NEW SERIES: AGRITOURISM AND BUSINESS INNOVATION IN THE DECIDUOUS FRUIT INDUSTRY Farming is ceaselessly evolving. At first, it was all about food for survival for the farmer and his family. Today, farming is big business. Scientifically and economically speaking. Yet,…
A 2019 survey found just 24% of South African farmers are hosting some form of agritourism on their farms. That means there’s a massive opportunity for expansion in this area. Agritourism could help farmers use their farm resources to their…
By Kara van der Berg A new phytosanitary facility dedicated to deciduous fruit will help improve access to new markets and maintain current ones for the industry. Hortgro approved and funded the building of a new phytosanitary research laboratory that…
Members of Hortgro Science’s entomological team visited the Langkloof area in April to follow up on damage to pears possibly caused by sucking insects. Matthew Addison, Crop Protection Programme Manager, and Dr Minette Karsten, a researcher in applied entomology, met…
By Kara van der Berg Hortgro’s Dr Xolani Siboza’s first MScAgric student, Dian Craven, graduated from Stellenbosch University on 4 April. Dr Siboza is a Hortgro-seconded researcher in the Department of Horticultural Science at Stellenbosch University where Craven conducted his study.…
Vir die kerngebiede waarin koring- en appelproduksie bedryf word, was die onlangse meerjarige droogte die ergste in 30 jaar. Dit kan ’n vroeë teken wees van die uitwerking van klimaatsverandering op landbou in die winterreënvalstreek van die Wes-Kaap. Dít blyk…
In die verlede, het Hortgro opleiding en ontwikkeling gefasiliteer deur verskeie programme wat hoofsaaklik beursskemas, navorsingsprogramme en mentorskap-en opleidingsprogramme ingesluit het. Beurse, aan voorgraadse- en nagraadse studente, asook opleiding en mentorskap is maar ‘n aspek van die verskeie transformasie inisiatiewe wat…
Hortgro, the deciduous fruit industry body of South Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Unati Speirs as a new board director. She will be taking over the vacancy left by Dr Mono Mashaba who served the industry…
Tanja Hichert is a professional futurist who has helped an impressive list of clients — from the City of Cape Town to the World Bank — to identify ways in which to reach their preferred futures. By Anna Mouton. Hichert…
No one can predict the future. But can we identify actions that we can take today to shape a better tomorrow? By Anna Mouton. Hortgro recently contracted professional futurist Tanja Hichert to facilitate a foresight study for the pome- and…
Watter langtermyn aanpassings is nodig om die toekoms van landbou te verseker? Die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou se 2020 toekomsbeplanningstudie mik om hierdie vraag te beantwoord. Deur Anna Mouton. Dr Dirk Troskie is verantwoordelik vir beplanning en strategie vir die…
Vier bekendes in die bedryf gesels oor verandering – wat leer die afgelope dertig jaar ons oor die toekoms? Deur Anna Mouton. “Ek kan onthou in my eerste jaar by Fruitways – 1997 – was ek by ’n oes-af funksie…