OK, folks, I know this platform is for agricultural economics related notes, but an exception once in a while won’t hurt. Last night I met up with an old schoolmate, Nikkie Korsten, who is in town for a conference.

Agriculture is what makes us human. Sure, there are ants and fish and crabsthat perform the act of cultivating food; but this is a different kind of farming. Humans use farming to sustain our imbalanced population growth, and in many ways it has gotten away from us.

South Africa’s energy crisis has many dimensions, from political and economic to technical and environmental. Recently, the country’s power utility, Eskom, has been generating only about 60% of its capacity and has had to restrict usage to prevent a regional blackout.

Scientists at Stanford University have demonstrated for the first time that heat from the sun and coldness from outer space can be collected simultaneously with a single device.

For millennia, trees have provided mankind with fuel, food, fibre and medicine from their fruit, flowers, roots, wood, leaves and branches.

In March 2021, as I launched Namibia’s Second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPII), I reflected on the need to emphasize the importance of multilateralism in our efforts to foster an enduring economic recovery.

These are the voluntary commitments that lie at the heart of the Paris Agreement and capture each country’s effort to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The number of countries announcing pledges to achieve net-zero emissions over the coming decades continues to grow.

The need for a rapid transition to clean energy is enabling new developments in the renewable sector.

The modern agricultural business is evolving in a variety of directions at the same time.

Regenerative agriculture is a global farming revolution with rapid uptake and interest around the world.

With climate change, a burgeoning population, and looming concerns about food security, the world has never been more focused on food and agriculture. Embracing modern, sustainable agricultural practices has never been more critical. In 2024, various upcoming Ag trends emerge, leveraging technology to meet global challenges. 

About 85% of South Africa’s electricity is produced by burning coal. The country’s move to renewable energy means that the coal industry will be phased out.