Agri SA will host its annual congress on 12-13 October 2023, with the theme of ‘Food Certainty’. As in previous years, the gathering will bring together leaders from the private and public sectors to address the critical issues facing the agricultural sector.
Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza will deliver the keynote address. Other notable speakers will include Professor Nick Binedell of the GIBS Business School, Chairman of Business for South Africa, Mark Kingston, and ABSA Bank Chief Investment Officer, Ricardo Smith. Other attendees will include Agri SA members, as well as the leaders of Agri SA’s provincial affiliates and of the commodity and corporate chambers.
This year’s congress takes place in a highly challenging environment for the sector. In addition to the ongoing costs pressures that continue to be reflected in high food prices, the sector has also recently withstood both wildfires and floods as well as contending with a devastating outbreak of Avian flu. These factors are over and above the ongoing challenges caused by loadshedding and deteriorating transport infrastructure.
The programme will focus on the components that make up food certainty, a concept that goes beyond food security. Food certainty also takes into account the ability of consumers to afford and to access food; the assurance that the food is safe; that businesses in the sector are paying their taxes; and that these taxes are properly used by the state to maintain the infrastructure and services required in order to guarantee food security into the future.
The event details are as follows:
Date: Thursday and Friday, 12-13 October 2023
Time: 07h30
Place: Assembly room, Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park
RSVP: Register here or email agrisa@agrisa.co.za
