More wealth leaves Africa every year than enters it – by more than $40bn (£31bn) – according to research that challenges “misleading” perceptions of foreign aid.

The recently released United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s monthly report could be the key driver of the global maize market today.

The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) released the 1st Crop Estimate for the 2018/2019 season with volumes estimated to be between 63,2 and 70,1 million cartons (4.5 kg equivalent). 

The relationship between wine and health has been a topic of interest for not just the last few years of tabloid sensationalism, but the debate goes back centuries, with some cultures praising its benefits, and others seeing wine, beer and spirits as a drug that should be heavily controlled, if not complete prohibition.

Despite the current debate about whether wine is good for you or not at moderate levels, there are also recent scientific studies that have provided evidence to support these claims, highlighting the positive effects of wine, particularly red wine, on various aspects of human health.

Here, we look back through the years at the drinks business, and provide a comprehensive overview of the health benefits associated with wine from scientific studies that we have covered in the past several decades.

Cardiovascular benefits

Red wine is frequently associated with cardiovascular health benefits, primarily due to its anti-inflammatory properties and the presence of beneficial compounds such as resveratrol.

 
A study conducted by Iowa State University found that moderate red wine consumption could reduce visceral fat, a type of fat linked to increased risk of heart disease. The anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol contribute to this reduction, thereby lowering the overall risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Additionally, red wine has been shown to help regulate cholesterol levels. Research presented at the European Society of Cardiology indicated that both red and white wines could lead to significant improvements in cholesterol levels when consumed in moderation alongside regular physical activity​.

This regulation of cholesterol is crucial in preventing heart disease and promoting overall cardiovascular health.

Blood Pressure

Flavonoids, which are abundant in red wine, play a crucial role in reducing blood pressure. According to a study led by Professor Aedin Cassidy at Queen’s University Belfast, consuming three glasses of red wine per week can significantly lower blood pressure.

This effect is attributed to the interaction between flavonoids and the gut microbiome, which enhances the cardioprotective properties of these compounds​.

This study provides concrete evidence linking flavonoid intake to a reduced risk of hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease.

 The world has too much wine, and Australian farmers are ripping up vines

Bone health
While red wine is often highlighted for its health benefits, white wine also offers significant advantages, particularly concerning bone health.

A study focusing on older adults found that those who consumed white wine in moderation had higher bone mineral density compared to those who drank other types of alcohol, including red wine and beer​.

This finding suggests that white wine can play a role in maintaining bone health and preventing conditions such as osteoporosis.

Glucose regulation

The benefits of wine extend to the management of type 2 diabetes.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrated that moderate consumption of both red and white wines could improve glucose regulation in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

The study involved 224 subjects who consumed red wine, white wine, or mineral water with dinner over two years while adhering to a Mediterranean diet.

The results showed no significant difference between red and white wine’s effects on glucose regulation, indicating that both types of wine can be beneficial for diabetic patients​.

Cancer prevention
Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, has been extensively studied for its anti-cancer properties. Research has shown that resveratrol can help destroy abnormal cells that lead to cancer, particularly in the case of bowel cancer.

A study conducted by the Gustave Roussy Institute in Villejuif, France, found that resveratrol, combined with aspirin, could reduce the survival of tetraploid cells in human bowel cancer tumor cultures. This combination was shown to help destroy cells that cause genetic instability and are linked to cancer development​.

Furthermore, scientists at Dalian Medical University in China suggested that resveratrol could slow cancer growth.

Cognitive health

Dementia Prevention
Moderate wine consumption has also been linked to cognitive health benefits, particularly in preventing dementia. The antioxidants in wine play a significant role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, which are key factors in the development of cognitive decline.

Studies have shown that these antioxidants can help maintain brain health and prevent the onset of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases​.

General longevity

Researchers have suggested that pharmaceutical compounds containing resveratrol could one day be used to treat and prevent diseases related to aging, offering a promising avenue for enhancing longevity​​.

Social drinking of wine in moderation has also been shown to be critical to the success of the world’s Blue Zones, where the average life expectancy is at its highest.

Writing in GQ about the phenomena, Dr Kien Vuu, the author of Thrive State, said that it wasn’t necessarily due to the health benefits of wine, but was due to the socialisation that comes “hand-in-hand with imbibing now and then”.

He argued that we should say ‘Yes to Happy Hour’, and a glass of wine was critical to health when consumed in a social setting, as it was in the so-called Blue Zones, which comprises of the Barbagia region of Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and Icaria in Greece.

These areas are the places in the world which have the highest life expectancy with the most centenarians, and numerous books and studies have been written about the ‘zones’ in an attempt for their health secrets to be replicated elsewhere.

Vuu said: “In longevity cultures, moderate alcohol consumption often occurs in a social context, emphasising the role of community and celebration.”

Moderation
Wine, when consumed in moderation, offers a range of health benefits, from improving cardiovascular health and bone density to managing diabetes and even preventing cancer. The antioxidants and flavonoids present in wine, particularly resveratrol, play a crucial role in these health benefits.

However, it is essential to emphasise that moderation is key to avoiding the negative health impacts associated with excessive alcohol consumption, which is carcinogenic in larger quantities.

As research continues to uncover the various health benefits of wine, it remains true that wine can be a valuable component of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

There is a broad consensus that agricultural development is key to unlocking the economic possibilities of the communal areas in SA. The National Development Plan confirms as much.

A key land reform lesson South Africa can take from Zimbabwe is that the country experienced record-low investment in agriculture due to land rights issues. 

A bit of background — the South African livestock industry has somewhat recovered from the 2015/2016 drought, and that has led to increased slaughtering activity.

The spot price of white maize smashed through R3 000 a ton this week, up 51% from its mid-2017 harvest low. Similarly, yellow maize has touched R2 800 a ton, up from R1 850 in 2017.

South Africa’s ranking in the 2018 Index of Economic Freedom has improved, with the country ranked fourth in the Africa region and seventy-seventh out of 180 countries globally, reports Heritage Foundation. 

The South Australian cherry season has ended with the very late season varieties finishing off well, with cleaner fruit and warm, dry weather, according to the state’s peak representative body.

The preliminary area estimate is mainly based on the results of a non-probability survey conducted by the directorate of statistics and economic analysis of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Southern Hemisphere production of apples and pears are both forecast to rise by 2% year-on-year in 2019, but individual countries are expecting some significant increases and decreases.

The recently launched Black Tobacco Farmers Association (BTFA) on Monday called for the government to keep excise taxes at their current level as Finance Minister Tito Mboweni will table his maiden budget this week.

HITE South Africans are Africans too. This wild and beautiful country is our homeland. Those of us who have made our lives elsewhere in the world never forget the uniqueness of Africa – where sunlight glows as if lit by a divine flame, and the kindness of strangers is made even more valuable by the precarious living conditions that have always existed there.

Despite falling commodity prices and challenges surrounding farm profitability, the growing use of cover crops is maintaining, if not gaining, momentum.

TLU SA today launched the first national Financial Wellness Survey and Desk for farmers.

The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) said on Thursday it was concerned about what it called irresponsible claims by a consumer protection body and a new organisation for black chicken importers and exporters in support of predatory trade from Brazil, at the expense of local jobs.

A changing political landscape, as well as atypical season lengths and volumes, has had a marked impact on the European table grape industry over the last few months, says Robert van Melle, the head of grapes at Origin Fruit Direct.

Newly elected SA Canegrowers Chairman, Rex Talmage has welcomed the appointment of new government ministers to the critical departments of Trade and Industry and Agriculture and Rural Development saying the change in leadership offered the hope of a rescue plan for an "industry on its knees".

South Africa’s maize supplies for the 2018/19 production year are shaping up better than we previously feared at the beginning of the year when dryness in the western parts of the country led to delayed plantings. Figures released by South Africa’s Crop Estimates Committee earlier in the afternoon show that 2018/19 maize harvest could amount to 10.9 million tonnes, which is a 2% increase from last month’s estimate. This was underpinned by an improvement in the white maize production expectation, which is now set to reach 5.5 million tonnes, up by 4% from last month’s estimate on the back of expected better yields in the Free State. The yellow maize harvest was lifted by 1% from last month to 5.4 million tonnes. The harvest process has started in the eastern parts of South Africa, particularly Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, where over 40% of the area planted under maize had been completed by the 24th of May 2019. The yields generally varied between below-average to average, although the eastern regions received better rainfall than the western areas of the country where the harvest process has not started.

  With the maize harvest currently expected at 10.9 million tonnes in the 2018/19 production season (which corresponds with 2019/20 marketing year) added to an available opening stock of 2.8 million tonnes when the 2019/20 marketing year started on 01 May 2019, the country should have sufficient maize supplies to cover its annual consumption of about 10.8 million tonnes. Moreover, South Africa is likely to remain a net exporter of maize in the 2019/20 marketing year. The exports, however, could decline by half from the 2018/19 marketing year to about 1.1 million tonnes. These exports will likely be destined to countries in the Southern Africa region.

  We do not think the upward revision in the harvest expectations will lead to a notable decline in prices, which have in any case already moved off the higher levels seen at the beginning of the year when there were still fears of an extremely poor harvest. On 27 May,  the white maize spot price was at R2 775 per tonne, which is 10% down from mid-January 2019. Meanwhile, yellow maize was at R2 726 per tonne on the same day, roughly unchanged from levels seen in mid-January. Other things being equal, these price levels could prevail over the near-to-medium term. This bodes well with South Africa’s food price inflation which has been subdued over the past few months, averaging 2.3% y/y in April. Aside from maize, all other crop estimates were left unchanged from last month