The collaboration between the Agriculture Research Council (ARC) and the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development has been a long-lasting relationship over the years. The two entities is hosting a first-of-its-kind three-day conference focusing on climate change and vaccine availability, amongst other critical issues.
On the first day of the conference, minister Thoko Didiza highlighted the importance of solving climate change-related issues in the sector with research development and partnerships.
‘We need to transform food systems’
“The conference comes at a time when our food system, both nationally and internationally, is confronted by external factors ranging from climate change, global conflicts, food waste, and the constant detection of new pests and diseases.
“These realities are threatening how we have been producing, storing, and distributing our food. As a result, there is now a consensus around the world including in South Africa, that we need to transform our food systems to deliver the human right to food in an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective, and socially just manner,” she said.
Didiza said the promotion and support of public research and development, in particular agricultural research, innovation, and development in partnership with academia and private institutions is non-negotiable.
She added that research and development investments will help generate technologies and produce high-yielding, nutrient-dense, drought-tolerant crop varieties, and animal breeds, which will increase production using less or the same land and inputs.
“Research and development could also help us to build modern and functional early detection tools for pests and diseases, thereby helping us to manage their spread and cost to the agriculture and food sectors.
“Moreover, investments in our researchers will generate knowledge and skills that can be transferred to our small-scale farmers through extension services.”
Didiza encouraged the conference to delve into various areas that constrain farmers, agribusinesses, and other value chain players. Amongst these areas is the issue of climate change in a transitioning economy to low carbon emissions.
“The benefits of [the] 4th industrial revolution and its impact on agriculture and the efficiency of the value chain are other aspects that require a careful analysis and interpretation by our researchers,” she said.
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Areas that need focus
Deputy director-general of agricultural production, biosecurity and natural resources management Dipepeneneng Serage said the relationships between the department, ARC and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) have been very beneficial for the agricultural sector. He acknowledged that the ARC is the only national statutory research council in South Africa.
“This relationship was decided a long time ago. Our plea is simple from the department: that the research being conducted should be basic research about things that matter. We have a long way to go.
“Your problem as a scientist is to conduct research and find answers. Climate change discussions have been done but we need something new. We need drought-resistance cultivars,” he said.
However, he expressed frustration with the country’s inability to provide poultry products for export markets like the United States of America because South Africa’s production system is based on growth stimulates.
“We need to find a way to export chicken to other markets that require hormone-free chickens,” he said.
Providing relevant vaccines
Meanwhile, a board member of OBP, Dr Boitshoko Ntsabele, said as the animal vaccine producer in the country, they have a proud history of being an offshoot of the ARC.
“Animal diseases have the potential of devastating effects, not only on producers but also consumers. Such gatherings have helped us understand and manage animal diseases.
“A few months ago we were worried about the availability of poultry meat and eggs because of avian influenza. When there is an outbreak of animal disease in the country, people ask why we do not have the vaccines,” he said.
Ntsabele added, however, that it was difficult to make vaccines available in-house. “I must make all possible vaccines and those are inefficiencies because sometimes I make vaccines at high costs and sell them at a lower price,” he expressed.
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