Five new farms attain WWF Conservation Champion status

WWF South Africa welcomes five new farms into its prestigious Conservation Champion programme that recognises environmental leaders in the Cape winelands. Conservation Champion farms are committed to regenerative farming practices, including conserving natural systems and biodiversity on their land and optimal water and energy efficiency.

South African citrus celebrates record breaking export season with 146 million cartons of fruit

“Ten months ago, in March 2020, we predicted a bumper export season, estimating that export volumes would reach 143 million cartons of fruit. Now that the final export figures are in, we can announce a record-breaking 2020 export season that delivered 146 million cartons of South African citrus to the rest of the world,” said Justin Chadwick CEO of the Citrus Grower’s Association in South Africa.

Wow, can wood really make that?

For millennia, trees have provided mankind with fuel, food, fibre and medicine from their fruit, flowers, roots, wood, leaves and branches. In fact, many things we use daily are connected to wood. Printer paper, chewing gum, planks, viscose fabric, vitamins, pallets, toilet tissue, toothpaste, and detergents all have a link back to wood.

Producer associations and stepping up to the plate

At the virtual meeting last week, a member of the parliamentary Portfolio committee for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development asked the National Agriculture Marketing Council (NAMC) why smallholder farmers were selling products to other producers, instead of being linked directly with markets.