Together we move forward – fuelled by momentum
The macadamia industry is abuzz with excitement as MacDay 2024 is set to take place at Whispering Thorns in White River from 10 – 11 September. Golf enthusiasts can also look forward to a golf day with their peers and the opportunity to rub shoulders on 9 September. Following the remarkable success of last year’s International Macadamia Symposium (IMS) at Zimbali, this year’s event promises to be even more captivating and enriching for all participants. According to Lizel Pretorius, CEO of Macadamias South Africa (SAMAC), they are dedicated to the promotion and support of the macadamia industry in Southern Africa. “This year’s event promises to be insightful and captivating as we aim for collaboration, innovation, and growth within the industry.”
Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities: MacDay 2024 offers unparalleled sponsorship opportunities that will enable businesses to showcase their brand to over 500 delegates. Lizel says the feedback from last year’s event was incredible. “Exhibitors particularly appreciated the interactive engagement with attendees, which led to numerous business opportunities. This year, the exhibition area will again be part of the lunch area, ensuring massive exposure for all exhibitors. Don’t miss out on this chance to put your brand in the spotlight.”
Captivating Programme and Expert Speakers: The programme for MacDay 2024 is meticulously designed to bring together leading experts in the field. Attendees can look forward to insightful presentations and engaging panel discussions. These sessions are tailored to address the current challenges and future opportunities in the macadamia industry, ensuring that delegates leave with valuable knowledge and actionable insights.
Secure Your Spot Today: Early Bird registrations are now open! Growers, businesses, and macadamia enthusiasts are invited to register as delegates before 1 July to take advantage of the early bird booking benefits. This is a unique opportunity to secure your place at the premier event in the macadamia industry calendar and enjoy a significant discount.
We encourage all interested parties to visit macday.samac.org.za for more information and to register as a delegate. You can also email us at: mac-conference2024@samac.org.za.
MacDay 2024 is more than just an event; it is a celebration of innovation, growth, and collaboration within the macadamia industry. We look forward to welcoming you to an unforgettable experience that will inspire and inform you
Pictured above: Lize Roets, Joy Gulle, Lindria Lategan provided creamy samples of Giraf Macadamia Milk.
AmberMacs hosted their third Macadamia Expo this year with the event growing from strength to strength. Held from 8 to 9 February in White River, Mpumalanga, the occasion attracted hundreds of visitors and had more than 180 exhibitors showcasing everything a macadamia nut farmer needs to succeed. There were also a noticeable number of value-added products for sale, showing advancement in this under-serviced sector of the industry.
Johan Sutherland from Laeveld Trekkers gave farmers a peak at new equipment.
Saws and pruning equipment were on display. Pictured from left to right is Quenton Esterhuizen from STIHL, Bruce Bjerg from MPI, and Quinton van Rooyen and Monique Butler, both from Enviro Forestry.
Macadamia nut milk, ice cream, liqueurs, coffee and flavoured nuts were just some of the products demonstrating the versatility of these nuts.
Visitors were given a breakdown of macro, and macadamia specific related market information, and the latest on benchmarking and pest control research.
AmberMacs’ managing director, Philip Moufarrige, said the expo offered something useful for both seasoned and newer farmers alike, and aimed to benefit and support growers and suppliers through the sharing of the latest ideas and innovations in farming practices, technology, pest control, irrigation, dam building, pruning, harvesting and drying.
The annual expo, held in White River at the AmberMacs processing facility had over 180 exhibitors.
Marelize Kelder, Michelle Schnepel, Chane Ackerman from Michem Cleaning Supplies.
Economist Dawie Roodt and AmberMacs’ managing director, Philip Moufarrige.
Pictured above: Dr Elrea Strydom has driven macadamia production innovation as the Research and Development manager at Macadamias South Africa (SAMAC) since 2019.
The Macadamia’s agriculture journalist Lindi Botha spoke to the scientist about the research projects that excite her most, influencing government policy, and why she believes the best is yet to come for the macadamia-producing sector.
When and how did your journey in this industry begin?
I joined SAMAC in March 2019 as R&D manager in the then newly formed SAMAC NPC. Since then, it has been a privilege to manage the “R&D machine” with the rest of the team, the SAMAC board, and members of our various sub-committees and committees.
What fascinates you about macadamias?
Perennial tree crops are complex systems. Working with them is fascinating because it is very technical, and I still learn something new every day. Compared with many other industries, the macadamia sector is still quite young, meaning even seasoned growers and technical advisors are continuously learning. We are still unravelling many of the basics of this complex system.
I was reminded of this at the recent Global Research Focus at this year’s International Macadamia Symposium in KwaZulu-Natal. More than 50 macadamia researchers from around the world, technical advisors, and related roleplayers were able to draft a two-page list of everything we still do not know about the crop. The list is daunting, but it shows us where the knowledge gaps are and where there are opportunities in the future.
What research is most needed to ensure a sustainable future for macadamia nut production in South Africa?
Growers must be sustainable both ecologically and economically. The ecological component of sustainability will become increasingly important in future as the pressure on growers intensifies from consumers, banks and regulatory bodies, to name but a few. We also focus on ecological sustainability in our research programme by looking into biological control of key pests, optimising water usage, and lowering carbon footprints.
The economic component is equally important, as growers and the industry cannot survive if they are not profitable. The past 18 months have reminded us that the only way to be sustainable financially, in the long run, is to be efficient. We must get the basics right, and SAMAC is therefore systematically revisiting and updating management best practices and reiterating these to the industry.
Growers will have to make informed, data-driven decisions to remain efficient in future. SAMAC is working to support growers in this regard through the SAMAC Integrator – an industry database and dashboard to bolster decision-making.
Regarding government policies to enhance the sector, what is most needed?
I think what is most important is that the government focuses on its mandate to create an enabling and stable environment for agriculture to flourish. SAMAC has good relationships with the government and will continue to be the voice of the industry in the appropriate forums.
If there were one piece of research you wished everyone in the industry would take note of, what would it be?
That would be like asking which of my two girls is my favourite! I strongly believe that our mandate is to develop technology and solutions for the industry, keeping in mind technology is any piece of knowledge that can be applied practically. That technology or tool can be a national map of macadamia orchards, the SAMAC Integrator, a pheromone, a natural enemy for a pest, or just information which enhances our understanding of something or improves best practices – for example, knowing what time of the year is best to test or control for a specific disease. As I mentioned earlier, in many areas we are ironing out the basics, and some projects are stepping-stones which build momentum to get to the “flashy” outcome – but are just as important.
Regarding the future of the industry – where do you see it in 10 years’ time, and what will be the biggest drivers for success?
I am very positive – because we have a nutrient-dense, premium, and versatile product that “ticks all boxes” for consumers, now and in the future. I am positive about the opportunity to potentially increase average yields so growers can build sustainable businesses, and I also hope we will move towards more basic standards across many areas.
SAMAC is a modern, innovative, and agile organisation capable of leading the industry into the future. Over the past four and a half years it has done great work to make the sector more cohesive and organised, which I think is crucial to move forward. The structures it has put in place (such as the R&D programme and being a founding member of the World Macadamia Organisation) have gained momentum and will pay dividends in the future.
Ambermacs is hosting its third major 2-day Macadamia Expo on 8th and 9th February 2024, the biggest expo of its kind, featuring over 180 exhibitors and a number of excellent guest speakers who will be hosting a series of seminars and presentations on macadamia farming and the industry in general. Parking available for 1000 cars this year with shuttle service provided by Safari Jeeps.
This event is a must for anyone involved in the macadamia industry. Tickets are R50 per person and all visitors must register online for tickets (limited to 3000 entries). There will be food and drink provided by a variety of vendors, and drinks with Gin & Co and the Thirsty Bartender amongst others. Entry will only be granted upon presentation of a ticket at the gate on the days of the event and the first 1000 visitors will receive a goodie bag of gifts provided by our sponsors and exhibitors. Radio Laeveld will be broadcasting from the venue for the two days and Voodoo Kudu will be playing live on Friday afternoon from 1-6pm.
For more information on exhibitors, seminars and guest speakers, please visit our Expo page online at https://ambermacs.com/expo-2024/.
See you in February!
DIRECTIONS
Ambermacs Macadamia Expo Feb 8th and 9th 2024
AmberMacs Factory
Plot 88, Old Plaston Road Mpumulanga, White River, 1240
Get Directions
The Land Bank has become another basket case state-owned entity (SOE) facing a smothering cash-crunch — and it is eyeing SA’s deteriorating public finances for emergency assistance.
The SOE that extends loans to emerging and established farmers wants financial help from the government and existing lenders after it defaulted on some of its debt payment obligations.
That the Land Bank defaulted on the obligations to lenders of about R738-million, which matures before the end of April 2020, means that the SOE is facing serious cash-flow issues and cannot continue with its mandate of disbursing loans to farmers on a large scale.
The Land Bank, which estimates that it provides 28% of SA’s agricultural debt, has decided to make “limited” loan disbursements to the sector.
The bank had total assets amounting to R52.4-billion during its 2019 financial year, of which R44.5-billion comprised loans to farmers. Beyond lending, the Land Bank also provides insurance cover to farmers from risks such as natural disasters, fire, flooding and theft.
But the default on its debt obligations to unnamed lenders is a blow to the bank, which recently hired Ayanda Kanana as permanent CEO in February 2020 to stabilise an entity that doesn’t enjoy unfettered financial support from the government, unlike SAA and Eskom.
In January, the Land Bank was downgraded to junk status by Moody’s Investors Service, with the credit rating agency saying the bank has a declining quality of assets, as seen in the rise of its soured loans, which made the bank’s profile riskier than the general banking sector. The value of loan impairments (money that may never be collected from borrowers) reached R324.7-million in 2019, a nearly six-fold increase from R55.5-million in 2018.
The bank asks for help
The Land Bank says the Moody’s downgrade was the straw that broke its back. Now the Land Bank has asked for help from its lenders, including multilateral development finance institutions such as the World Bank and African Development Bank.
“[The] Land Bank is engaging with its funders to request for a debt standstill and deferral of settlements for a predetermined period to enable the bank to develop a business plan, restructure its balance sheet and negotiate a restructuring of its liabilities with funders,” the bank told Business Maverick on Tuesday 28 April.
The bank wants to raise up to R5-billion from lenders to meet its medium-term liquidity requirements, including an agreement for lenders to defer interest on their due debt.
“There is a general willingness by all parties to find solutions for the restoration of liquidity and sustainability of the bank.”
But before lenders agree to throw a lifeline to the Land Bank, some want the government to first make an undertaking to financially assist the bank.
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is open to this, saying at a press conference on Friday 24 April:
“The Land Bank has come under severe stress… It is in trouble and our responsibility is to support the Land Bank.”
The support may come in the form of government guarantees that the Land Bank can use to solicit further funding from lenders. A guarantee is an agreement that the government or the fiscus would pay the Land Bank’s debt if it defaults on payments. In February, the National Treasury provided the Land Bank with government guarantees of R5.7-billion, but has only used R1.4-billion. The bank says it has requested further guarantees to support its fundraising efforts.
Land Bank’s debt instruments
The Land Bank has defaulted on two domestic medium-term note (DMTN) programmes that were launched in 2010 and 2017. The programmes are debt instruments used by a company – at its discretion – to fund operational activities. To raise money in the open market, a company would issue debt or notes to lenders with a promise of paying back the money with a fixed and floating interest rate at a later stage.
For its 2019 financial year, the Land Bank had outstanding debt or notes amounting to R13.4-billion under its DMTN programme. The default of some of the debt under the programme, which has occurred, can prompt all lenders to ask the Land Bank to immediately pay back all outstanding amounts (R13.4-billion).
It’s unclear if all outstanding amounts under its DMTN programme are guaranteed by the government, which will be forced to pay lenders R13.4-billion if the Land Bank defaults on all outstanding debt. Asked if the DMTN programme is backed by government guarantees, the bank says:
“We prefer not to publicly share this information at this time of the bank’s engagements with funders.”
Lenders could also opt to liquidate the Land Bank, which would spark a fire sale of the SOE’s assets, to recoup the money they are owed. The Land Bank confirmed to Business Maverick that not all noteholders (lenders) demanded the repayment of the money they are owed. BM
Image: Business Maverick
Article: Ray Mahlaka
A group of dedicated enthusiasts braved the fire ravaged landscape in central Queensland’s remote Bulburin rainforest on April 14 for the first time since the disaster to see how Macadamia jansenii, a species as rare as the country’s Wollemi Pine, had fared.
Field naturalist and retired sugarcane farmer, Keith Sarnadsky who was a member of the team allowed to inspect the fire damage for the first time after roads into the park were cleared of fallen trees said almost all of the small Mj trees touched by fire appeared to be dead.
“Some of the larger plants may have died due to their own stump burning, but some now have suckers appearing. Most of the dead plants didn’t appear to have had extremely hot fire around them,” Sarnadsky said.
The discovery of about 150 trees in 2018 had trebled the known population of Macadamia jansenii, or the “Mj”, a species first recognised by the modern scientific community in 1992. Sarnadsky who found the new trees over several expeditions in the spring of 2018, was also on the 1983 expedition when cane farmer Ray Jansen initially discovered the Macadamia jansenii species, the first new macadamia in 120 years.
Denise Bond, executive officer of MCT, said until FAME (the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species) funded any further searches for Macadamia jansenii in 2018, it was not even known that the new trees existed.
“We were thrilled when Keith discovered these new trees to add to the tiny original population of 60 individuals, but that same year wildfire came within 10km of the habitat, and now our fears have been realised with the December 2019 fires burning at least a third of the new trees,” Bond said.
“We hoped they were safe, nestled in sub-tropical rainforest, but we have been proved wrong. Luckily, we have a small but dedicated team of traditional owners, the Gidarjil Rangers, amateur and professional botanists, researchers and park rangers who are passionate about protecting this endangered macadamia and the subtropical rainforest that sustains it. We’re applying for funding to increase fire and weed management across the Bulburin landscape.”
Ian McConachie, an MCT founding member, said as the Mj grows in an area that is much hotter than the commercial macadamias, it is likely to have genes that will be used in the future to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Leaf samples taken from the newly discovered Mj are currently being analysed to see how the genetic diversity of the population is distributed across its habitat. The 43 original trees have meanwhile been cloned, with new trees being grown in botanic gardens across Australia as part of an “insurance population”.
MCT aims to learn more about the ecology and genetics of Macadamia jansenii and preserve its genetic diversity in ex-situ plantings as well as increasing the range of its current habitat, particularly in anticipation of the impacts of climate change.
The Australian non-profit is the world’s only charity devoted to conserving macadamias.
Caption: New life brings hope after fires burn rare macadamias Image credit: Keith Sarnadsky
