Small Acts, Big Impacts

Small Acts, Big Impacts – Implementing the Climate Change Response Strategy for the Deciduous Fruit Sector in South Africa, by Nitasha Baijnath-Pillay.

While climatic challenges have always existed, the scientific consensus is that climate change is a ‘threat multiplier’, increasing the likelihood and severity of climatic events. Over time, climate change could threaten the sector’s sustainability unless measures are taken. With this view, Hortgro developed the Climate Change Response Strategy (CCRS) for the Deciduous Fruit Industry (DFI) in South Africa, focusing on climate change adaptation, building resilience, and mitigation actions.

It is no easy feat to be a sustainable industry that is also productive, competitive, equitable, and resilient across the value chain. Therefore, the CCRS provides a roadmap for the DFI to respond to climate change risks and opportunities through innovation, leadership, and collective action while securing the environmental and societal goods and services that underpin a productive, resilient, and sustainable industry in the long term.

Although a large body of scientific knowledge on climate change is available globally and in South Africa, the information is dispersed to growers and technical advisors and implemented through an information pipeline of popular publications, presentations, and technical advice. Hortgro has also developed a Scientific and Practical Guide to Climate Change and Pome/Stone Fruit Production in South Africa. This Guide is a ‘go-to’ source of spatial information on climate change risks, impacts and adaptation options for pome and stone fruit growers and technical advisors in South Africa. It provides a reliable, science-based, yet practical source of information to guide planning and adaptation for the next 30 years. This is a ‘living’ document and will be updated regularly.

The CCRS framework for the pome and stone fruit industries of South Africa is divided into four strategic focus areas, namely:

1. Build Climate Resilience and Adaptive Capacity
2. Transition To Low-Carbon Fruit Production and Value Chain
3. Strengthen Formal Enablers (such as Policies, Agreements, Infrastructure, Finance)
4. Strengthen Informal Enablers (such as Information, Skills, Social Norms, Financial Decision-Making)

Building Climate Resilience and Adaptive Capacity includes actions such as developing a water resource plan, implementing water-saving irrigation technology, researching and promoting the water-related benefits of soil covers and management practices, effective and sustainable use of protective netting over orchards, climate-adapted cultivar, rootstock and crop choices for local contexts future climate and improving postharvest quality relating to effects of growing season climate stress.

Recently, Marno van Der Westhuizen, Research Implementation Manager at Hortgro Science, undertook a research assessment to identify gaps and further research needs of the CCRS. “Since 2005, we have completed 38 projects on building climate resilience and adaptive capacity in the CCRS, with 13 research projects currently in progress.”

Hortgro’s sustainability and resource management programme will focus on promoting research projects that will assist us in transitioning to low-carbon fruit production and value chain over the coming years. This includes promoting and researching increased resource use efficiencies for fertilisers, agrochemicals, and waste; increased energy use efficiencies for electricity, diesel, and other fuels; the transition to alternative low-carbon energy sources across the value chain; and practices to effectively build up soil carbon content through carbon removals from the atmosphere. This will guide us in planning a pathway toward industry-level net-zero emissions by 2050.

Taking Action

We are communicating and raising awareness of the importance of responsibly using water, energy, soil, fertilisers and chemicals. Our free Hortgro Footprint Webinar series covers essential and relevant sustainability topics for the DFI, such as sustainable agricultural practices for soil health and green financing opportunities. This year, we will also incorporate topics on sustainable packaging, carbon calculations and how to become a carbon hero, as well as water efficiency in packhouses. Our communication strategy includes sharing innovative technologies, mitigation measures, case studies, and demonstration projects to help us become resilient and enhance our ability to adapt to climate change. Every bit helps us get closer to achieving our sustainability vision.