"We live in a world of constant change, but one thing that remains a constant is that people must eat daily to meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life. For this reason, people across the world need to have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Key to this access to food is the issue of affordability. This is the reason, governments across the world introduce policies to develop agro-food systems in their respective countries that ensure food security for the population" - Dr John Purchase, Agbiz CEO. Find media release linked»
|
 Over the past 21 months, the High Level Panel on the Assessment of Legislation and the Acceleration of Fundamental Change, which has been chaired by former President Kgalema Motlanthe, has criss-crossed the country to hear first-hand from the people about their experience of the laws passed by the democratic state. Numerous submissions from individuals, non-governmental organisations, academics, industry associations and many other organisations were received, including from Agbiz. Dr John Purchase (Agbiz CEO) and Theo Boshoff (Agbiz Head: Legal Intelligence) provides more information in the
linked article»
|
On 28 November 2017, the National Assembly approved a Bill that will give employees in South Africa the right to 10 days parental leave. The Labour Laws Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly and will now be considered by the National Council of Provinces.
The Bill provides for parental leave, adoption leave and commissioning (surrogacy) parental leave. It subsequently also provides for the provision to claim benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund for adoption and commissioning parental leave.
A father qualifies and can claim the parental benefit only if their information is shown on the birth certificate of the child.
A parent who is an adoptive parent of a child who is below the age of two, is entitled to at least ten days consecutive leave since the date that the adoption order is granted or the child is placed in the days of a prospective adoptive parent by a court.
Agbiz advises its members to change their leave policy as soon as the law comes into operation and ensure that the necessary proof is provided by employees to claim the leave benefit
- Elize van der Westhuizen, Agbiz representative at the NEDLAC Labour Market Chamber.
|
Prof Marcos Fava Neves, world-renowned global agribusiness expert, has released a new book on agribusiness development and has graciously made an e-version available to Agbiz and its members. Due to the large size of this document we have broken it into smaller parts. Please click the links below to download and peruse:
Introduction»
Part 1»
Part 2»
Part 4»
Prof Fava Neves will be a keynote speaker at the 2018 Agbiz Congress to be held in Port Elizabeth on 7-8 June 2018. Do not miss the opportunity to engage with him then!
|
 There is a commonly held view that Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of Africa, although the specific timeframe is unclear. This vague narrative gives an impression that Zimbabwe lost its "breadbasket" status during former President Robert Mugabe's tenure. While Mugabe's land reform programme seemingly contributed to a decline in Zimbabwe's agricultural output, there's limited evidence to suggest that the country was a dominant player in Africa's food production prior to that period - at least from a staple food production perspective. More information is provided by
Wandile Sihlobo (Agbiz agricultural economist) and
Sifiso Ntombela (Agbiz trade economist) in the
linked article»
|
SA food products price inflation decelerates to 0.4% y/y
 After slowing to 1.3% y/y in September 2017, the headline food products' price inflation further decelerated to 0.4% last month. This reflects the benefits of a large harvest in the 2016/17 production season, particularly grain related products. Meat which has been stubbornly high for some time also eased to 12.6% y/y in October 2017, as general conditions in agriculture continue to improve. This easing in food producer price inflation will likely be reflected in consumer side over the coming months. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz economist provides more information in the linked update»
|
Click here to read the daily market view on commodities and the weekly wrap.
|
|
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT
|
 South Africa's agricultural exports increased to a cumulative value of R123.8 billion by end of October 2017 driven by solid performance from fruits, sugar, dairy and grains products. By end of October 2017, agricultural exports recorded a positive growth rate of 1.6 percent whereas imports decline by 4.1 percent as compared to the corresponding period last year - Sifiso Ntombela, Agbiz Head: International Trade and Investment Intelligence provides more information in the
linked article»
|
 Health remains an important focus in Monsanto and to that end Monsanto SA took part in the "Movember" initiative
towards cancer awareness during the month of November.
Monsanto staff grew moustaches and on an individual private capacity contributed towards the Movember Foundation.
The company also contributed R65 000 to the foundation.
|
|
The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) is making an annual bursary of R34 000 (THIRTY-FOUR THOUSAND RAND) available to a South African student registered for a Masters or PhD degree in either agricultural economics or agribusiness management related fields, at any recognised South African university. The c
losing date for applications is 8 December 2017. More information»
|
International Conference on Global Food Security
VinPro Information Day
18 January 2018 | CTICC | Cape Town
Intellectual Property and South African Seed Legislation Workshop
13 February 2018 | Pretoria
15 February 2018 |Cape Town
Skills Development Summit
15-16 February 2018
Landbouweekblad konferensie
Herlewingslandbou is boere se kostedoeltreffende wapen teen stygende insetkoste en klimaatsverandering
19-20 March 2017 | Reitz
|
|
Being a member of Agbiz provides various benefits and opportunities
- Agbiz is the only organisation that serves the broader and common over-arching business interests of agribusinesses in South Africa.
- Agbiz addresses the legislative and policy environment on the many fronts that it impacts on the agribusiness environment.
- Agbiz facilitates considerable top-level networking opportunities so that South African agribusinesses can play an active and creative role within the local and international organised business environment.
- Agbiz research provides sector specific information for informed decision making.
- Agbiz newsletter publishes members' press releases and member product announcements.
|
Follow us on
Twitter
for quick updates and news.
Like us on Facebook to receive notifications of news.
|
|
Third-party website links to this newsletter
|
|
The Agbiz Newsletter may contain a few links to websites that belong to third parties unrelated to us. By making these links available, we are not endorsing third-party websites, their content, products, services or their events. Agbiz seeks to protect the integrity of its newsletter and links placed upon it, and therefore welcomes any feedback.
|
|
| |
|
|
