Vol 15 No 1
R40.00 (RSA) VAT & Postage incl.
BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR GREENHOUSE, TUNNEL, SHADE NET AND Hydroponics FARMERS
• New Blue Berry Variety in SA • Guidance on Listeriosis • Growing Mini Rocket Leaves • More Sustainable Approach to Pest Control?
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January / February 2018
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Full Programme inside for Undercover Farming Conference 7-8 March 2018
THIS picture: The OZblu- blue berry farm in Wolseley district, Western Cape. See page 4.
PROPRIETOR / ADVERTISING SUZANNE OOSTHUIZEN 012-543 0880 / 082 832 1604 Email: suzanne@pop.co.za EDITORIAL CONTENT & COMPILATION Johan Swiegers 082 882 7023 editor@pop.co.za SUBSCRIPTIONS Annual Subscription R 180.00 (RSA only) (VAT. Incl.) ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS Email to ucoverfmg@pop.co.za ADDRESS PO Box 759, Montana Park 0159 E-MAIL ucoverfmg@pop.co.za FAX 086 518 3430 ADDRESS PO Box 759, Montana Park 0159 DESIGN Fréda Prinsloo PRINTING Business Print Centre Undercover Farming accepts no responsibility for claims made in advertisements or for opinions and recommendations expressed by individuals or any other body or organisation in articles published in Undercover Farming. Copyright is reserved and the content may only be reproduced with the consent of the Editor.
GREENHOUSE CHAT...
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ifteen years ago Undercover Farming first rolled off the press in Pretoria. After a series of editorials were published in the ‘father’ publication, Nufarmer Africa, several calls were received at the office for more information on producing agricultural commodities under protective cover in a hydroponics system. This led to research on the viability of a publication for the producers of vegetables, fruit, berries, flowers and seedlings that are grown under the protective cover of plastic tunnels and shade net structures. We are proud to be the ‘mouthpiece’ of this important industry that has grown rapidly over the years. The forthcoming Undercover Farming Conference during 7-8 March marks the eighth Conference in the north of the country. During early October the sixth Western Cape Conference will be held in the Boland. The importance of the Conferences is underscored by the many regular delegates and exhibitors participating in these events. It is also interesting to notice different role players in agriculture coming to have a peek at the events or to spend time discussing matters of current interest with producers and service providers during intervals. Unfortunately, at the time the conferences started in 2012, the Association for Vegetables Under Protection was disbanded. It used to be the event of the year when ‘undercover’ farmers convened at Stellenbosch to listen to speakers with insight and experience in their industry. A letter was received from a major role player in the industry recently, complimenting Undercover Farming for being ‘on the spot’ by gathering role players in the industry together again in a well-organised manner with the Conferences in Pretoria and Stellenbosch district. We accept this compliment very humbly as it is the aim of the company to see our industry go from strength to strength. Listening to Minister Gigaba’s Budget Speech, and specifically on the subject of strengthening agriculture with a budget for research, assistance to current smallholder farmers to become commercially viable and the ever raised land question, one cannot help to feel a bit ‘left out’ as an industry. Great will be the day that our total industry will be represented on the formal agricultural platform and acquire a seat in Parliament! Ed.
GOLDEN WORDS • GOUE WOORDE ...
Proverbs 2:10-11 10 “When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto your soul; discretion shall preserve you, understanding shall keep you.” Spreuke 2:10-11 “Die wysheid sal sy plek in jou lewe inneem, kennis sal vir jou iets aangenaam word; oordeelkundigheid sal oor jou waghou en verstandigheid sal jou bewaak.” S u bs c r i p t i o n / i n t e k e n i n g Online subs: Email to Suzanne@pop.co.za If you subscribe on-line, e-mail your deposit and address details to: ucoverfmg@pop.co.za. More information from Suzannne Oosthuizen: 012-543 0880. Subscription form available on page 23.
v i s i t u s at / bes o e k o n s b y
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Front page: Eben Wepener of Wolseley Berries in one of his shade net houses. INSET PICTURE: The new Ozblu blueberries-close-up view.
Wolseley Farmer confident with switch to OZblu Berries from deciduous fruit 4 Fresh produce Listeriosis Guidance 6 Passion for agriculture tranforms into lucrative business 8 Attaining a profitable aquaponics system 9 When to introduce new technologies to your farm and when not to 10 Peat-based growing media offer unique crop security 11 Official Programme Undercover Farming Expo 2018 12 Greenhouse Farming contributes to Sustainable Agriculture 14 Sakata tomatoes 15 The smallest cherry tomato cultivated 16 Spotlight on growing nutritious mini-rocket leaves 17 Has the Agri industry’s horse bolted on employee wellness and benefits? 18 Metabolic Engineering: More sustainable approach to pest control? 20 Fungus gnats: identification and sustainable management 21 Subscription form 23
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Contents • Inhoud
Wolseley farmer confident with switch to OZblu berries from deciduous fruit Local OZblu blueberry volumes are on the rise, which is great news for South Africa’s agricultural export market and depressed job market. The additional volumes are all thanks to the dedicated farmers who have faced their fair share of challenges as parts of South Africa continue to experience severe drought conditions.
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ben Wepener of Wolseley Berries has 27 hectares of OZblu blueberries in the Western Cape – a practice he has been involved in since 2015. Previously farming with apples and peaches, Eben was eager to learn and expand his passion for farming. “The OZblu varieties are vigorous growers with very high yields, producing bigger blueberries that are crunchy, firm and sweet.
OZblu blue berry farmer Eben Wepener with his crop.
“I am confident that this growth will come with rewards of increased revenue for the agricultural sector and further employment opportunities for South Africa. At Wolseley, we currently have 35 permanent staff and in peak season we employ another 250 casuals, which we hope to increase as the blueberries produce higher yields each year”.
Hannes Laubscher of United Exports says that while the current local market potential for blueberries in South Africa is not huge, it is growing every year and as the product becomes more readily available and quality improves – consumption and repeat purchases will continue to grow. “OZblu blueberries are grown outside in a sustainable, and biological environment. We are 100% vertically integrated and are therefore involved in every stage of the blueberries’
In December 2017, Statistics South Africa reported that the agricultural sector was the main contributor to the rise in South Africa’s GDP in 2017 – surging 14.9% quarter on quarter – the biggest quarterly growth that sector has seen in 21 years. “Growth like this is what we want for the industry and sustainable farming methods continue to pave the way for this growth,” says Eben. To page 5
A bit of laughter while harvesting the blue berries on Wepener's farm.
The new OXblu blue berries.
From page 4 Switch to OZblu Berries from Deciduous Fruit
production process, working in harmony to create deliciously crunchy blueberries”. While water supply is an issue at present, Laubscher explains that blueberries are fed through drip irrigation and have weed matting which helps absorb and maintain the moisture of the soil. Eben adds that they also have a variety of colours of shade netting on Wolseley – all of which are constantly being checked to monitor the results of the varying effect on the plants and fruit. “In my farming experience, these blueberries are much more sustainable with regards to water in comparison to apple orchards and other such fruit,” Eben remarks.
OZblu berries on the plant.
South Africa remains a top exporting region for blueberries and continues to meet global expectations, which is encouraging considering OZblu’s predicted 150% growth of blueberries this year. However, for this growth to be achieved, strict processes have to be followed when producing blueberries and, in this instance, Eben is thankful for the dedicated support of OZblu. “It takes thorough planning and a good management team to ensure the success of any business and that is something we have within OZblu and across our farms”.
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Sorting blue berries.
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The new Ozblu blueberries-close-up view.
Fresh produce Listeriosis Guidance According to the RSA Group, one of South Africa’s leading sellers of fresh fruit and vegetables on behalf of producers, public should focus on the simple health and safety measures to combat the possibility of Listeriosis infection, as laid out by the South African Health Department.
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e are encouraging members of the public to take specific care in how they clean their fresh produce, and to ensure that they are educated as to the basics of Listeria prevention,” says Jaco Oosthuizen, RSA Group CEO. “Good information and effective communication are key to minimising risk.”
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They are monitoring South Africa’s Listeriosis context carefully and is committed to working with relevant stakeholders at fresh produce markets, as well as with suppliers, retail outlets and consumers to stay safe with respect to Listeria. The Joburg Market has a Food and Quality Assurance Department which
is monitoring the controls and safety of the fresh produce supplied. In response to this outbreak, the Food and Quality Assurance Department has performed a risk assessment of the fresh produce identified in the documented Listeriosis outbreak case studies. Samples of these have been sent through to the laboratory for analysis. “This is a serious disease and people are right to be concerned,” says Oosthuizen. “That said, there is also a lot of information swirling around social media at the moment that is either false or misleading. It’s imperative that we all understand the disease, how it works and what to do about it.” Although a serious illness, Listeriosis can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Listeriosis symptoms include fever, a stiff neck, confusion, weakness and vomiting, sometimes proceeded by diarrhoea. Members of the public suffering from such symptoms should consult their physician. A course of antibiotics will most likely be prescribed. “Fresh produce is perfectly safe as long those involved in food preparation follow the basic rules of health and safety,” says Oosthuizen. “Everyone must wash their hands – and those of children – thoroughly and often. We must also ensure that we wash our food with care, that cooking tools and surfaces are clean, that we cook food well and that we separate raw meat, poultry and fish from other foods and fresh produce. Provided that these basic measures are taken, families can carry on enjoying the benefits of fresh fruit and vegetables as usual without concern.”
Listeriosis facts and health tips According to the South African Department of Health, the World Health Organization offers the following five keys to food safety: • Keep clean. Wash your hands before handling food and often during food preparation. Please do not get tired of washing your hands if it means washing hundred times a day, please do it! • If you are handling or storing raw food, do not touch already cooked food unless you have thoroughly washed your hands and food preparation utensils. In other words, separate raw from cooked food. • Cook food thoroughly, never eat half cooked or uncooked food especially meat products. • Food that does not usually need cooking before eating, needs to be thoroughly washed with clean running water. • For families with no source of clean running water (water from rivers, dams, streams etc.) the water will need to be boiled before domestic use. • Keep food at safe temperatures. Food to be kept cold should be refrigerated and food to be served hot should be served hot. • Use safe water for domestic use at all times and use pasteurized milk products. Source: RSA Group.
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Passion for agriculture tranforms into lucrative business With a passion for agriculture and a drive to accomplish far beyond what is conventionally expected of a woman, Busi Molefe knew she just had to start her own business which came to fruition in partnership with several other ladies.
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olefe is the co-owner of BBS Farm in Port Shepstone, South of KwaZulu-Natal, which produces macadamia nuts and tomatoes across six hectares of land. In addition to retail giants such as Pick n Pay and Spar, her products are exported internationally to Asia, China, Europe and the USA. Molefe, 49, wants to lead by example to her three children, especially her only daughter. “I don’t want my children to limit themselves in their undertakings. They must take full advantage of the opportunities available to them and know that anything is possible,” said Molefe. After matriculating at Bhekameva High School in Highflats, Ixopo, Molefe did voluntary work for the Advancement Community Development Corporation. She was selected to represent South Africa in Sweden for an exchange programme facilitated by the Corporation which was awarded to participants from four countries. While in Sweden Molefe was taken aback by the generosity of a Swedish family who offered to fund her entire studies on her return to South Africa. By this time she had already developed a passion for farming and enrolled herself at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus for a degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Resources Management. The career choice bore fruit as Molefe was recently honoured at a gala dinner hosted by Ithala Development Finance Corporation which acknowledged exceptional businesswomen on a public platform. Molefe walked away with a R15 000 cash prize for securing third position among 145 entries in Ithala’s Imbokodo Iyazenzela Women in Business Awards, a flagship programme of the KZN provincial development agency. Driving SMME and cooperative development over the next five years is
one of the key strategic goals of Ithala. Over the past three years, Ithala has disbursed R878 600 000 to nearly 700 businesses, resulting in over 8 000 jobs being created. Of these, 28% are women-owned businesses and young people comprise nearly 40% of those on Ithala’s loan book. Wearing a production and marketing manager’s hat at BBS Farm, she hopes to inspire other aspiring women to chase after their dreams and make a success of their lives. “I’d like to see more women starting their own businesses and breaking the glass ceiling in previously male-dominated industries,” said Molefe. A recent McKinsey Global Institute report found that $12 trillion could be added to the global GDP by 2025 by advancing women’s equality. McKinsey’s “Power of Parity Study” also confirmed that women’s economic contribution globally is around 37% of the GDP with African women contributing 39% to GDP which is slightly above the average. Molefe and her business partners hope to expand their business portfolio to include tea tree oil products and a fish farm in the near future.
Busi Molefe of BBS Farm at Port Shepstone in her tomato greenhouse.
Attaining a profitable aquaponics system
or erecting a system that duplicates one that is already operational is apparent. Once the facility has been erected it must afford the opportunity to be operated cost efficiently; do not lift the water 2m if 1m is adequate, do not use 2 pumps if 1 can do the job. “The rafts and beds need to be kept full of crops at all time, the tanks full of fish and all need to be growing optimally. A 10% reduction in growth rate or 10% empty beds essentially mean a 10% reduction in income over time, without a commensurate reduction in OPEX. “Part of this focus must be to control pests and the impact they have on production rates and volumes. We should also manage theft closely as this is an economic killer. “In the market place we need to be sure that we get the best possible price for every leaf. Different packaging options provide a range of opportunities to sell our crops, thereby increasing our market share. Lettuce can be sold as whole, living lettuce or as leaves in a bag or combined with other herbs as a salad mix.
“You are highly likely to find the market to be a competitive environment. Make the most of the natural advantages offered by aquaponics being a natural and wholesome method of crop production, resulting in the most wonderful flavours.“ “If you are able to command a premium over other production methods (this is not uncommon for aquaponics crops), this is a game changer as is automatically increases your margin,” Leslie concluded.
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he relevance of this to us in Aquaponics is that we need to keep our costs down wherever possible. This starts with a workable design that is economically effective so that money is not wasted on unnecessary components or on inefficiencies. The benefit of buying a known system
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Just recently somebody quoted: `The company with the smaller margin at the same price will usually loose’. Stated differently, the company that maintains the tightest OPEX (operational expenditure) control will win. Leslie Ter Morshuizen of Aquaculture Inno vations explains in short how the farmer can become more profitable.
When to introduce new technologies to your farm and when not to Agriculture is becoming more integrated in the agro-food chain and the global market, while environ mental, food safety and quality, and animal welfare regulations are also increasingly impacting on the sector. It is faced with new challenges to meet growing demands for food, to be internationally competitive and to produce agricultural products of high quality.
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t the same time, it must meet sustainability goals in the context of on-going agricultural policy reform, further trade liberalisation and the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements. Today, farmers, advisors and policy makers are faced with complex choices. They are faced with a wide range of technologies that are either available or under development; they must deal with the uncertainties of both the effects these new technologies will have throughout the agri-food chain and the impact that a whole range of policies will have on the sustainability of farming systems. In addition, there is increasing pressure on agricultural research and advisory budgets that must be accommodated. Technology adoption, however, is a broad concept. It is affected by the development, dissemination and application at the farm level of existing and new biological, chemical and mechanical techniques, all of which are encompassed in farm capital and other inputs; it is also affected by education, training, advice and information which form the basis of farmers’ knowledge. It also includes technologies and practices in the whole agri-food sector that have an impact at farm level. Also, it should be borne in mind that most of these new technologies originate outside the farm sector. The concept of a sustainable farming system refers to the capacity of agriculture over
time to contribute to overall welfare by providing sufficient food and other goods and services in ways that are economically efficient and profitable, socially responsible, while also improving environmental quality. It is a concept that can have different implications in terms of appropriate technologies whether it is viewed at the farm level, at the agri-food sector level, or in the context of the overall domestic or global economy. All farming systems, from intensive conventional farming to organic farming, have the potential to be locally sustainable. Whether they are in practice depends on farmers adopting the appropriate technology and management practices in the specific agro-ecological environment within the right policy framework. There is no unique system that can be identified as sustainable and no single path to sustainability. There can be a co-existence of more-intensive farming system with more-extensive systems that overall provide environmental benefits, while meeting demands for food. However, it is important to recognise that most sustainable farming systems — even extensive systems — require a high level of farmer skills and management to operate. The adoption of technologies for sustainable farming systems is a challenging and dynamic issue for farmers, extension services, agri-business and policy-makers. The agricultural sector needs to employ a wide range of evolving technologies and farm practices across many different farming systems and structures to meet a variety of challenges. In the past, research was often directed at solving technical problems; now it is also aimed at defining research priorities and best technology to address current and future demands by society. Adopting technologies for sustainable farming systems is multi-disciplinary. Taking into account the wider range of objectives related to moving towards a more sustainable agriculture, compared to those targeting farm production, more disciplines have to work together. Technologies that can contribute to an economically efficient farm sector and the financial viability for farmers, while improving environmental performance and which are socially acceptable, will provide “triple dividends” to sustainability. Inadequate levels of education, access to advice and pressures on financial resources for some farmers slow the adoption of some technologies, especially those that require a larger scale of operations and where the initial investment costs required are high. Farmers need to face the right signals for the adoption of appropriate technologies. Farmers will invest in and implement sustainable technologies and farm practices if they made sure the investment will be profitable, if they have the right education, information and motivation. Assessing technologies for farming systems from a sustainability perspective is in its infancy. Until recently, the impacts of farm technologies were assessed according to relatively few, generally clear and measurable criteria: production, productivity, farm incomes, employment and trade. Assessing sustainability is more complex when environmental, social and ethical considerations must be taken into account. It is often not clear what the relationships are between the various elements of sustainability, what should and can be measured, and how the results are to be interpreted so that farmers, policy-makers and other stakeholders can identify with reasonable confidence which sustainable technologies work, which channels can best facilitate their dissemination and adoption in different conditions, and at what cost and benefit. From a workshop held in Wageningen UR.
Peat-based growing media offer unique crop security The use of peat as a substrate raw material Klasmann-Deilmann (represented in South Africa by Greenzone) uses peat as a raw material in the production of its growing media. As things stand today, peat is indispensable for use in commercial horticulture. Peat as a raw material in the production of growing media.
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Alternative raw materials such as wood fibre and compost are not available in sufficient quantities to allow peat-free growing media to be produced on the required scale – neither for Germany, Europe or the world as a whole. The supply of such alternatives could also be still further diminished, and their price could rise, as they become increasingly attractive for energy uses in future. 15% Alternative substrate consists of raw materials - every substrate raw material causes emissions, though in different amounts. Peat is among the raw materials with comparatively high CO2 values because in contrast to wood fibres and compost, it does not count as a renewable raw material. The targeted use of volume-forming substrate raw materials in place of peat has a positive impact on the carbon footprint of this growing media. A goal was set of increasing the share of alternative substrate raw materials by 15% of the annual output volume by the year 2020. KD
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eat-based growing media offer unique crop security for the whole diversity of crop plants. Eliminating peat from growing media diminishes crop security. Peat-based growing media can be produced and delivered in consistent quality. The company’s responsibility to nature is clear; of the huge areas of raised bogland that exist in the world, only a very small part is used for peat extraction. Intact bogs are nature conservation areas, and are left untouched. In line with the voluntary commitments made in the “Responsibly Produced Peat” (RPP), they obtain their raw materials exclusively from peat bogs that were drained decades ago, when this process was still the politically and socially accepted practice. More than 70% of their peat resources come from RPP certified extraction sites. This includes all sites in Lithuania as well as many important sites in Latvia and Germany. All RPP criteria were met for these sites. The peat extraction areas are subject to very strict legal regulations, which stipulate the performance of re-naturation once peat extraction has ended. In particular through re-wetting, they convert former extraction areas into typical bog-like landscapes where peat moss can begin to grow again. After being duly processed, the various peat types have optimum physical, chemical and biological plant cultivation properties which, taken all together, cannot be matched by any other raw material. Other raw materials, such as wood fibre, compost and coco pith, form an excellent supplement to peat. But these materials only achieve their desired horticultural effect in combination with peat. Raw peat materials are available in sufficient quantities to cover the world-wide demand for growing media. Ceasing to use peat in growing media would cause a gap in the supply chain.
Greenzone half
Undercover Farming Expo
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Programme Wednesday 07 March 2018
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07:00- 09:55
Registration: ALL DELGATES & EXHIBITORS (Tea & Refreshments will be served)
09:55 – 10:00
Welcome: Suzanne Oosthuizen, MD: Undercover Farming Expo
10:00 – 10:45
Keynote Address: GDARD Representative
10:45 – 11:30
Lindie Grobler – Agri Alchemi “Agriculture – then, now and where to from here”
11:30 – 12:15
Ockie van Niekerk – Optima Agrik “Recycling of irrigation water, current practice, benefits and requirements”
12:15 – 13:00
Herbert Stolker – Delphy SA “Viable Undercover Vegetable Farming”
13:00 – 14:00
LUNCH - (Registered Delegates & Exhibitors) – Served in Foyer at entrance of Conference/Expo Hall
14:00 – 14:45
Dr Sjoerd Alkema – GROW Fresh Produce “Access to Markets”
14:45 – 15:15
Wouter Conradie – NSF International “An overview of responsible horticultural production requirements”
15:15 – 16:00
Kees Van Der Kruk – Priva (Netherlands) “Entry level automation solutions”
16:00 – 18:00
Networking Session – FREE ENTRANCE (Public & VIP Guests) – Cash Bar available
Greenhouse Products (Pty) LTD
Dynatrade for Greenhouse supplies, Greenhouse screening systems, Greenhouses, Commercial greenhouses, greenhouse design, greenhouse tunnels, Greenhouse control equipment, and horticulture intensive growing. Tel: +27 (11) 764 5416 Fax: +27 (11) 764 1031 Email: info@dynatrade.co.za
Thursday 08 March 2018 08:00 – 09:00
Registration / Networking session with Exhibitors (Tea & Refreshments will be served)
09:00 – 09:45
Roger Jacques – Waste to Food “High quality organic growing media amendment and plant pest & disease control”
09:45 – 10:30
Andrew Wood – Haygrove South Africa “Newest Technology in Shade Net Tree cover”
10:30 – 11:15
Ute Jacobs - HarvestAgri “What is Brix and what will it tell you about your plant”
11:15 – 12:00
TEA
12:00 – 12:45
Frank de Villiers – Dynatrade SA “The benefits of Controlled Release fertilizers (Osmocote)”
12:45 – 13:30
Toni Martin – TM Chemicals “Efficacy of G-cide as an active in Dux Hygiene products”
13:30 – 14.15
Etienne Hinrichsen - AquaAfrica “Aquaculture in SA – Prospects and Pitfalls”
14:15 – 15:15 15:15 – 17:00
LUNCH (Registered Delegates & Exhibitors) – Served in Foyer at entrance of Conference/Expo Hall Networking Session – FREE ENTRANCE (Public & VIP Guests) – Cash Bar available
Conference Sponsors:
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13 JAN • FEB 2018
Undercover Farming Expo
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Greenhouse Farming contributes to sustainable agriculture
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The world’s population is expected to reach an estimated 8.5 billion by the year 2030. With a population this high, the demand on the agri cultural industry is greater than ever. In order to ensure that the present needs of our society are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own food production needs, sustainable agriculture practices are of the utmost importance.
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any leaders in the greenhouse industry understand this responsibility, and have taken the necessary steps to ensure they do their part. Here are 3 ways that the top greenhouses contribute to sustainable agriculture.
1. WATER RECYCLING
For many greenhouses, a fertilizer solution called nutrient feed-water is used to help grow their produce. This feed-water solution gets recirculated throughout the facilities across multiple growing cycles. This process minimizes the inputs into local surface water, groundwater and soil.
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2. CO2 RECAPTURE
Keeping a large greenhouse warm enough to grow fresh and flavourful produce year-round is not an easy task. In order to ensure an optimal temperature is maintained, many greenhouses use a special boiler system to heat their operations. As CO2 is expelled from this system, it can be captured and filtered, and can then be used as a natural, air-borne fertilizer to feed their growing plants.
3. NATURAL POLLINATION Using bees to naturally pollinate produce is practiced by some farmers in the greenhouse industry elsewhere but a device that shakes the twines or manually tapping the twines is still practised in South Africa. In other countries the hard-working bumblebees help improve the quality and quantity of the produce grown, and help reduce the need for harmful chemicals and pesticides. In order to obtain optimum production the three basic routes should be followed as explained in this editorial.
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uilding on the history of Sakata, the aim is to provide customers and consumers with vegetable varieties that would make a lasting impression on them and that they will be coming back for more. Sakata recently launched various new varieties that will catch the consumer’s attention.
Tomato, Inga
Inga is one of the newest indeterminate Salad varieties that comes out of the local programme and this variety is sure to make a difference in the market. Inga is well adapted for local condition and good results were obtained under protection. The variety is characterized by outstanding fruit quality and uniform fruit size. The distribution of size for large to medium size fruit is very good which enables the producer to use Inga over various packing sizes, from boxes to the 1kg bags. Inga has a compact growth habit, but with good vigour, especially later in the season. The fruit size is also maintained later in the season. Inga performed well in winter conditions in the moderate climatic areas and colour up was excellent. Yield is comparable to opposition varieties with quality also being outstanding. The variety has a strong root system and performs well without grafting. Inga has resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus, which is one of the viruses that is occurring in most of the production areas, although it is sporadic.
Galaxy
Tomato, Fortuna Fortuna is a semi-determinate medium-late maturing salad type variety. Plants are very vigorous with excellent leaf cover. Yield potential is very high with a very high percentage of first grade fruit with good flavour. Fortuna can maintain fruit size to the end of the season. The variety is aimed at the typical pre-pack market but for outdoor production. Fortuna has high resistance to Verticillium wilt race 1 (Vd: 1), Fusarium wilt races 1 – 3 (Fol: 1 – 3), Tomato mosaic (ToMV) and Root-knot (Mi, Mj), Gray leaf spot (Ss), Alternaria stem cancker (Aal) and intermediate resistance to Bacterial wilt (Rs: 1).
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Tomato, Galaxy Galaxy is an exciting, new indeterminate salad tomato with excellent fruit quality and a very good disease package. Galaxy has a high resistance to Verticillium wilt race 1 (Vd: 1), Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2 (Fol: 1 – 2), Root-knot (Mi, Mj), Tomato mosaic (ToMV) and Tomato curly stunt (ToCSV). Galaxy can be grown under protection and in the open field, with a short internode length. Very uniform clusters and early fruit set. Galaxy is a very adaptable variety and has performed well in other parts of the world as well. There are other new releases from the Sakata programme that is also sure to make a difference in the market. Jasmine is but one of these varieties, which is adaptable for both open field production and under protection, with Tomato spotted wilt and Tomato curly stunt virus. Watch this space – some exciting new products will be available soon!
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Sakata has been involved in every aspect of the seed industry for the past 100 years and the values of the company have never changed. Quality - the search for perfection Reliability - the obsession to keep a long-term relationship with customers and suppliers Service - the desire to contribute significantly to the improvement of living conditions
Inga
For more information on Sakata’s product range contact our Helpline on 0861 100 458 or visit our website www.sakata.co.za DISCLAIMER: This information is based on our observations and/or information from other sources. As crop performance depends on the interaction between the genetic potential of the seed, its physiological characteristics, and the environment, including management, we give no warranty express or implied, for the performance of crops relative to the information given nor do we accept any liability for any loss, direct or consequential, that may arise from whatsoever cause. Please read the Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Conditions of Sale before ordering seed.
Tel: 011 548 2800 www.sakata.co.za e-mail: info.saf@sakata.eu
The smallest cherry tomato cultivated It is said “Bigger is better”, but in the succulent world of cherry tomatoes, one Israeli company is going smaller than ever before.
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he “drop tomato” is about the size of a blueberry and the Kedma Company in the country’s southern Arava desert says it is the smallest one ever cultivated in Israel, perhaps even in the world. It’s a point of pride in a country known for its agricultural innovation, where fruits and vegetables are taken seriously and where several strands of the cherry tomato were first invented. “The idea is that it is comfortable,” said producer Ariel Kidron, a Kedma grower. “You can add it to a salad without the need to cut it. It just explodes in your mouth.” The seed, originally developed in Holland, was modified to match the arid growing conditions in southern Israel. Rami Golan, of the Central and Northern Arava Research and Development center, who accompanied the project, said it
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Tiny berry-sized tomatoes in yellow and red will soon be marketed world-wide.
Here chef Shaul Ben Aderet holds a small “drop tomato” and an Israeli new shekel at one of his restaurants, in Tel Aviv.
was definitely the smallest ever to be grown in Israel — where tomatoes are incredibly popular. The tiny tomato, smaller than a one shekel Israeli coin, is offered in red and yellow varieties and will be presented to the public at a three-day international agricultural fair in Israel later this month. Early indications are it could be a big hit. Shaul Ben Aderet, a well-known Israeli chef who owns three restaurants, including Tel Aviv’s “Blue Rooster,” got some early samples and says the new strand is packed with flavor and will spawn an infinite number of new recipes. He offered it sizzled in a pan, baked into focaccia bread and as a straight-up snack. By Audrey Horowitz
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r Loedolff studies natural ways that can be used to bio-fortify or boost food plants so that these Stellenbosch University plant researcher Dr Bianke Loedolff with a plant and samples of mini rocket leaves. can be used as functional foods to provide even greater nutritional or health benefits to those eating them. She works in the Institute for Plant Biotechnology in the Department of Genetics, in Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of AgriScience. Loedolff is especially interested in so-called micro-greens – the very first two to four tiny true leaves that grow on a plant. Her research on the micro-version of rocket salad was published in the journal Functional Foods in Health and Disease. It was conducted along with SU colleagues Dr Marietjie Stander, Dr Shaun Peters, Prof Jens Kossmann, as well as BSc Hons graduate Jolene Brooks.
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Loedolff turned her attention to rocket, because previous studies have highlighted the nutritional value of the mature peppery-tasting plants. Very little relevant work has yet been done on immature rocket plants. Through her research, she successfully adapted a known method using intense lighting to biofortify and substantially increase the nutritional value of micro-green rocket leaves. She believes the method could quite easily be adapted for use in greenhouses or in home gardens.
The benefits contained in plants As they grow, plants accumulate a variety of biological compounds called phytochemicals in their leaves. These most often have nutritional value. Research has shown that so-called micro-greens (the first four tiny leaves that a plant sprouts) are even healthier to eat, because phytochemicals hyper-accumulate in them as part of a plant’s natural protective measures. “The first growth of micro-greens of most plants are packed with nourishment and can contain up to ten times more phytochemicals than their mature counterparts,” Loedolff explains findings from recent studies done elsewhere in the world. It is known that when plants are stressed (for instance because of a lack of water, extreme sunlight or because of the addition of specific minerals), they release more phytochemicals in an effort to protect themselves. Researchers are now using these techniques to see whether they can successfully be used in the food industry to naturally stimulate or bio-fortify plant growth. To page 18
Specialist in Horticulture More information? Herbert Stolker Consultant South Africa T +27 (0) 72 545 5757 E h.stolker@delphy.nl
Joe Coetsee Consultant South Africa T +27 (0) 76 1123 952 E j.coetsee@delphy.nl
Majella van der Arend International Project Manager Africa T +27 (0) 82 335 3206 E m.vanderarend@delphy.nl
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The first few tiny leaves growing on a wild rocket plant can pack quite a punch in terms of health benefits. This is even more so when such micro-greens are grown under constant high lighting, says Stellenbosch University plant researcher Dr Bianke Loedolff.
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Spotlight on growing nutritious mini-rocket leaves
Has the Agri industry’s horse bolted on employee wellness and benefits?
U N D E R C O V E R F A R M I N G
South Africa’s pressurised agricultural industry can weather every storm if human capital is properly supported. SA’s agricultural and related businesses have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of unpredictable weather patterns, uncertainties around land reform policy, rural crime and episodes of labour unrest.
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ccording to Neels Barendrecht, CEO of Agility Channel, which offers a fully integrated health, wellbeing and financial services solution to the agricultural industry, the resourcefulness of farmers and businesses working closely with them have achieved great results for both employers and employees, but warns the industry is not out of the woods yet. “The constant need for com mercial farmers to tighten their belts has left the barn door open for another set of looming challenges. In lean years, it is To page 22
“Employee needs and wants can be affordably accommodated.”
From page 17 Spotlight on growing nutritious mini-rocket leaves
The current study Loedolff bought wild rocket seeds at a local nursery and then set out to grow two groups of seedlings in the growth facilities of the Institute of Plant Biotechnology on the campus of Stellenbosch University. The first group was grown under normal conditions (comparable to growing plants indoors in a shady spot), and the second using specialised light bulbs for plant growth that are three times more intense (similar to what plants growing on a windowsill in full sunlight will experience). The leaves were then picked and analyzed in search of possible compounds with health benefits. The beneficial compounds previously noted in mature rocket varieties were present in much greater concentrations in the microgreen leaves. Other compounds detected (such as resveratrol, catechin, epicatechin, and kaempferol) had not previously been known to occur in wild rocket. “Resveratrol is a compound commonly found in grape skins that is said to have a protective effect on the heart,” notes Loedolff. The first two to four leaves of the micro-greens grown under normal light stayed a green colour, while those under high lighting conditions turned a deep red to purple colour. According to Loedolff, the latter is because of a build-up of anti-oxidant rich phytochemicals. In general, the biofortified micro-greens were found to accumulate almost three times more antioxidants (including an abundance of vitamin C) than the others. “This technique shifts these tiny plants into the realm of functional foods with greater health benefits,” says Loedolff. “These results show that microgreen rockets may hold significant health benefits to consumers.” According to Loedolff, it is quite possible to take in most of these healthy compounds as part of a very regular diet of mature vegetables such as broccoli, kale and Brussel sprouts. “In contrast, immature plants, grown to a micro-stage of two to four true leaves, accumulates significantly higher amounts of phytochemicals, and therefore you do not need so much to get the same benefits,” says Loedolff. She believes it would be quite easy for people to grow their own salad
leaves in a similar fashion at home, provided that they have a strong enough light source and are able to foot the electricity bill that would come with shining a light on the plants they are hoping to eat. It could also help to grow plants in a spot where they receive daylong full sunlight. “Bio-fortifying various micro-greens into functional foods should become part of the package that we use to help prevent non-communicable diseases,” Loedolff further says. She is now testing whether some of the compounds extracted from bio-fortified wild micro-rockets has an effect on a range of diseases, such as cancer cells.
Did you know? • Wild rocket or arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) has its roots in the Mediterranean. • This salad leaf is known for its peppery aroma and pungent taste. • The pungent taste is ascribed to the phytochemical glucosinolates in the leaves. • It is most often eaten raw in a salad or on a pizza. • Rocket is part of the Brassica family of vegetables and leafy greens, which also contains brussel sprouts, broccoli, kale, and watercress among others.
What is the difference between micro-greens and sprouts? Micro-greens are the very first tiny leaves that grow from a plant. Sprouts, on the other hand, refer to seeds that have just started to germinate. By: Engela Duvenage; Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University.
References: Bianke Loedolff, Jolene Brooks, Marietjie Stander, Shaun Peters, and Jens Kossmann (2017). High light bio-fortification stimulates de novo synthesis of resveratrol in Diplotaxis tenuifolia (wild rocket) micro-greens Functional Foods in Health and Disease.
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Metabolic Engineering: More sustainable approach to pest control?
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Michael Gutensohn, assistant professor of horticulture and Ray Marsh and Arthur Pingree Dye Professor, and Yong-Lak Park, associate professor of entomology, all from West Virginia University, are working to combat a critical issue concerning piercing-sucking pests that serve as carriers of plant diseases.
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lot of horticultural crops are produced in controlled environments – so in greenhouses, high tunnels and growth chambers – and that brings about a particular set of problems because it’s a very artificial environment,” Gutensohn said.
Without rainfall, wind and other natural, physical forces, a favourable setting is created in such environments for small pests like aphids – softbodied insects that feed off the nutritious, vascular parts of the plant. Gutensohn explained that they don’t actually consume leaf tissue like their biting-chewing counterparts, such as beetles or caterpillars; rather, they poke at the plant using their piercing mouthparts, called stylets, to feed on the highly concentrated sugar solution. “The stylet of an aphid is so microscopically small that it doesn’t create huge damage to the tissue of the plant itself,” Gutensohn explained, noting that with even several aphids feeding on a plant, it would not present a real threat. “But, the problem is that a lot of these piercing-sucking insects are basically hijacked by plant diseases – in particular, viruses,” Gutensohn said. “So, that means that even a very low level of infestation by some of these insects can create a huge problem.” One current remedy is the use of synthetic insecticides, but that strategy has its drawbacks. “If you do that (use synthetic insecticides) too intensely, you’re creating resistances, or so-called avoidance behaviour on the pest side,” Gutensohn said. “Either the insecticide just doesn’t work on them anymore or they just try to avoid it … they sit on the lower side of the leaf, and you spray on top.” Other disadvantages relate to cost and consumer options. “Every time you spray, it’s an investment – it costs the grower and takes away from their revenue,” Gutensohn continued. “And then, last but not least, we consumers don’t necessarily like it. There’s always the fear, whether it’s true
or not, that this might affect your health or the environment.” Consequently, the need to find a more sustainable, biologically-based and environmentally-sound pest control strategy is highly desirable, so Gutensohn and Park are turning to metabolic engineering, which attempts to introduce genes for defensive traits into plants while considering the feeding behaviour of aphids. Their proof-of-principle approach uses wild and cultivated tomato lines as test subjects. “Wild plants are always very well-adapted for defending themselves against pests because they’re constantly under selection pressure to survive,” Gutensohn said. When tomatoes are bred for commercial and economic purposes, inevitably, some of their defensive traits are lost. Through metabolic engineering, Gutensohn and Park are trying to recover a specific trait that can serve as a natural repellent to aphids – the production of volatile terpenes, or scent compounds. Essentially, the goal is to recreate what happens in nature. “We are trying to create tomato lines that are producing these terpenes, not throughout the whole plant, but just in certain cells or tissues of the tomato plant that are particularly relevant for the feeding of an aphid,” Gutensohn explained. “Instead of spraying something, which is completely artificial, we need to really look at how this is done naturally. “It’s still genetic or metabolic engineering, but we can try to be as close as possible to how nature would do it, and by doing that, we’re not harming the plant or other organisms that we don’t want to harm and, in particular, we’re not exposing humans to chemicals that we don’t necessarily want to expose them to.” The over-arching objective of the two-year project is to obtain plant lines and base-line data for seeking further research opportunities that will eventually lead to the ultimate goal: develop a novel pest management strategy to control aphids and transmittable viruses. “In the end, we hope this is a far more sustainable approach to pest control,” Gutensohn said. “This matters, I think, to everyone who is affected by this – the farmer or grower because it’s less of a risk of losing crops and it’s less of an investment because you don’t have to spray, which, again, can be good for the consumer.”
Michael Gutensohn in a greenhouse where they are doing trials.
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n nature, fungus gnats are beneficial insects, acting as indicators of soil health, as well as decomposing organic matter. However, a few fungus gnat species are specialised pests of many of South Africa’s greenhouse crops. Damage consists of direct physical damage to the plant´s roots, due to larval feeding, but of equal significance is the indirect damage caused through the transfer of plant fungal pathogens. Coupled herewith is the creation of entry points for soilborne plant pathogens. Some pest species of fungus gnats, thought to have been introduced to South Africa, have been determined to be well-established in our greenhouses. They have, so far, been recorded as pests in tree nursery beds, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, chrysanthemums, blueberries, different herbs, and many houseplants.
Life cycle The life cycle (Fig.1) of fungus gnats consists of a complete metamorphosis, being comprised of four different stages: eggs, larvae, pupa, and adult. The larval stage goes through four different instars that are differentiated by their respective sizes. The duration of the life cycle is between 2 to 4 weeks, with it lasting longer at lower temperatures. Thus, more fungus gnats are likely to be present in the summer than in the winter. Within an established population, overlapping generations occur. Such occurrence is important to understand when planning a fungus gnat integrated pest management programme. Since there is intergenerational overlap and the different stages differ in habitat, behaviour, and susceptibility to biocontrol agents, pretreatment and the consecutive applications of controlling agents is necessary.
control agents are readily available on the market. Pretreatment of the potting media with a biocontrol agent, and with consecutive applications of the same thereafter, should help prevent the build-up of heavy fungus gnat populations. However, it is important to note that biological control measures can only be effective if they are supplemented with alternative plant protection management strategies, like those described below.
Monitoring Adults of fungus gnats can occasionally be monitored during watering, by means of gently shaking the plant, and watching for small, dark-winged insects that will normally be running around in the plant environment. The adults can also be monitored by using yellow sticky traps that should be placed close to the plants under observation. The larvae can be monitored by means of using potato/carrot discs that are placed on the moist surface of the growth medium, and that are occasionally overturned to check for fungus gnat larvae (Fig. 1). The larvae characteristically have a shiny black head capsule, and a white-to-transparent body. Monitoring should help with identifying the right time to take the necessary control measures. Even though no established thresholds currently exist for the application of control measures, the existence of a few fungus gnats might indicate the possibility of an infestation, since a single female is capable of laying hundreds of fertile eggs. Maintaining good root health could help to reduce the effects of larvae damage. To page 22
Management & Control A good management plan for fungus gnats relates largely to sanitation and water application practices. Highly moist organic substrates, characterised by the presence of decomposing organic matter, are the best sites for fungus gnat breeding and reproduction. Even though doing so might seem to be idealistic, keeping your water application to the minimum required by the plants concerned should reduce your fungus gnat populations. It is advisable to keep the use of chemical insecticides to the minimum, because fungus gnats are pests of crops in relation to which the application of chemicals is usually inappropriate. Such is the case of mushrooms and vegetables with a short lifecycle, or of houseplants that are kept in close proximity to humans. In such cases, the use of biological control agents and other cultural methods is, thus. recommended. The use of such alternative methods should also help to prevent problems that are often associated with fungus gnats developing resistance to chemicals, and with the leaving of chemical residue on food crops. Such biological control organisms include entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), predatory mites, soil bacteria, fungi, and others. The commercial products that are based on such biological
Fig. 1 Life cycle of fungus gnats a) A batch of eggs laid by a female adult b) The four larval stages c) The pupa d) Male and female adults.
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Fungus gnats are small, dark-winged flies that resemble tiny mosquitoes. They are common pests in greenhouses, nursery beds, mushroom compost, and houseplants. You will normally observe the adults hovering over the surface of the growth medium, especially in the presence of decomposing organic matter and fungal, or algal, growth. It is important to note that fungus gnats thrive under moist conditions. As adult fungus gnats are weak fliers, they only fly short distances, especially when they are suddenly disturbed. Commonly misdiagnosed as fruit flies, they are generally regarded as a nuisance, and cause discomfort to farmworkers.
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Fungus gnats: identification and sustainable management
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From page 21 Fungus gnats: identification and sustainable management
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Fig. 2 Hundreds of fungus gnats on a sticky trap, indicating the presence of a heavy infestation.
Sanitation and on-farm entry restrictions: Sanitation can be undertaken by means of eliminating algae and decomposing debris that might otherwise act as breeding places for the fungus gnats. Restrict entry of persons, tools, planting material, and substrates to the farm, unless precautionary procedures have first been put in place. Choice of potting media: The choice of potting media will have an impact From page 18 employee wellness and benefits
not uncommon for agricultural employers to feel that they have little choice but to cut back on staff benefits, lay off permanent staff from management to manual labourers, or compromise on healthcare cover,” he observes. “In practice, such short term savings can threaten the sustainability of agricultural businesses, and a holistic solution is needed before the proverbial horse bolts. The agricultural industry is far more complex than it appears at face value, and competition among employers to retain valuable employees remains an additional intricacy of the conditions in which the industry operates. “Reducing costs and improving productivity are the elusive goals of business in any sector, and South Africa places additional pressure on agricultural business to get this right while uplifting the labour force and sustainably supporting neighbouring communities. “Skilled and experienced staff are hard to come by, and they look for healthcare cover and the security afforded through disability and life insurance in prospective employment opportunities. Without the correct skills and a healthy, motivated workforce, agriculture suffers – particularly in a country beset with a growing burden of lifestyle-related health conditions,” Barendrecht points out. The unskilled workers in the rural farming communities, which may include staff of grain, fruit, sugar, vegetable, livestock or game farmers, co-ops, agri-processing plants, fertilizer companies and related industries, are often reliant on state clinics for their healthcare needs. “This frequently means time away from work waiting in long queues for treatment, or a lack of treatment, which in turn can have consequences for productivity and, ultimately, profitability.” Barendrecht notes that among the many stressors facing individuals involved in the farming sector are the problems of To page 23
Fig. 3 Male and female fungus gnats.
on the fungus gnats’ proliferation. However, unfortunately, the currently preferred substrates, such as bark, wood fibre, coir, and composted green waste, seem to be more associated with fungus gnats than is the more conventional peat. The pasteurisation of soilless bagged media, prior to their introduction to the farm, is necessary.
Without the correct skills and a healthy, motivated workforce, agriculture suffers.
disability cover to hospital plans through comprehensive medical scheme membership and gap cover products. Even seasonal workers can be provided with access to appropriate medical care through a flexible rechargeable health card that can either enhance existing healthcare benefits or provide basic healthcare benefits to non-covered employees, as and when they are contracted. “Absenteeism management and additional compliance support to assist staff living with chronic conditions boost productivity, and our basic employee wellbeing programme attached to the medical scheme benefits also provides unlimited access to telephonic financial, legal and psychosocial support. This service can be enhanced with face-to-face benefits for employees that require these. The rewards programme offered through their card system is provided at no additional cost to members of the Agility product range. Furthermore, customers and members across the country share in the benefits, not only those in the cities that live close to specific gyms only. “Encompassing all aspects of employee wellbeing, healthcare and employee benefits, the fact that Agility Corporate Agriculture integrates all these products and benefits mean that we are able to provide a relevant holistic solution. Our integrated, outcomes-based reporting saves on administrative duties for our clients, so that return on investment is demonstrable. “We know how practical busi nesses operating in the farming environment must be to survive, and we know that with the correct human capital risk management support the industry is not only sustainable, but it is set to flourish,” Barendrecht concludes.
Even seasonal workers can be provided with access to appropriate medical care through a flexible rechargeable health card. NOVEMBER | DESEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
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rural security and trauma following crime incidents. “The link between stress or psychological trauma and physiological wellbeing is well established, and it follows that work performance also suffers if individuals do not have access to counselling when it is required,” he says. “The agricultural industry faces a complex and multifaceted set of problems, which Agility is well placed to understand as we have undertaken in-depth research not only in farming enterprises, but also across co-operatives, suppliers and the business ecosystems in which they operate. “Taking these specific requirements into account, we have developed an integrated product solution for agriculture to address the full spectrum of human capital risk management. Employee needs and wants can be affordably accommodated while providing employers with a strong point from which to negotiate labour agreements and attract quality staff, and at the same time have their occupational health requirements and queries taken care of,” he explains. The Agility suite of services for the agricultural sector encompasses group risk benefits and healthcare provision for staff at all levels, from life and
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From page 22 employee wellness and benefits
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