Agriculture Research and Innovation in Africa · AGRO-ECOLOGY: The Role of Ecosystem Functions in Sustainable Agricultural Systems Presented by Dr Astrid Jankielsohn, Small Grain

Some of the Key Issues to be Addressed and Discussed in this Forum

340A West Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

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S e c o l o C o n s u l t i n gT r a i n i n g S e r v i c e sIn-Touch With Your Future

Towards a long term strategy for African agriculture

2nd Annual Agriculture Research and Innovation in Africa Forum

Research and innovation for Sustainable Agriculture

28th and 29th October 2015Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa

· Improving production efficiency and coping with climate change, while ensuring sustainability and resilience· The Critical role of Women in Agriculture· Unlocking growth and employment through the development of agri processing industries in South Africa· Regional integration in Africa: Opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations with neighbouring countries on

the continent· How to Grow Agricultural Production in an Environment of Growing Water Scarcity · Carbon Calculating in the Agricultural Sector to Measure and Track Carbon Emissions occurring through on-farm

production· How Best to Develop Policy to Incentivise Agricultural Research and Innovation· Identifying Infrastructure Investments which have the Potential to offer the most Benefits to the Sector· Empowering Rural Areas and Supporting Policies and Rural Innovation;· Fostering Sustainable Agriculture· Developing a Sustainable and Competitive Agri-Food Industry;· Support Market Development for Bio-Based Products and Processes.

This Forum picks from the success of our inaugural Agriculture, Research and Innovation in Africa Forum that took place October 2014.

The development of Africa agricultural relies much on the capacity of the sector to engender true innovation from research interventions. At the time when the Millennium Development goals are about to expire and the new set of goals is in the final stage of negotiations, the discussion about the role of research and innovation in agricultural development is highly relevant.

Agriculture persists as an important sector of the African economy. Although its significance in the economy varies widely across African countries, agriculture remains a vital sector for most countries and is a source of job creation .Agriculture continues to be an important contributor to the GDP of countries. The challenges that Agriculture is facing across Africa and even globally are the same. Agriculture faces unprecedented challenges with population increase, urbanisation, migration, diet changes, climate changes, land degradation, water scarcity, carbon emissions, emerging and disseminating diseases.

In order to keep track of these challenges there is continuous need for transformation within the research and innovation spectrum.

This two day forum identifies key areas that are strongly changing the landscape of agriculture in Africa. An in-depth look into these key issues will provide all agriculture practitioners strategies, information on how to deal with challenges as well as sustain that which has been working.

Overview





Date: 28th and 29th October, 2015

About Your Speakers

Venue: Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg


Andrew Partridge

Department of Agriculture, Provincial Government of the Western Cape

Andrew Partridge is a senior agricultural economist at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. He holds a Master's Degree in applied economics from the University of Cape Town specialising in Development Studies. His recent work has been focused on agriculture in the Western Cape, providing policy advice and undertaking research in order to provide knowledge towards the sustainable development of agriculture in the province. Recent areas of work have included research into agri processing opportunities in South Africa, agricultural employment trends, regional integration in Africa and the potential impact of a carbon tax on agricultural production in South Africa.

Who Should Attend

Agricultural Economists, Agribusiness Executives and Managers, Rural Development Specialists, Parliamentary

Portfolio Committee Members on; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Agriculture Extension Officers, Farmers,

Officials from Local and Regional Agricultural Research Organizations Parliamentary Portfolio Committee

Members on; Water and Environmental Affairs, Agricultural Scientists, State Department of Agriculture, Forestry

and Fisheries Officials, Cooperatives Development Canters, Agricultural Researchers / ICT Experts, Farmers and

Community Organizations ,Development Practitioners, Food Security Experts / Information Specialists,

Academics and Researchers, Officials from; FAO, SADC, IFPRI, USAID, IFAD, NEPAD, CGIAR. College and

University Lecturers, Agricultural Research Institute Scientists, Agricultural Associations Staff, Agricultural

Entrepreneurs

Dr Astrid Jankielsohn, Small Grain Institute, Crop Protection: Entomologist, Agriculture

Research Council.

Education: BSc (1991, UFS); BSc Honours (1992, UFS); MSc Entomology (1995, UFS); PhD Entomology (2000, UP)

Experienced as an insect ecologist and use this experience to solve problems in agricultural ecosystems using lessons learnt from nature. Have extensive experience in insect biomonitoring in

different ecosystems, analysis of data, developing indices and models to predict future trends and the use of GIS in this respect. Currently main research focus is the ecology and distribution of Russian Wheat Aphid biotypes in wheat production areas in South Africa (since April 2006).In my free time I fight for the survival of natural ecosystems and animal rights.





Date: 28th and 29th October, 2015

Venue: Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg


Dr Mike de Klerk, Advisor to the Agricultural Finance Stakeholder Working Group and Making Finance Work for Africa

Mike has a B.Com., B.A. Hons with majors in Economics and Mathematics and an M.A. (Economics) (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town. After an initial period in commerce, he lectured Business Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand (1974-1977) and then Economics at the University of Cape Town (UCT)(1979-1997). He has more than 40 publications to his credit. His

consultancies as a lecturer focused on land reform, agriculture and rural development in South Africa (SA) and included work for the Urban Foundation, the Institute for a Democratic Alternative in SA, The World Bank, the (British) Overseas Development Agency, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the (South African) Departments of Labour and Trade and Industry. Subsequent positions included General Manager: Research and Development at the Land Bank (1998-2001); Executive Director: Integrated Rural and Regional Development and then Chief Operating Officer at the Human Sciences Research Council (2001-2008); Agribusiness Programme Manager at ComMark Trust/Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies and Eastern Cape Red Meat Project Manager at the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC). Since 2010, as an independent professional consultant, he has undertaken agricultural/rural development and management consulting assignments, mainly in the fields of agricultural/rural finance strategy/knowledge management, small farm development and rural infrastructure, for and with SADC; IFAD/AFRACA (International Fund for Agricultural Development and the African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association); IFAD/Rural Finance Knowledge Management Partnership for East and Southern Africa; FinMark Trust (FMT); GIZ/Making Finance Work for Africa(MFW4A); Oxford Policy Management; the South African Reserve Bank; the University of Pretoria's (UP) Centre for Inclusive Banking in Africa (CIBA), Post-Graduate School of Agricultural and Rural Development, Continuing Education and Business Enterprises divisions; the Development Policy Research Unit, UCT; Potatoes South Africa; Imani Development; PlaNet Finance; TEBA Development; and the NAMC. He serves on several reference panels for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Government Technical Advisory Centre (National Treasury). He was keynote speaker at the inaugural 'Cracking the Nut, Africa' conference (Kigali, Rwanda, January 2014). He worked continuously with CIBA from 2011, where he was responsible for delivering FMT's multi-year agricultural and rural finance development programme for southern Africa, until the Centre's closure in March 2014. He was Course Leader (convenor/designer/organizer), Programme in Agricultural and Rural Finance, Continuing Education, UP, attended by senior management staff from financial institutions in 6 SADC countries; Coordinator of the Agricultural Development Finance Forum of South Africa (established in March 2014); and is Facilitator, Agricultural Finance Working Group, MFW4A .

Karabo Takadi, Agricultural Trend Analyst, ABSA and Julie Hayward, Agricultural Analyst, ABSAKarabo and Julie are both Agricultural commodity trend analysts at ABSA in the Center of Excellence team. They both have completed our honours in BSc Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State. Julie is currently completing her masters in farm cash flow risk analysis. Karabo grew up in Rustenburg and Julie grew up on a farm in the Karoo.

Register Now to Secure Your Place

Forum Topics and Discussions

AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA Presented by Mr Andrew Partridge, Department of Agriculture, Provincial Government of the Western Cape

· Unlocking Growth and employment through the development of agri-processing industries in South Africa

1. Development opportunities through the processing of agricultural produce2. Agri processing potential in South Africa3. Prioritising agri processing investments through the development of a multi-dimensional agri processing index (API)

· Regional Integration in Africa: Opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations with neighbouring countries on the continent

st1. Overview: Africa in the 21 century2. Economic potential of Africa3. The African population4. New Trends in Research and Development in Africa5. Governance in Africa6. Agricultural Production in Africa

· The increasing need for micro insurance schemes to assist small scale farmers deal with increasing uncertainty as a result of climate change

1. Climate change and risk for agricultural producers2. The current availability of insurance schemes for small-scale farmers in South Africa3. Lessons from overseas: USA, Turkey, Malawi & Kenya4. Suggestions for way forward

· The shrinking of traditional agricultural export destinations in Europe and the rising prominence of new markets in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America

1. Historical trends in exporting of South Africa agricultural produce2. Recent shifts in key South African agricultural export markets3. Reasons for change4. Future prospects

HOW TO GROW AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF GROWING WATER SCARCITYWater scarcity has a huge impact on food production. Without water people do not have a means of watering their crops and, therefore, to provide food for the fast growing population.Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and dams s are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world's wetlands have disappeared. Agriculture consumes more water than any other source and wastes much of that through inefficiencies. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others. This presentation will cover the following;

· The science of water conservation

· Promoting water stewardship

· Policy and technical response options available to ensure food security in conditions of water scarcity.

· Criteria and principles that should be used to establish priorities for action in response to water scarcity in agriculture and ensure effective and efficient water scarcity coping strategies.

· Effective methods of water management

· Adapting to climate change

AGRO-ECOLOGY: The Role of Ecosystem Functions in Sustainable Agricultural Systems Presented by Dr Astrid Jankielsohn, Small Grain Institute, Crop Protection: Entomologist, Agriculture Research Council.The biggest challenge in agriculture today is to produce enough food for a growing population in a sustainable way. To ensure food security in a fast changing environment it is necessary to move to production systems that work effectively and sustainably. Agro-ecology is a science that explains the ecological principles that can be used to design and manage sustainable agricultural systems. Agro-ecology combines traditional knowledge with selective modern technologies to manage diversity and include biological principles to increase agricultural production. This is the only practical solution to restore agricultural land that has been degraded by conventional agriculture. It is also an environmentally sustainable and affordable way to increase production in marginal areas.Natural ecosystems work effectively and sustainably because of diversity in these systems. To restore agricultural systems it is necessary to restore the ecological health by increasing the diversity in these systems. This will restore natural ecosystem functions and make the system more sustainable in the long term. Every system will be unique, depending on the area. Agro-ecology uses local available knowledge and resources as effectively as possible.It is necessary for agricultural consultants to develop a diverse knowledge about ecological principles. Drastic changes are also needed in policy, institutes and research and development agendas to ensure that agro-ecological principles be implemented to ensure sustainable food production.

Register Now to Secure Your Place

Forum Topics and Discussions

DISCUSSION: CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS ON FOOD SECURITYClimate challenge will increase the risk of reduced crop productivity associated with heat and drought stress. This presentation will discuss how far climate and its change affect current food production systems and food security and the extent to which they will do so in the future.

Rural Savings and Credit Groups in South Africa and their Impact on Small Enterprise and Agricultural Development Presented by Dr Mike de Klerk, Advisor to the Agricultural Finance Stakeholder Working Group and Making Finance Work for Africa

· Why savings?

· How do accumulating savings and credit associations (ASCAs) work?

· Promoting ASCAs in South Africa: SaveAct

· Profile of SaveAct's ASCA members

· How do ASCAs support enterprise development, especially in agriculture?

o access to savings and credit to start small enterprises

o upward spiral: virtuous circle of savings and enterprise activities

o enabling and growing investmento building agency and social capital

OVERVIEW OF AFRICAN AGRI MARKETS, Presented by Karabo Takadi, Agricultural Economist, ABSA and Julie Hayward, Agricultural Analyst, ABSAAgriculture plays a significant role in the South African economy. When combined with linked sectors, it contributes 25% of the GDP and provides jobs to more than 850 000 permanent workers.

· Investment opportunities in Agriculture

· Agricultures Contribution to GDP of a Country

· Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental Risk (PESTLE)

· Asset Management Risk

· Operational Risk

· Market Risk

DISCUSSION: IDENTIFYING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO OFFER THE MOST BENEFITS TO THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

THE VITAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE Presented by Prof Lere Anusam, North West UniversityBy now the continent has recognized that agriculture is an engine of growth and poverty reduction in countries where it is the main occupation of the poor. But the agricultural sector in many developing countries is underperforming, in part because women, who represent a crucial resource in agriculture and the rural economy through their roles as farmers, laborers and entrepreneurs, almost everywhere, face more severe constraints than men in access to productive resources. Women make essential contributions to the agricultural and rural economies in all developing countries. Their roles vary considerably between and within regions and are changing rapidly in many parts of the world, where economic and social forces are transforming the agricultural sector. This presentation will discuss;

· Assessing Women's Empowerment in Agriculture

· Linking Women to Markets

· The Role of women in Agriculture

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN AFRICAAfrica faces enormous food security challenges. Most commentators agree that, despite the complexities of food insecurity, there will have to be increases in food production from existing agricultural land. Most, too, are pessimistic about the future, judging likelihood of success on the basis of past performance of 'modern' agricultural development. Sustainable agriculture, though, offers new opportunities, by emphasising the productive values of natural, social and human capital, all assets that Africa either has in abundance or that can be regenerated at low financial cost.

HOW TO BEST DEVELOP POLICY TO INCENTIVISE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.

CARBON CALCULATING IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR TO MEASURE AND TRACK CARBON EMISSIONS

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REGISTRATION FORM

DATE: 28th - 29th October, 2015

Full Two –Day Forum R 6,999.00 Ex VAT

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VENUE: Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Sandton, JOHANNESBURG – SOUTH AFRICA

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Agriculture Research and Innovation in Africa · AGRO-ECOLOGY: The Role of Ecosystem Functions in Sustainable Agricultural Systems Presented by Dr Astrid Jankielsohn, Small Grain