Large amounts of money are spent to establish global propaganda, making agriculture the largest contributor to climate change. “The sector must as a result adapt to consumer tastes and preferences because other industries neglect to mitigate harmful greenhouse gas emissions (GHG),” said Prof André Jooste from Stellenbosch University during his presentation at the Agricultural Outlook Conference. In South Africa, agriculture is only responsible for 2% of GHG emissions.

“The southern tip of Africa really is a small fish in a large pond. South Africa has the biggest economy in the region, contributing 0,4% to the global gross domestic product (GDP). Everything that takes place globally will influence developing countries and directly impacts what happens on the farm. The challenge is how to structure enterprises to ensure their resilience and survival.”

Stakeholders were strongly encouraged to formulate strategies that tackle the effects of climate change. “It definitely threatens human life and nature alike with ever-increasing droughts, rising temperatures, more heatwaves and severe floods. It is predicted that most African countries will bear the brunt of climate change.”

PHOTO: Prof André Jooste, a lecturer in the department of agricultural economics at Stellenbosch University, who delivered a presentation on the outlook of the agriculture sector and its challenges. The professor currently serves as a council member of the national agricultural marketing council in South Africa as well as a steering committee member on the food, agriculture and natural resources policy analysis network. He also serves as chairperson on the red meat research and development trust project committee as well as the grain and oilseed demand and supply estimates committee.

[Source – Agriforum Namibia]

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