversight of trade,” says Ms Cath-erine Kilduff, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. At the Center she works to save marine species and improve fishery sustainability.

According to a McKinsey & Company report, current bluefin harvesting levels are projected to drive the fishery to collapse between 2012 and 2015. If illegal and un-reported fishing could be 100% eliminated, the fishery could recover by 2023.

But, impressively, if the fishery were to be

completely closed, according to the report, it would recover within eight years.

More than 25 000 people have joined the Center’s bluefin boycott, pledging not to eat at restaurants serving bluefin tuna, dozens of chefs and owners of seafood and shushi restaurants have pledged not to sell the fish.

For further information about the Cent-er’s campaign to save the Atlantic bluefin tuna, visit: www.biologicaldiversity.org

Atlantic bluefin tuna


Sector

Suppliers and producers in the tunnel and covered farming sector should diarise 6 to 8 March 2012, when the inaugural Undercover Farming Expo, an expo focusing on intensive farming techniques and farming industries, will be held at the Saint George Hotel and Convention Centre near Pretoria.

This expo and seminar, the first of its kind in Africa, will be an information source for existing and potential producers and buyers of vegetables, flowers, fruit and seedlings being produced under protec-tive shelter, as well as for suppliers to the industry.

Hanlie Delport, Exhibition Manager of Undercover Farming Expo, says this expo will serve as a business hub and will cre-ate the ideal platform for industry profes-sionals to be on the frontier of protected

Distell has been awarded the title of Distillery of the Year, winning the only double gold medal of the show at the 2011 New York International Spirits Competition. This is the first time the company has entered the event that attracted over 300 entries from 30 nations worldwide.

The double gold honours went to Oude Meester’s specialty, top-of-the-range, Souvereign. The luxury brandy, a blend of Savalle-potstills matured in French oak for 18 years and longer, is no stranger to accolades. Earlier this year it was decorated with gold medals at both the Veritas and Michaelangelo International Wine Awards.

The competition, that brings together New York’s leading importers, distributors, hotel beverage directors, restaurant and retail store owners to judge submissions

farming and to network with key players in the industry. “Tunnel and shade-net farming is one of the newest forms of food production in the country and offers the ideal solution to producers investigating alternative methods of farming because of the increasingly drier climate. Our expo will cover all the elements involved in this production method, from tunnel construc-tion, growth enhancements and climate conditions to seedlings, packaging and export opportunities.”

A highlight in the Undercover Farming Expo showcase is the one and a half day seminar that will run concurrently with the show, covering a wide range of topics in the undercover farming industry. Participation in this seminar is an ideal opportunity for in-dustry members to learn from the foremost

First Undercover Farming Expo to be held in South Africa

industry related experts and to discuss key issues. Topics covered during this confer-ence will include water filtration, the choice of seed, irrigation in the tunnel and hydro-ponics. Two speakers from the Netherlands will participate in this seminar.

The undercover Farming Expo is the initiative of the publication Undercover Farming, which has been focusing on the intensive farming industry for more than seven years. The expo is supported by Intensive Agriculture South Africa (IASA), South African Flower Growers (SAFGA) South African Seedling Growers Associa-tion (SAGA).

For further information about Undercover Farming Expo, including information for exhibitors, sponsorship opportunities and the conference, visit www.undercover-farmingexpo.co.za

by category and according to price point, also awarded silver medals to two other connoisseur brandies in the company’s FINE BRANDY.BY DESIGN™ portfolio. These went to Oude Meester Reserve 12 Year Old and Van Rhyn’s 20 Year Old. A third silver medal was earned by Distell’s popular cane spirit, Mainstay.

According to portfolio spokesperson Carrie Sanders, what makes the winning of the competition so significant is that its judging draws on the industry expertise of key members of the trade who serve as the gatekeepers to New York’s highly influential consumer base.

“New York is regarded by many as the style bar and club capital of the US. Trends are set here that are followed worldwide.”

Distell awarded as Distillery of the Year

daff2 january 2012 daffnews no. 1 departmental editor piwe mbiko (012) 319 6936 [email protected]...

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