Agricultural science service provider Farmsecure Agri Science (FAS) has strengthened its position in South Africa’s deciduous and table grape industries.

Through the merging of the well-respected soil science consulting firm, Agricultural Consultors International (ACI), into the services of FAS, as well as the acquisition of the research and development company ExperiCo, Farmsecure Agri Science now offers an extensive, comprehensive and reliable suite of agricultural scientific services.

Farmsecure Agri Science is part of the Farmsecure Group and an integral role player in realising the Group’s vision of making a meaningful contribution to securing the world’s food supply by “Creating Sustainability and Profitability in Agriculture”.

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Cape Town — When a food crisis hits the continent, African countries tend to look to the international donor community to mobilise aid. But a fast-growing, drought- resistant tree with extremely nutritious leaves could help poor, arid nations to fight food insecurity and malnutrition on their own.

A 15-hectare plantation of the “miracle tree” with the botanical name Moringa oleifera has already started to make a positive change in the rural village of Tooseng, which is located in one of South Africa’s poorest provinces, Limpopo.

Moringa leaves are dubbed a “super food” because scientists found that they contain the calcium equivalent of four glasses of milk, the vitamin C content of seven oranges, the potassium of three bananas, three times the amount of iron found in spinach, four times the amount of vitamin A found in a carrot and twice the amount of protein in milk. It is like a supermarket on a tree.

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SOUTH AFRICA – Local producers are calling for a reduction in poultry meat imports from Brazil, which are selling at lower prices.South African chicken producers have for the past few months complained that poultry imports, particularly from Brazil, have been killing their business.

According to Business Day, for producers such as Afgri, Astral Foods and Rainbow Chicken, the bottom line has taken a knock. The result is that a few producers and the industry body have teamed up to take action in the form of an antidumping case against Brazilian imports. They accuse Brazil of selling whole chickens cheaper in South Africa than in their home market.

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The 32nd edition of Platter’s Guide, launched 8 November 2011, features more than 900 South African wine producers, merchants and brands, including 58 new ones and over 7000 locally produced wines.

The theme for this edition is Thinking Out Of The Box, with (among others) the full-colour photo gallery and many of the entries in the A-Z Directory focusing on organisations and individuals who innovatively employ ideas, techniques and technologies in viticulture, winemaking, packaging, wine tourism, social media, conservation, sustainability, matching wine and food and creating new wine styles.

Total broiler production for 2010 amounted to 969 million broilers or 1.3 million tons of meat, four per cent more than the 931 million broilers or 1.25 million tons of meat produced in 2009, according to the latest GAIN report from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. In 2011, broiler production is expected to reach 980 million broilers or 1.315 million tons of meat, representing a one per cent increase from 2010.

Read the extended report HERE