NUUS
Group Chief Executive and Chairman of
Agbiz, Francois Strydom, Agbiz CEO,
Dr John Purchase and Director of BFAB,
Ferdie Meyer. Francois states how these
sessions highlight the great potential of
localised production instead of imports.
He reflects on how the outbreak of the
Covid-19 pandemic that has placed so
many restrictions on us, has made us look
inwards and see the possibilities of being
self-sufficient. Dr John Purchase gives a
broad overview of the imperativeness of
food security and the competitiveness of
the South African agricultural and agribusiness
sector, elements that are crucial
to ensuring that our country is food-secure
and as the third speaker in the introduction
session, Professor Ferdi Meyer paints a
picture of the agricultural master plan, a
plan not only for agriculture but for many
sectors in the South African economy.
Dr. John Purchase, Agbiz CEO, is the
facilitator of all the sessions presented in
the series.
In the first four sessions of the series the
three main questions directed towards
panellists are as follows:
1. The different companies’ views on the
Agricultural Value Chain.
2. The Agricultural Value Chain approach
of the companies in relation to access
to the international market.
3. The economic impact that Covid-19 has
on the industry.
Session 2: The Meat Industry (Animal
Industry)
The panel members for session 2
included Marthinus Stander, CEO of
Country Bird Holdings, Johann Kotzé,
CEO of the South African Pork Producers
Organisation, Dewald Olivier, CEO of The
South African Feedlot Association and Dr
Danie Odendaal, Founder and Director
of the Veterinarian Network (V-Net) who
are all experts in the animal industry. The
panellists created a better understanding
on the role that they play and can play
in the value chain moving forward. This
discussion highlights many exciting
opportunities and sets a great tone for the
sessions to follow.
Session 3: The Milling Industry
De Wet Boshoff, Executive Director,
AFMA; Boikanyo Mokgatle, Executive
Director, National Chamber of Milling
and Peter Lovelace, CEO, Central Edible
Oil Company (Ceoco) are on the panel
and discuss their respective roles in the
Agricultural Value Chain. The different
perspectives that are shared in these
discussions highlight the importance of
having these necessary conversations and
bringing together the various role-players
within the milling and other industries.
Session 4: Producers
The disruptions caused by Covid-19 in
the world’s value chains have forced us
to look at new approaches and in session
4 great minds collaborate and are put
together to explore how value chains
are going to evolve now during Covid-19
and thereafter. Producers and members
of agri-businesses were invited to share
their exceptional input and knowledge on
the platform. The panel included Danie
Minnaar, Chairman of Senwes, Pierre
Vercueil, President, Agri SA, Louw van
Reenen, CEO, Beefmaster, Jaco Minaar,
Vice President, Agri SA and Omri van Zyl,
CEO, Agri SA.
Session 5: Financing
In the fifth session we get an introduction
to the importance of open and competitive
value chains and financing in the system,
including the extent of primary agricultural
debt and the need for insurance. The
panel includes Nico Groenewald from
Standard Bank, Dawie Maree from
First National Bank, John Hudson from
Nedbank, Roux Wildenboer from Absa and
Gielie Swart from Santam.
Session 6: Logistics
The sixth session takes a closer look at
logistics as one of the critical pressure
points in driving our food security and
competitiveness. Panellists include
Andrew Waller, Grindrod CEO; Gavin
Kelly, Road Freight Association CEO;
Christo Booyens, Tradevantage Managing
Director; Earle Peters, Transnet Corporate
Executive Manager: Iron Ore and
Phillippus Oosthuizen, Continual Managing
Director.
Session 7: Safex Differential
In the seventh session of the Agricultural
Value Chain Virtual Discussion Series, the
SAFEX differential is unpacked as a hot
topic and provides insights from various
Please click here to view The Agricultural Value Chain | Virtual Discussions Series
6
Francois Strydom | Chairman, Agbiz
Dr John Purchase | CEO, Agbiz
Professor Ferdi Meyer | Director, BFAP
SENWES SCENARIO | WINTER 2020 5