Handré Viljoen
Although he grew up in Strand, Handré Viljoen was exposed to farming by both sides of his family. He says he has always liked it, so he did not think twice when choosing between accounting and agriculture. “I can’t sit…
The plum-transport dilemma
Can plums tolerate higher CO2 levels during shipping? By Kyra-Kay Rensburg. The current reefer container-vent setting of 15 m3 per hour for stone fruit aims to prevent CO2 build-up but exacerbates moisture loss. Closing the vents could increase relative humidity…
Are cover crops hosts for lesion nematodes?
Cover crops in orchards have many benefits, but could there also be risks? By Kyra-Kay Rensburg. A Hortgro-funded project led by Dr Rinus Knoetze, senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council, screened cover crops earmarked for trials in apple orchards…
A perspective on plant quarantine
Plant quarantine is an essential link in the plant-production chain and a crucial component of plant improvement. By Kyra-Kay Rensburg. “Importing plant material from other countries provides an opportunity to also import exotic pathogens that can have potentially devastating consequences,…
A sustainable model for agricultural research and education
Sustainability is not about maintaining the status quo. By Kyra Rensburg. “Universities are not in a bad place, but I think they can and should be better, and going forward they have to be better,” said Prof. Danie Brink, dean…
Agriculture under current economic conditions
What do the global economic impacts of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine mean for South Africa? By Kyra Rensburg. The global macroeconomy can be categorised according to recession, climate change, and the five i’s — infections, inventory, inflation, interest…
Fulfilling South Africa’s agricultural potential through shared humanity
We live in an interdependent world. Sustainable success for any individual or sector depends on the success of society as a whole. By Kyra Rensburg. Prof. Thuli Madonsela, former Public Protector of South Africa and the Law Trust Chair in…