https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Programme encourages sustainable wine production

RICH PICKINGS 
Sustainable farming aims to build farm productivity and profitability in a way that minimises any adverse impacts on the environment

RICH PICKINGS Sustainable farming aims to build farm productivity and profitability in a way that minimises any adverse impacts on the environment

Photo by Bloomberg

13th November 2015

  

Font size: - +

The World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF) Sustainable Agriculture Programme maintains the importance of healthy, functioning ecosystems in South Africa’s farmlands, including in the production of wine and associated fruit.

The programme, which sustainable banking-focused financial services provider Nedbank started supporting in 2012, highlights the importance of food security and growing food in a manner that protects natural resources.

The Sustainable Agriculture Programme is managed by nature conservation organisation WWF. It focuses on areas that are of joint interest to WWF and Nedbank Agribusiness, including the production of wine and fruit, sugarcane, dairy products and grass-fed free-range beef. 

Farmers and Biodiversity Protection
Eighty per cent of South Africa’s critically endangered species and ecosystems are situated on productive agricultural land outside of national parks.

In addition, the country’s current protected areas are often too small and isolated to maintain the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain species and ecosystems. 

Landowner stewardship programmes, such as the WWF Biodiversity and Wine Initiative and the WWF Enkangala Grasslands Programme, and provincial stewardship programmes, such as the CapeNature Stewardship Programme and the KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife Stewardship Programme, engage farmers in the corridors to use their natural resources sustainably and protect the critical biodiversity on their land. 

Sustainable and Organic Farming
Sustainable farming aims to build farm productivity and profitability in a way that minimises any adverse impacts on the environment while protecting natural biodiversity and ecosystems, and securing social wellbeing.

However, the basic principle of organic agriculture is to manage farm productivity using purely natural agricultural resources rather than using synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.

Either approach might incorporate the concept of agrobiodiversity –  aspiring to mimic nature by having biodiverse systems of mixed cropping and livestock. 

Further, the basic principles of organic farming are considered sustainable and are embraced by the sustainable farming concept. Sustainable farming extends to addressing the social and economic aspects of farming, including farm and land-use planning, resource use and allocation, overall efficiency, effective management of surrounding natural areas, conservation of biodiversity and underpinning ecosystems on farms.

Sustainable agriculture speaks to the entire farming footprint and impact, and focuses on promoting minimum compliance, continual improvement to reduce the overall environmental impact of farming practices and minimising the agricultural footprint, using natural resources. It works across conventional, organic and biodynamic farming practices.

Edited by Samantha Herbst
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
John Thompson
John Thompson

John Thompson, the leader in energy and environmental solutions through value engineering and innovation, provides the following: design, engineer,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/03/2024)
15th March 2024 By: Martin Creamer
Magazine round up | 15 March 2024
Magazine round up | 15 March 2024
15th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.076 0.127s - 170pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now