You can get a lot done without leaving your home today, with three online discussions on a variety of topics to join and an informative new podcast episode to listen to.
There are talks on the topics of underutilised crops and sustainable agriculture, cannabis genetics and proposed structural changes for the South African grains industry to join.
Also, the latest episode of our popular Farmer’s Inside Track podcast features an all-female line-up today.
But before you tune in, take note that the National Agricultural Marketing Council is searching for ministerial trustees for Mzansi’s winter cereal trust.
1
Ministerial Trustees Wanted
The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) is inviting applicants to serve as ministerial trustee representatives for the winter cereal trust. The objective of the trust is to provide financial support for scientific, technical or industrial research into the production of winter cereals in the country.
The NAMC is mandated to facilitate the communication process between the agricultural industry trusts and the minister in the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development (DALLRD), Thoko Didiza.
The secondary objective of the trust is to further the country’s winter cereal industry by supporting the following:
- The maintenance of information required by the winter cereal industry;
- The broadening of the market for South African produced winter cereals; and
- The administration of the wheat forum, as structured at the time of the establishment of the winter cereal trust.
Applications close on the 14th August.
2
EcoMaties Invites You the EcoWarrior
To celebrate women this month the EcoMaties Sustainability Society at the Stellenbosch University will host a dialogue between Dr Ethel Phiri, lecturer in the faculty of AgriSciences, and Elsje Dippenaar, champion of sustainable agriculture.
The agricultural scientists are discussing the topic “Africa to feed 9 billion people by 2050: underutilised crops, sustainable agriculture and policy” via Teams.
EcoMaties is a student society that aims to advance sustainable practices on campus.
3
Be on the lookout for a new FIT Podcast Episode
Episode 39 of the popular Farmer’s Inside Track podcast goes live today. Join journalists Dawn Noemdoe and Duncan Masiwa as they celebrate women in the agriculture sector.
Don’t miss the chat with North West farmer Neo Leburu, who has been farming for more than a decade and empowers youth in her community. Standard Bank senior manager Bertie Hamman joins the pair for a chat on telling the difference between cash flow and profit.
Click here to listen to the episode on Spotify or just use the player below.
4
Cannabis genetics webinar
The Cheeba Cannabis Academy and Marijuana SA will today host a webinar on the importance of cannabis genetics with some of the world and South Africa’s leading genetics companies.
Different strains of cannabis are diverse and have a multitude of effects. The plants are said to have a total of 20 different chromosomes with potentially hundreds of different genes existing in one.
The webinar at 20:00 will unpack cannabis genetics and explore the South African and international genetics markets with a panel including Trenton Birch from Cheeba Africa, Dean Van Schalkwyk from Marijuana SA and Mahmoud Hanachi, head of genetics and new territories at the Dutch Passion Seed company. You can register here.
5
Webinar explores structural changes in South African grains
Farmers and grain industry enthusiasts are invited to attend the Alternative Location Differential Proposal webinar hosted by Grain SA at 18:00 today.
Local grain and oilseed markets have undergone several structural changes over the past 20 years. The current differential system based on structures prevalent in the single-channel marketing system never fully adapted to structural changes which have taken place over time.
Grain SA will explore alternative proposals on how to incorporate the current reality into a differential calculation with economists Luan van der Walt and Dr Dirk Strydom. Register for the online event here.
