64 RESEARCH SHOWCASE AT NAMPO 2025 At NAMPO Harvest Day 2025, the Grain SA research team engaged with Minister John Steenhuisen and officials on key research priorities, including biosecurity, conservation agriculture, and science-driven solutions to boost resilience. Led by Dr Lavinia Kisten, the team also launched a national weed survey with HRAC, ARC, and universities to map problem weeds and herbicide resistance, using producer insights to guide sustainable management and strengthen South Africa’s grain industry. SCLEROTINIA DAY: HEART OF A FARMER The South African Sclerotinia Research Network (SASRN) hosted a farmer-led roundtable on the growing challenges oilseeds face from Sclerotinia. Dr Lisa Rothmann outlined key mitigation strategies supported by SASRN, Grain SA, and national partners, while producers shared insights from on-farm trials, underscoring the need to capture farmer-driven data. Discussions centred on the pathogen’s lifecycle, field entry points, and urgent turnaround strategies for sunflower, where Sclerotinia and poor yields pose major risks. The event strengthened collaboration between researchers and producers, marking clear progress in tackling this persistent disease. MITIGATING PESTICIDE RESIDUE CONFERENCE This conference on mitigating pesticide residue for food safety, brought together cross-disciplinary expertise to explore cutting-edge scientific developments, regulatory frameworks, and practical innovations that support the monitoring and reduction of pesticide residues across plant and soil systems. The research team presented on Grain SA’s role in aligning policy, science, and farmer practice to secure food and job security. The presentation noted that grain yields have risen from 0,6 t/ha to 6 t/ha through innovation and responsible crop protection. Working with the Department of Agriculture (DoA), CropLife SA, and research partners, Grain SA promotes compliance, label use, and integrated pest management. RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH DISCUSSIONS AT THE NAMPO HARVEST DAY 2025. DR GODFREY KGATLE PRESENTING AT THE MITIGATING PESTICIDE RESIDUE CONFERENCE. SASRN LED THE SCLEROTINIA DAY WITH THE THEME ‘HEART OF A FARMER’.
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