Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa

Raise the threshold of your pain

During my years of studying leadership, one of the lessons I learned, especially from the book of Nehemiah, is that leaders sometimes need to take a journey that breaks their hearts.  I have prac.....

The National Water Amendment Bill raises concerns

The portfolio committee on water and sanitation has called for written submissions on the National Water Amendment Bill. This article attempts to summarise the main concerns from the agriculture secto.....

Why testing matters: The ongoing battle against mycotoxins

When people think about food safety risks, it is often bacteria and pesticides that come to mind. Yet one of the most persistent and unpredictable threats to food and feed safety is far less visible: .....

Powering down: Impact of soaring electricity tariffs on the grain and silo sectors

The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) conducted a study on the potential impact of electricity tariff hikes on the agricultural sector. The findings illustrated how sharp tariff increases.....

Reaping the benefits of grain drying

Grain drying remains a strategic support service that creates value for both producers and agribusinesses offering the service. Jan de Sousa, general manager operations  at AFGRI Grain Management.....

Reflecting on the Agbiz Student Case Study Competition

The first Agbiz Student Case Study Competition was held during the 2012 Agbiz Congress. Among the participants in that inaugural competition was the current Agbiz chief economist and presidential envo.....

Leading above the line: How fear shapes workplace behaviour

One of the most common questions leaders ask me at the start of their leadership development journey is why managing people can feel so challenging. They often describe situations with a similar under.....

Clarity on the use of restricted agricultural remedies

A single word change in legislation has led to a significant shift in how highly hazardous agricultural remedies  are bought  and used in South Africa.Since 2011, the pest control operator (.....

Silence is golden

When I was a teenager, we spent every December holiday on my grandfather’s farm. Those were times of great joy and left me with treasured memories of that time of my life. It was there that I learned .....

Seeds of tomorrow: Cultivating innovation for a resilient agricultural future

My career in the seed industry started with my studies at the University of the Free State, where I received my PhD in Genetics.  My appointment as deputy director of Genetically Modified Organis.....

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