Grain SA Annual Report 2022

AGRONOMY

Agronomy has been a key focus area in the Climate Resilience Consortium. A workshop was

held on 18 August 2022 to bring local grain role-players together with the aim of getting an

overview of the current status of agronomy-related research, brainstorming the future of agro-

nomic research, and exploring collaborative opportunities. Aligning the research and training

needs between the industry and the research community was explored (

https://sagrainmag.

co.za/2022/12/12/agronomy-day-set-to-boost-collaboration/

Long-term agronomy trials have been established with various partners. The collaboration with

Potatoes SA focuses on a crop rotation trial in the eastern Free State. The first full cycle has been

conducted and findings from this study have contributed towards the long-term goal of interpreting

the crop rotation effects on soil and plant health. Findings from this study have been published in

the

SA Graan/Grain

magazine in a two-part series:

TABLE 3

Overview of the Climate Resilience Consortium

OBJECTIVE

SUBOBJECTIVE

CURRENT

PARTNERS

Building ground-level data on the

impact of climate change and vari-

ability on production

Improving understanding of the chal-

lenges and opportunities posed by

climate change

UFS, UP, ARC

Building resilience to ensure food

and nutrition security for the future

Building climate resilience and adap-

tive capacity to respond to climate

risks and vulnerability

Syngenta

Building agronomy research and

capacity

UFS, SU, Potatoes

SA, UP, UWC

Climate Resilience Consortium

The Climate Resilience Consortium was established with the aim of investigating the impact of climate

change and variability on agricultural production and building resilience to ensure food and nutrition

security for the future.

Climate change has the potential to devastate food and nutrition security in southern Africa. Grain

serves as the dominant staple food in sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa exporting large amounts

of grains within southern Africa. South Africa therefore plays a major role in stabilising food security in

southern Africa. Since this region is highly dependent on climate-sensitive economic activity, sub-

Saharan Africa is said to be one of the regions that are most severely affected by climate change.

Climate change places an immense burden on food security in southern Africa and most urgently

calls for mitigation and adaptation strategies to be put in place.

MARKETING, NAMPO AND

RESEARCH COORDINATION