The need to expand South Africa's agricultural export markets beyond the current reach, along with concerns about logistical interruptions, were the two major running themes in various interactions we had with agribusinesses last month.

There is heightened uncertainty worldwide in the wake of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron (B.1.1.529).

After a slight retreat to 67 in the third quarter, the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) recovered to 74 points in the final quarter of this year.

There is heightened uncertainty worldwide in the wake of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.

 Agricultural productivity growth – the increase in yield per unit (land/animal) – depends largely on technological innovation and the adoption of new seeds, new equipment, new genetics as well as effective animal medicine.

A drive from Pretoria to the Eastern Cape in December always offers an opportunity to assess the country’s agricultural conditions after the first few months of the summer season.

Over the past decade, agricultural innovation has often been framed as a clash of “old” versus “new”: chemistry versus biology, conventional inputs versus emerging alternatives.

SA’s agricultural sector has thrived on productivity improvement, which has partially benefited from better breeding techniques over the years.

The year 2021 was one of critical conversations about global agrifood systems – the processes and methods through which farming produces food.

Bathi isitshixo semvula sikuwe, vala le mvula, sonele ngoku!” (They say you have the key for closing the rain tank; we’ve had enough, close it now), said Victor Mongoato, a grain farmer from Matatiele, on a call to me earlier this week.

For most agricultural subsectors, South Africa is emerging from one of the best years.

The twin challenges of low growth and rising unemployment facing South Africa today are not new.

The agricultural economist, Dr Sifiso Ntombela, published an intriguing article this past weekend in News24.

The higher input costs, which have been the dominant feature of South Africa's agricultural sector over the past year, will likely prevail in the coming months, with negative effects on farmers' financial conditions.

Many analysts found a reason to lambast South African President Cyril Ramaphosa 2022 State of the Nation Address. But on a high (pun intended), the address’ strong push for liberalization of the cannabis industry for economic purposes is one of the key levers for rural economic growth.

We have generally battled with excessive moisture in the Southern Africa region, while South America has experienced persistent dryness because of the La Niña event.

The need to improve logistics efficiency and curb the deterioration of infrastructure remains a topical issue in SA’s agriculture.

Observers of global grain markets will be familiar with the 1972 "Great Grain Robbery" by the former Soviet Union.

There has been a flurry of positive news about the past year's performance of South Africa's agricultural sector.

Following a period of heightened optimism supported by favourable agricultural production conditions, the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) moderated by 12 points to 62 in Q1 2022 after reaching its second-highest level on record in Q4 2021.