12
e-Newsletter
35/17
22 September 2017
POLICY AND LEGISLATION

Despite a stated commitment by government and private sector to change the ownership patterns of land in South Africa, there is growing sentiment amongst black people especially that land reform is not taking place as quickly as it should. This has led to calls from 'expropriation without compensation' to 'return the land' on social media and other platforms.  Dr John Purchase (Agbiz CEO) and Theo Boshoff (Agbiz Head: Legal Intelligence) provide more information in the linked press release»

The Nedlac Trade and Industry Chamber held its annual strategic session with Minister Rob Davies on Friday, 22 September 2017. The strategic session focusses primarily on the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) and the trade environment. Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz and as Convenor for Business in the Trade and Industry Chamber, presented the Business position on challenges in both the IPAP space and trade environment. Please click on (IPAP) and (Trade Position) to peruse the respective presentations.
BUSA approach to integrity in business report

global_business_people.jpg BUSA has been projecting its voice on matters of corruption, emphasising the importance of integrity, ethics and good governance. With the benefit of membership engagement and input, BUSA has finalised its discussion document. The linked discussion document outlines the challenges pertaining to corruption, and guiding principles for businesses and BUSA in this regard. The discussion document provided the basis for the business input to the Nedlac Summit and will be used for future commentary by BUSA on corruption. 

BUSA has issued the linked media release with the objective of reinforcing the key elements of its discussion document, but also to bring a voice of reason to the consideration by many businesses as to whether break ties with implicated businesses. 
ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE
Next month fuel prices could reach the highest level in three years 

On 4 October 2017, fuel prices could increase for a third consecutive month and reach the highest level in three years. The prices of diesel and petrol could each increase by 3% from the previous month, partly driven by an uptick in crude oil prices. While this expected increase seems marginal, it could add pressure on farmers as it coincides with the new season planting period. Also worth noting is that, for grain and oilseed, fuel makes up roughly 11% of production costs, therefore an increase in price will add pressure on farmers. Agbiz economist  Wandile Sihlobo provides more information in the linked update»
SA food inflation falls to the lowest level in 21 months 

Food inflation decelerated to 5.7% y/y in August 2017, from 6.8% y/y in the previous month. This is the lowest levels since November 2015 - thanks to good summer rain, which led to a higher agricultural output. While we expect further moderation in the next few months, the picture of the food basket remains mixed. All food products have decelerated, with the exception of meat which remains stickier, recording 15.0% y/y in August 2017, which is the highest level since December 2011. Wandile Sihlobo provides more information in the linked update»

Click here to read the daily market view on commodities and the weekly wrap.  
AGRIBUSINESS CENTENARY BURSARY

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»
OTHER NEWS
How safe is the food on your plate?

In an ideal world, a farmer might sell a harvest of fresh produce to families nearby, who would eat that produce within the week.   The more common reality in South Africa and the world however, is that it can take up to three months or even more for food to travel from the farm to table.  A new feature published on the University of Pretoria's (UP) Research Matters website focuses on the work by a team of researchers -  read more»
©www.newfoodeconomy.com

©http://aims.fao.org/fr/activity/blog/methodology-2018-access-seeds-index-open-public-consultation
UPCOMING EVENTS
2018 Agbiz Congress: 7-8 June 2018

It is our pleasure to inform you that the 2018 Agbiz Congress will be held on 7-8 June 2018 at the Boardwalk International Convention Centre in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. 
C ongress theme: Uncertainty Creates Opportunity. 

Find linked the sponsorship and advertising levels containing information to assist with your planning. Please note:  Sponsorship bookings will open at 12:00 on Monday, 9 October 2017, and no bookings will be accepted prior to the abovementioned date and time.
Potatoes SA Congress
28 September 2017 | Premier Hotel OR Tambo | Johannesburg

TXF Cape Town 2017 
3-4 October 2017 | Table Bay Hotel
Agbiz CEO, Dr John Purchase, will be speaking in the opening session on making the agri value chain working for all participants.

Agbiz information session for agribusinesses
5 October 2017 | Western Cape
Programme
More information

Werksmans Attorneys Land reform seminar
Dissecting facts from fiction
5 October 2017 | V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
More information

Transport Forum month of Transport Celebrations 
5 October 2017 | Johannesburg
More information

East and Southern Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Conference 2017
9-11 October 2017 | Maputo | Mozambique
More information

Undercover Farming Conference Western Cape 2017
11 - 12 October 2017 |  Groot Drakenstein, Cape Town

Agri-food Fest Conference
13 October 2017 | Pretoria Show Grounds

AGRI 5 Commodities Workshop & Expo
20-21 October 2017 |  East London Show Grounds
More information:  info@atoneworks.co.za

13th SIAMAP International Show
31 October to 5 November 2017 | Tunisia

African Agri Investment Indaba 2017
20-22 November 2017 | CTICC | Cape Town
More information

28 - 30 November |  Johannesburg
More information

BFAP ReNAPRI Stakeholder Conference
30 Nov - 1 Dec 2017 | Lagoon Beach Hotel | Cape Town
Information: invitesrenapri@gmail.com

International Conference on Global Food Security 
3-6 December 2017 | CTICC | Cape Town
Conference Theme: Food Security: Global challenges, local solutions
More information
AGBIZ MEMBERSHIP
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.

Please visit the Agbiz website for more information.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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