Crops
A fresh approach to managing invasive trees
For thousands of years, trees and humans have maintained an intimate connection. It’s therefore not surprising that many tree species were moved around the world, following the footprints of human civilisation. Globally, however, more tree species are becoming invasive, with detrimental ecological and socio-economic impacts. Understanding their invasion history and ecology is essential to developing…
Read MoreEntomologists keep fruit flies at bay
Collection of data on fruit flies in South Africa will help improve pest management in Europe and contribute to development of technology such as sensors with which to detect infected fruit. Insect experts from the Stellenbosch University Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology are part of a large-scale research project involving experts from 15 countries.…
Read MoreJet stream changes may hit global breadbaskets
Patterns in the winds of the jet stream that circles the Earth can bring simultaneous heatwaves to breadbasket regions which provide up to a quarter of global crops, scientists have found. Extreme weather on this scale can significantly harm food production, making prices soar and fuelling social unrest. Western North America, western Europe, western Russia,…
Read MorePopulation, waste bigger environmental factors than livestock
As the world’s population increases and the planet’s temperature rises, many are pointing to animal agriculture as a leading cause of climate change, said Dr Robin White from the Virginia State University. White said animal agriculture can and must become a significantly more sustainable industry. Much of her research focuses on sustainable beef production that…
Read MoreClimate outlook for 2020
The variable and changing climate Climate conditions were in general unfavourable for agricultural production in the recent past seasons. Severe drought over most of South Africa and especially the central, western, south western and south eastern parts of the country already persists since about 2012. In areas where higher rainfall amounts occurred was the distribution…
Read MoreAfrican Environment Ministers commit to address environmental crises
At the 17th Ordinary session of the AMCEN all 54 African countries have committed to addressing the key environmental challenges of climate change, land degradation, loss of biodiversity and plastic pollution. The Ministers further committed to raise the political profile and institutionalize a circular economy, and a blue economy to support the implementation of the…
Read MoreGM crops and the developing world
The majority of genetically modified (GM) crops are now cultivated in the developing world. In 2014, around 53% of the 182m hectares (nearly two million square kilometres) of GM crops were grown in these countries. Though, the “developing world” is a catch-all for many different countries. Brazil and Argentina are way out in front, planting nearly 70m hectares…
Read MoreCould the Future of Farming be Urban?
Over the last two centuries, the United States of America has been transformed from a predominantly rural, agricultural nation into an urban one. Currently, over four-fifths of the U.S. population resides in urban areas. And yet, the urban population relies on food transported from farms hundreds, even thousands of miles away. And that includes everyone…
Read MoreSpan tegnologie in vir effektiewe plaagbeheer
Produsente is goed daarop ingestel om plantpeste, siektes en onkruide met plaagdoders te beheer wanneer sulke plae gewasse bedreig. Sulke optrede is meestal reaktief en kos gewoonlik ‘n klein fortuin want dit is plaagdoders, spuittoerusting, brandstof en werkerstyd wat alles daarin belê word om plaagbeheer effektief toe te pas. Soms vang plae produsente onkant, soos…
Read MoreSoil Preparation book for grapevine industries just launched!
A brand new book was just released for the wine and table grape industries. SOIL PREPARATION for sustainable wine and table grape production, by Johan van Zyl and Eduard Hoffman, covers knowledge gleaned from research and practical experience that accumulated in South Africa over the past 100 years. The project was a joint venture between…
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