From our editor
Editorial Committee
Dear reader , Welcome to Issue 3 of Grassroots for 2021 .
We give feedback on the GSSA ’ s 56 th annual and 2 nd virtual congress . The programme was packed with interesting research and the chat-box “ alive ” with conversations . Overall , the congress along with the two workshops received positive feedback from delegates . Congratulations to all the award winners and everyone participating in making it a successful event !
Highlights of this issue : We pay tribute to one of the founder members of the GSSA , Dr Piet Roux , who passed away on 30 June 2021 . Most of his life was dedicated to understanding Karoo ecology and he was an inspiration to many young scientists and farmers . Our hearts go out to his family .
Henk Smit has written an insightful article on the eco-efficiency of irrigated dairy pastures in South Africa . This study identifies opportunities to produce climate-smart dairy products in South Africa and is definitely worth the read ! Make sure to scan the QR-codes for the two published articles on this subject .
Who would have ever thought it is possible to “ potty train ” a cow ? Read all about exactly how and why researchers of the University of Auckland have engaged in such a “ crazy ” study . A new national park is on its way for the Eastern Cape and the City of Cape Town is implementing a “ No Mowing ” policy . We celebrate the “ Tree of the year ” and also learn why tree planting schemes can destroy rangelands and damage pastoral livelihoods .
Lastly , we welcome Dr Francuois Muller to the editorial team and thank Charné Viljoen for her valuable inputs over the past year .
Enjoy the read !
Best regards
Malissa
Editor Malissa Murphy
Sub-Editors Marnus Smit Francuois Muller
Layout and Design J . C . Aucamp
Administration Erica Joubert
Contact us If you have any feedback , comments , or suggestions , feel free to contact us at : info @ grassland . org . za
Despite the care and attention that we devote to the structure of this newsletter and the information it contains , the Grassroots Editorial Team cannot guarantee the completeness and accuracy of the data . The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial team .
Grassroots Vol 21 No 3 November 2021 02