Bien Donné Agri Cape Week Launch

The official launch of the Bien Donné Agri Cape Week 2011 took place at the Cassia Restaurant situated on the Nitida Wine Farm on Monday the 4th of April. The evening was attended by a variety of guests from the various industries of the agricultural sector. Guests were entertained by a three piece string band, provided with ample wine from the Niel Joubert selection, and treated to various canapés throughout the evening. In attendance were Bien Donné Agri Cape Week 2011 anchor sponsors, FNB, represented by their Agricultural Regional Head for the Eastern and Western Cape, Rico Basson and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, represented by the Head of Department, Joyene Isaacs.

The programme was set in motion by Agri Mega’s Communications Head, Jerome Topley, with his introduction of the first speaker Mr. Henk Aggenbach, Chairperson of the Agri Mega Group. Mr. Aggenbach conducted the official welcoming before handing over to Group CEO, Mr. Orton King. King’s perspective of the Group’s background, focussing on its role as an agent of change in the agricultural sector, set the tone for the official announcement of Bien Donné Agri Cape Week 2011. The theme of the expo being "Agri Outlook 2020" was also announced. Due emphasis was placed on the fact that this expo is geared towards the fruit, wine and vegetable sectors and that all participants, especially farm workers, women and the youth, will be accommodated. Along with the specific partners and anchor sponsors, Land Bank was acknowledged and thanked for funding the evening’s proceedings. Land Bank’s Louise Heyns described their intention to facilitate the opening of markets especially for emerging farmers, as well as expanding opportunities for existing producers. Focus was also placed on the necessity to anticipate political and environmental contexts and thus applauded the theme of this expo.

The launch was honoured to have both the CEO of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Dr. Shadrack Moephuli, and Mr. Jonathan Godden, Chairperson of the ARC Board present and accounted for, both of whom delivered outstanding speeches. The keynote speaker Prof. Theo Venter, of the North-West University, delivered a succinct and insightful talk, entitled "Building Bridges towards the Future." Venter began by elaborating on the future of food security and the current shift from rural towards urban politics, the implications for the agricultural sector was summarised in the challenge that this sector faces in terms of creating sustainable solutions to the impending problems. He furthermore challenged the industry, through the representatives present, to stop romanticising the "emerging farmer". Attempts should be made to incorporate the small-scale farmer in mainstream agriculture. There are, according to Prof. Venter, seven revolutions of which the industry must take into account, if sustainable solutions are to be developed. Increased Population, Scarce Resources, Technology, Informatics, Economics, Conflict, and Government, are all imperative considerations.

The three predominant hindrances to change that all industries need to overcome while considering these revolutions are the inability to see, the inability to move and the inability to conclude. The evening’s events were concluded by Topley thanking all the speakers and those present. An invitation was extended to all interested parties to attend the expo which will take place between the 4th and 6th of May 2011. For further information please contact Mega Events at tel: 021 863 1803 or megaevents@agrimega.co.za