{"id":311,"date":"2017-04-10T13:57:34","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T11:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/?p=311"},"modified":"2017-04-11T14:24:45","modified_gmt":"2017-04-11T12:24:45","slug":"fruit-growers-refine-age-old-sustainable-farming-practices-as-they-gear-up-for-sas-carbon-tax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/?p=311","title":{"rendered":"Fruit growers refine age-old sustainable farming practices as they gear up for SA\u2019s carbon tax"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Africa\u2019s Carbon Tax Bill is one of the critical pieces of legislation that will impact on the agribusiness environment.<\/p>\n

This is the opinion of Agribiz CEO, Dr John Purchase writing in his 2017 agribusiness outlook.<\/p>\n

And while primary agriculture will likely be exempt from being directly taxed during the first phase of the tax\u2019s implementation, the SA fruit and wine initiative Confronting Climate Change<\/a> (CCC) says \u201cagriculture can expect to experience cost pressure on all key material and energy inputs including electricity, fuel, fertilisers and agrochemicals\u201d.<\/p>\n

During the second phase – expected to commence in 2020\/21- \u201call Scope 1 emissions from agriculture will be taxable\u201d, including mobile and stationary combustion, and fugitive emissions*.<\/p>\n

In February, former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said SA\u2019s proposed carbon tax and its implementation date would \u201cbe considered further in Parliament this year\u201d. Although much of its nitty-gritty still needs to be fleshed out, analysts have cautioned South Africans to start preparing for the tax\u2019s roll-out. Its implementation could see SA – regarded one of the world\u2019s top 20 carbon dioxide emitters per capita – reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2035.<\/p>\n

\u2018You have to have a starting point\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first step is measuring farms\u2019 carbon footprint. \u201cYou have to have a starting point,\u201d says Christie Henn, Manager, Bonathaba (Wellington, Western Cape), one of the table grape and citrus farms managed by Cape Town-based producer and exporter SAFE<\/a> (South African Fruit Exporters). \u201cA good start is to find out what on your farm causes your carbon footprint to\"218 be the size it is and what you can use to offset it. This will guide your future steps in decreasing the footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonathaba and neighbouring Zwartfontein – also a SAFE farm – use the CCC\u2019s carbon calculator to determine their footprint. According to Dries van Rooyen, General Manager of Farming Operations, SAFE, both farms have been registered with Blue North<\/a>, which supports agricultural businesses in implementing sustainability strategies. Certain managers and SAFE staff underwent training and have started to document the farms\u2019 activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe plan to register all SAFE\u2019s farms within the next two years, so they can start measuring and monitoring their carbon footprint. We believe it\u2019ll be a smooth integration, as many of the agricultural practices aimed at curbing global warming are daily and basic methods farmers have been applying for decades \u2013 unknowingly perhaps. These practices are now being refined,\u201d says Van Rooyen.<\/p>\n

Counting firmly in agriculture\u2019s favour is the fact that farms, often sporting large amounts of planted hectares, are mostly carbon negative, i.e. they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, says Andr\u00e9 Botha, Senior Agriculturalist, UFF African Agri Investments<\/a>, from which SAFE rents farm land and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

So, which sustainable practices have SAFE\u2019s farms been implementing so far?\"217<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always try to take advantage of the latest technology to shrink our carbon footprint, such as irrigation-scheduling programmes,\u201d says Henn. By using data gathered by weather stations and probes measuring the soil moisture content, SAFE monitors exactly how much water is needed, when, and then only dispenses the required quantities. This has eliminated excessive irrigation and led to a water consumption reduction of 18% to 20%. Irrigation pumps with variable speed drives further assist farmers in using less electricity.<\/p>\n

SAFE\u2019s pre-cooling systems operate with water side panels rather than gas compressors. As a result no gas is being emitted. Covering vineyards with nets helps to save water, as does pulling up old windbreaks which guzzle thousands of litres of water.<\/p>\n

Making the co\"213ld chain as short as possible<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pack houses and cold stores\u2019 location plays a key role. \u201cWe try to install the majority of our production units in the most energy-efficient manner. All cold stores are adjacent or in close proximity to the pack houses, so farmers don\u2019t have to transport their\u00a0fruit elsewhere to be cooled down. Complete consignments – packed to the brim – travel from the farm to the harbour or final destination. We\u2019re making\u00a0the cold chain as short as possible,\u201d explains Botha.<\/p>\n

In addition, morning-shift teams pick SAFE\u2019s table grapes between 4:00AM and 10:00AM, before the midday sun hits. When the grapes arrive at the pack house, their temperature is still low and they don\u2019t need be cooled down, saving electricity.<\/p>\n

Most of SAFE\u2019s farm buildings are fitted with energy-efficient bulbs, roofs are isolated and Perspex roofs are used to let through natural light. New farmworker accommodation buildings and cr\u00e8ches are supplied with solar power, while older buildings\u2019 electrical geysers are replaced with solar ones. \u201cFrom Bonathaba\u2019s electricity bill we can already see a huge improvement,\u201d says Henn.\"216<\/p>\n

When SAFE purchases new vehicles or tractors, efficient diesel consumption is non-negotiable. \u201cTwo years ago we moved from 500 ppm to the environment-friendlier 50 ppm,\u201d remarks Henn. Vehicles are serviced regularly and diesel consumption monitored continuously.<\/p>\n

Pest control still \u2018prickly pear\u2019 for sustainable farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pest control remains a \u201cprickly pear\u201d for sustainable farmers. Van Rooyen says SAFE now administers a \u201csoft programme\u201d instead of hard chemicals. \u201cWith the help of a brilliant pest-hotspot scouting programme, we only spray when absolutely necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

When fertilising, SAFE believes it is crucial to first establish the soil\u2019s condition, looking at nutrients and shortages \u2013 by taking leaf-soil samples and measuring micro and macro elements annually. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to \u2018over-fertilise\u2019 or put back any unnatural elements – only exactly what\u2019s needed,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Henn adds: \u201cWe aim to restore our soil\u2019s structure through an annual composting programme. Offshoots are placed back in the vineyards where they turn into compost and nourish the soil organically.\u201d SAFE also plants cover crops \u2013 known as \u201cnatural nitrogen manufacturers\u201d – between their orchards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to put back into the land what we\u2019re taking out\u00a0of it. Looking at global warming\u2019s impact on agriculture – the extreme weather conditions – we\u2019ll simply have to farm in a more environment-friendly manner. This carbon tax is part of protecting nature,\u201d concludes Van Rooyen.<\/p>\n

NOTES:<\/em><\/p>\n

SAFE\u2019s carbon footprint-shrinking steps are in line with the requirements of G.L.O.B.A.L. Gap and the <\/em>British Retail Consortium, which regularly audit its farms, as well as Fairtrade, a programme SAFE is rolling out to more of its farms.<\/em><\/p>\n

*<\/em> According to the CCC:<\/em><\/p>\n