News
07 May 2012 Kynoch Success Formula Radio Advertisement, OFM
07 May 2012Experience Kynoch’s success formula.
26 April 2012 Bien Donne is Back
26 April 2012The 69th Bien Donné Agri Cape Week, one of the biggest agricultural shows in the Western Cape since 1942, was held from the 19th to 21st of April 2012 at the ARC’s (Agricultural Research Council) Bien Donné Research Farm in Simondium, Paarl. The theme of the exhibition was ‘Change for Sustainability’ and Farmsecure was a proud co-sponsor of the event.
Please see the link below to view the full article:
18 April 2012 Farmsecure is all about Farming
18 April 2012Farmsecure farms on five fruit farms namely Maswiri in Limpopo, Chennells in Kwazulu-Natal, Kaspersnek in Mpumalanga, Theewaterskloof near Villiersdorp and the Carstens Farms, Valence and Werda in the Paarl area.
This purpose of this profile is to give readers a glimpse into the daily delights and challenges of farming life.
Please see the link below for more information:
13 April 2012 German Development Finance Institution DEG Invests in Farmsecure Vision
16 April 2012Cape Town (13 April 2012): DEG - Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, a subsidiary of the German development finance bank KfW, has acquired a 10% shareholding in Farmsecure Holdings. Following completion of all conditions precedent, the transaction was implemented on 12 April 2012.
Please see link below for more information:
13 April 2012 FAS Soil Classification Radio advertisement
13 April 2012Farmsecure Agri Science Advertisement, OFM
16 March 2012 Kynoch Acquires Sasol’s Kimberley Liquid Fertilizer Business
16 March 2012Kynoch Acquires Sasol’s Kimberley Liquid Fertilizer Business
Farmsecure Group has announced that its Kynoch Fertilizer business has concluded an agreement with Sasol to acquire Sasol's Kimberley liquid fertilizer business, and that the Competition Commission has unconditionally approved the transaction.
Download press release:
Kynoch verkry Sasol se Kimberley Vloeibare Kunsmis Besigheid
Farmsecure Groep het aangekondig dat sy Kynoch Kunsmis besigheid met Sasol ooreen gekom het om Sasol se Kimberley vloeibare kunsmis besigheid te verkry.Die transaksie is onvoorwaardelik goedgekeur deur die Mededingingskommissie.
Laai die persverklaring af:
24 February 2012 Fruitful Logistica for Farmsecure
24 February 2012Despite freezing temperatures of minus 18°C, more then 56 000 visitors from 139 countries arrived in Germany between the 8th and the 10th of February 2012. They all arrived to attend the world’s largest Fresh Produce market. Farmsecure was also there.
Please see the link below for more information:
17 February 2012 Farmsecure goes mobile
17 February 2012Farmsecure’s vision is to be a meaningful contributor to securing the world’s food supply by creating sustainable and profitable agricultural enterprises, where the process is optimized from 'farm to shelf'. Farmsecure envisions that the rural sector can play a great role in food security for South Africa’s agricultural industry and the profitability of the nation going forward.
Download the newsletter:
Farmsecure_goes_mobile.pdf
14 February 2012 Intelichem and Farmsecure transaction completed
14 February 2012Terason, Technichem Crop Protection and Farmsecure transaction completed.
Download press release:
Intelichem.pdf
Terason, Technichem Gewasbeskerming en Farmsecure transaksie voltooi.
Laai die persverklaring af:
Intelichem.pdf
10 February 2012 Seeing is Believing
10 February 2012Farmsecure™ partners with Standard Chartered Bank, ICEE and Nissan South Africa to provide eye screening services to 500 learners in Bethlehem
Please see below for more information:
10 February 2012 Farmsecure proudly welcomes Prisma Packaging to the Group
10 February 2012The Competition Commission of South Africa has unconditionally approved the acquisition of Prisma Packaging by Farmsecure™ Technologies.
Please see below for more information:
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Mededingingskommissie het die verkryging van Prisma Packaging deur Farmsecure™ Technologies onvoorwaardelike goedgekeur.
Sien asseblief hier onder vir meer informasie:
9 February 2012 Visionary Partnership
09 February 2012SCB partners with Farmsecure in visionary partnership!
Please see below for more information:
7 Februarie 2012 SA koringrekord?!
07 February 2012Relatiewe hoë opbrengste met koringverbouing onder besproeiing is nie regtig iets snaaks nie, veral nie in die droër besproeiingsgebiede waar siektes (veral wortelsiektes) nog nie so groot rol speel nie. Daar word van opbrengste rondom 9 t/ha gehoor, maar dan is die faktor wat die melk dikwels versuur gewoonlik kwaliteit, of te wel proteïeninhoud. Dit is welbekend dat daar ‘n negatiewe korrelasie bestaan tussen opbrengs en kwaliteit.
24 January 2012 FAS is now revolutionising agri science in SA
24 January 2012Agricultural science service provider Farmsecure Agri Science (FAS) has strengthened its position in South Africa’s deciduous and table grape industries.
Please see the link below for more information:
9 January 2012 Farmsecure at Fruit Logistica 2012
10 January 2012Read more by clicking on the banner below or here
9 December 2011 Year of Giving
09 December 2011Farmsecure is represented nationally throughout the agricultural value chain and is therefore represented throughout many of South Africa’s provinces. Farmsecure has always believed in supporting both the communities in which it works and its staff, since the company’s inception, has been very involved in contributing to local surrounding communities.
Please see the link below for more information:
25 November 2011 Farmsecure Farmer of the Year 2011
25 November 2011The challenge of profitable farming in a constantly changing world is well known and this award to Farmsecure Capital’s loyal grain farmers creates the necessary encouragement to farm sustainably and profitably. It also provides the much-needed recognition to farmers for their perseverance, innovative thinking and positive outlook on the future of food security in South Africa.
Please see below for more information:
18 November 2011 Farmsecure plants roots in the community
18 November 2011Farmsecure extends its vision of Food Security to supporting vegetable gardens as part of the Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives
Please see the link below to read the full article:
11 November 2011 Feedback from Farmsecure and Standard Chartered Bank’s Farmer of the Year 2010
11 November 2011The challenge of profitable farming in an increasingly competitive and risky environment is well known amongst the agricultural community. Farmers face challenges such as unpredictable weather patterns, rising input costs and economic fluctuations. The combination of all these elements can cause seasoned farmers to unfortunately land in a situation where they can no longer farm in an economically sustainable way. Flip de Bruyn was one of these farmers.
Please see the link below for more information:
7 November 2011 Kynoch OFM Radio Advertensie
07 November 2011Kynoch GreenGold Advertensie, OFM
2 November 2011 SA and the EU trade negotiations - A step closer
02 November 2011Seven years of SA trade negotiations with the EU could be nearing an end with access for agricultural goods set to improve.
Please see the link below to read the full article:
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/174/66106.html
31 October 2011 ExperiCo joins Farmsecure Group
31 October 2011Farmsecure Agri Science expands its technology services through the acquisition of ExperiCo division of Capespan
Cape Town (2011-10-31): Farmsecure has announced that the ExperiCo division of Capespan (Pty) Ltd has been acquired as a going concern by Farmsecure Agri Science (Pty) Ltd, effective 1 November 2011.
Please see below for more information:
14 October 2011 A New Vision for Brackish Water
14 October 2011Optima Agrik's unique desalination technology offers hope for farmers struggling to deal with brackish water.
Please see below for more information:
6 October 2011 Kynoch New Fertilizer Facilities
06 October 2011Kynoch completes construction of two new fertilizer plants.
Please see below the full press release:
4 October 2011 New table grape varieties will boost Colors Fruit basket
04 October 2011New plantings of five new table grape varieties of which ownership was confirmed in favour of Colors Fruit over the past two weeks will considerably boost the marketing activities of the company in future.
Please see the link below to read the full article:
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=86815#SlideFrame_1
26 September 2011 Dr Johan van Biljon in the Spotlight
26 September 2011Dr Johan J. van Biljon, an agronomist and agriculturalist, became the first agronomist in South Africa to twice be awarded the Research Medal from the Fertilizer Society of South Africa. Journalist Louise Brodie recently profiled the achievements of Dr Johan J. van Biljon’s career in South African agriculture.
Please see below for more information:
21 September 2011 Egypt to Boost Wheat Imports to Avert Unrest
21 September 2011Egypt, the world’s biggest wheat buyer, plans to boost imports this year to build domestic stockpiles and prevent future political unrests fueled by high food prices, the nation’s Agricultural Export Council said.
Please see the link below for more information:
16 September 2011 Farmsecure Enterprise Development in the Eastern Cape
16 September 2011Farmsecure Enterprise Development (FED) was established to facilitate enterprise and rural development at farm level through Farmsecure’s various farming activities and facilities.
Please see below for more information:
FarmsecureEnterpriseDevelopment
13 September 2011 - Onderhoud met Dr. Johan van Biljon, FAS
13 September 2011Onderhoud deur Pieter Moller, OFM omroeper, met Dr. Johan van Biljon van Farmsecure Agri Science
13 September 2011 - FAS Radio Advertensie
13 September 2011Farmsecure Agri Science Advertensie, OFM
13 September 2011 - Kynoch Radio Advertensie
13 September 2011Kynoch Amiplus Advertensie, OFM
9 September 2011 Danie kicks off with Kynoch and wins
09 September 2011
Kynoch congratulates mnr Danie Oosthuizen as the winner of the "Kick off with Kynoch and score"-competition.
Please click the link for more information : KynochCompetitionWinner
26 August 2011 Farmsecure launches new Optimized Farming venture with Farmers
26 August 2011Farmsecure's optimization model for farming is the answer on how to grow more from less, from the soil to the farmer's pocket.
Please see below for more information:
19 August 2011 Acquisition by Kynoch Fertilizer of Sasol’s Endicott liquid fertilizer business
19 August 2011Acquisition by Kynoch Fertilizer of Sasol's Endicott liquid fertilizer business approved unconditionally.
Please below for more information:
19 August 2011 Farmsecure Agri Science and ACI
19 August 2011Farmsecure Agri Science and ACI join forces to combine Soil Science Strengths.
Please see below for more information:
5 August 2011 Why Novo Ladies Shine
05 August 2011In Women's Month, what could be more appropriate than to pay tribute to the special, dedicated and highly skilled women at Colors' packhouse, Novo.
Please click on the below link to read the Newsletter:
22 July 2011 Update on Farmsecure Technology Centre
22 July 2011Farmsecure’s Technology Centre was established with the intention of starting up biogas and gasification plants for research and demonstration purposes and developing the facility into a fully-fledged Research and Development Centre for Farmsecure.
Please see below for more information:
UpdateOnFarmsecureTechnologyCentre
15 July 2011 Knowing Soil Science for Sales
15 July 2011Kynoch agents in the central, northern and eastern regions are benefitting significantly from the Introductory Training Course on Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers being conducted by Dr. Johan van Biljon, Projects Director: Africa, of Farmsecure Technologies.
Please see below for more information on the training:
8 July 2011 Colors Academy
08 July 2011The Colors Academy is impacting people’s lives,making a lasting and highly valuable difference and helping pave the way towards a brighter future for all involved.
For more information on the Colors Academy, please see the link below:
24 June 2011 Sharing Ideas About SharePoint
24 June 2011The Farmsecure Group is entering a new era of sharing, collecting & organising information. SharePoint and F.A.R.M.S. will be the groundbreaking systems that will lead the Group into a new communication future.
Please see below for more information:
15 June 2011 Branded
15 June 2011Four members of Farmsecure's Media & Communications Department recently attended a Branding Conference in Johannesburg. It gave them some insight into the future and the general feedback is that branding works!
For more information, please see the link below:
3 June 2011 Kynoch in the News
03 June 2011We are excited to report on all the news from Kynoch's BIG month of May.
Below, please find a link to the Kynoch Newsletter:
Below, please find a link to the Kynoch Conference Press Release:
Below, please find a link to the Kynoch at Nampo Press Release:
1 June 2011 SA fruit exporters bullied by Brits
01 June 2011Cape Town - South African fruit producers supplying the United Kingdom have had enough of supermarkets and their buyers’ bullying tactics, and have now called on the British government to protect them from alleged unethical practices.
The fruit producers’ operating company, Fruit South Africa, has compiled a report about alleged malpractices by British supermarkets when buying South African fruit that are making it virtually impossible to continue doing business.
For more information, please see the link below:
http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Agribusiness/SA-exporters-bullied-by-Brits-20110531
30 May 2011 Miljoen poste voorspel in die landbousektor
30 May 2011Kaapstad. - Die landbousektor kan in die loop van die volgende tien jaar ’n miljoen werkgeleenthede skep. Sowat 400 000 kan op plaasvlak geskep word en die res in die landbou-waardeketting.
Sien hier onder vir meer informasie:
20 May 2011 Clubbing for Charity
20 May 2011Bethlehem Golf Day hosts record-breaking Charity Event
Please see below for more information:
To view previous Farmsecure news, please see below:
SharingInformationTheSharepointWay
9 May 2011 Kynoch at Nampo Radio Advert
09 May 2011To listen to the advert, please click on the link below:
9 May 2011 Kynoch and Sasol Press Release
09 May 2011For more information, please see the link below:
4 May 2011 Kick-off with Kynoch and Score
04 May 2011For more information, please see below
4 May 2011 Thinking Out Of The Box
04 May 2011Prisma Packaging, in which Farmsecure Technologies is acquiring a 95% shareholding, is moving positively into the future and is poised for massive growth over the next few years.
For more information please see below:
To view previous Farmsecure news, please see the links below:
SharingInformationTheSharepointWay
TerasonAndTechnichemAnnouncement
15 April 2011 Sharing Information the SharePoint Way
15 April 2011
Farmsecure's SharePoint system will take the company into a new dimension of project coordination, collaboration and efficient information-sharing.
For more information on SharePoint and the workshops scheduled in May, please see the link below:
SharingInformationTheSharePointWay
To view previous Farmsecure News, please see the links below:
KickOffWithKynochAndScore
TerasonAndTechnichemAnnouncement
31 March 2011 Terason and Technichem Announcement
31 March 2011For more information, please see the link below
TerasonAndTechnichemAnnouncement
24 March 2011 Farmsecure’s DETI
24 March 2011Farmsecure’s exciting new venture – our very own Development, Education and Training Institute (DETI) - is about to get off the ground in earnest, amid great anticipation from staff.
For more information on the DETI, please see the link below
FarmsecureNewsletter24March2011
To view previous Farmsecure Newsletters, please see the links below
CuttingEdgeInformationTechnologyForFarmsecure
LogisticaLogicAndFarmsecureToTheRescue
11 March 2011 Technologically Speaking
11 March 2011The recent Farmsecure Technologies Conference brought together key role players in the business, providing valuable insight and serving as an ideal networking opportunity.
FarmsecureNewsletter11March2011
To view previous Farmsecure Newsletters, please see the links below:
FarmsecureNewsletter4March2011
LogisticaLogic&FarmsecureToTheRescue
4 March 2011 Cutting Edge Information Technology For Farmsecure
04 March 2011Farmsecure’s Information Services Department (IS) plays a crucial role in putting the Group one step ahead of the game in a broader technological sense.
FarmsecureNewsletter4March2011
To view previous Farmsecure Newsletters, please see the links below
LogisticaLogic&FarmsecureToTheRescue
1 March 2011 Logistica Logic & Farmsecure to the Rescue
01 March 2011A couple of Farmsecure and Colors staff attended the Fruit Logisitca expo in Berlin. We are also giving some feedback on how Farmsecure made a positive difference in the farming operations of its farmers that were affected by the recent floods.
LogisticaLogicAndFarmsecureToTheRescue
16 February 2011 True Colors Shine Again
16 February 2011A leading fruit exporter, Colors, announces New Board and CEO.
For more information, please see the link below.
10 February 2011 Farmsecure and Colors Partnership
10 February 2011Farmsecure's partnership with Colors is signed, sealed and delivered.
For more information on this exciting new development, please click on the link below.
28 January 2011 Farmsecure Global Markets
28 January 2011Farmsecure Newsletter, Farmsecure Global Markets
28 January 2011
27 January 2011 Flooding in Bethlehem
27 January 2011On Wednesday the 26th of January 2011, the Jordan River came down in full flood through the town of Bethlehem. To read more please see the link below ...
19 January 2011 Farmsecure Grain Farmer of the Year 2010
19 January 2011Farmsecure's award for Grain Farmer of the Year is a big event and countless hours are spent to determine the winner.
For more information on the selection process, the three finalists and the winner of 2010, please click on the link below.
FarmsecureGrainFarmerOfTheYear
19 January 2011 FSCarbon sheds light on Renewable Energy sector with new website
19 January 2011Please click on the link below to read the full Press Release
10 December 2010 Farmsecure Boer van die Jaar 2010
10 December 2010
Ons is trots om Farmsecure se Boer van die Yaar 2010 aan te kondig:
Flip de Bruyn, is Saterdagaand 11 December, in Bethlehem vereer as Farmsecure se nuwe Boer van die Jaar 2010. Baie geluk Flip, ons wens jou ‘n suksesvolle 2011 toe. Geniet die vakansie!
- Die Farmsecure Familie
“Farmsecure se visie is om boere se winsgewendheid en volhoubaarheid te verbeter. Die Farmsecure Boer van die Jaar is ‘n erkenning van boere wat die Farmsecure visie ondersteun en dan ook inderdaad suksesvol is om meer winsgewend te boer en hulle eie volhoubaarheid daardeur te verseker. Baie geluk aan die finaliste en die wenner. Dit span die kroon op hulle harde werk en toegewydheid.”
- Jan Wolmarans, Farmsecure Capital Managing Director
“Die Boer van die jaar is vir die Operasionele span ‘n groot gebeurtenis aangesien elke SB graag wil hê sy nominasie moet wen. Dit beloon ook, onder andere, lojaliteit teenoor Farmsecure aangesien kontrakteurs ten minste 3 jaar by Farmsecure moet wees om te kwalifiseer. Dit gee my ook besonder baie genoegdoening om ‘n jaar se harde werk op so manier af te sluit.”
- Jakes du Plessis, Farmsecure Capital Operational Manager
19 November 2010 Kynoch Radio Advert
19 November 2010
21 October 2010 Farmsecure Technologies
21 October 2010FarmsecureNewsletterFarmsecureTechnologies.pdf
1 July 2010 Farmsecure News
01 July 2010Farmsecure News 02 July 2010
Farmsecure news 02 July 2010.pdf
1 July 2010 Farmsecure Capital Weekverslag
01 July 2010Farmsecure Capital Weekverslag 24 Junie 2010
Farmsecure Capital Weekverslag 24 Junie 2010
31 January 2010 New & Reviewed Technology, First at Farmsecure
31 January 2010The First DA Meter in South Africa!
In fruit and vegetables establishing the optimal harvest time is a crucial issue, since fruit shelf-life potential and quality are closely related to the ripening stage at harvest. The DA Meter is a very promising tool both for practical and scientific applications, since it allows one to monitor on-tree fruit ripening to establish accurately the optimal harvest time and it can be used in cool store to establish maturity changes as well.
The DA-Meter - developed by Prof. Costa’s team from the University of Bologna - is a portable instrument that, by means of its absorbency properties, allows one to measure the chlorophyll's content in a fruit. The content in chlorophyll in a fruit is a precise index of a fruit's ripening state. Thus, the DA-meter allows knowing the ripeness state, and the way it works does not depend on the season’s weather conditions, a factor which influences other kinds of measurements such as the Brix index.
The Farmsecure Group is the first known company in South Africa to use this improved technology for its Quality Control checks in pack houses on fruit. Farmsecure quality controller Jacque de Kock says that the use of the DA meter increases his productivity, time and accuracy substantially.
Up for an award in best new technology at the Fruit Logistica Market in Berlin, below you can find a comparison between the DA Meter and its predecessor the Penetrometer, which is still being used.
|
Specifications |
Penetrometer |
DA Meter |
|
Able to test same fruit more than once |
NO |
YES |
|
Able to test final carton without destruction |
NO |
YES |
|
Indicate best picking window on tree |
NO |
YES |
|
Measure Chlorophyll content |
NO |
YES |
|
Use in Coldstore to measure maturity changes |
YES with destruction |
YES |
|
USB support |
NO |
YES |
|
Accurate measure reading (Digital) |
NO |
YES |
|
Store multible readings |
NO |
YES |
|
Measure fruit inline (Packhouse) |
NO |
YES |
|
Use Difference in Absorbance between two wavelenghts near the chlorophyll-a peak. |
NO |
YES |
|
Uses Visible/Near Infrared spectroscopy to develop a maturity index |
NO |
YES |
|
Can be used on Apples, Pears, Peaches and Nectarines |
YES |
YES |
|
Measurement is related to the actual chlorophyll-a content and the physiologic and physic-chemical (Levels of ethylene emission) changes of the fruit. |
NO |
YES |
|
Include a GPS for mapping position of reading |
NO |
YES |
|
Includes a Modem interface (Mobile phone) to allow real time transfer of data |
NO |
YES |
|
Future developments. E.g. 1. GPS system could allow to obtain a "MAP" of the ripening time for each cultivar in the single cultivations, this would allow to determaine in real time the best harvest and storage strategies. 2. Connect to a network |
NO |
YES |
|
Reference indexes for most popular varieties are available on the web site and is continuously updated. |
NO |
YES |
31 January 2010 Farmsecure CEO on the DEG’s AgroAfrica program
31 January 2010
“
DEG has the will and the courage and the expertise in the agricultural sector to help devise this forward-looking initiative. That makes it an ideal cooperation for ‘AgroAfrica’.”
Jerome Yazbek, Group CEO Farmsecure.
Large sections of the population in developing countries live in rural areas, where poverty and malnutrition are rife. Many people are forced to rely on subsistence farming. The situation is further aggravated by the urgent need to feed growing numbers of people due to rapid population growth. That is why farming is of central importance in enabling across the board development. Productivity is low, and both farming methods and yields per hectare badly need to be brought up to date.
Farming is labour-intensive and is affected by essentially unpredictable risks: weather, water, soil and pests being important keywords. Agricultural producers can draw on their expertise to help professionalize the sector. Sustainable private sector commitment, resulting in greater productivity, more added value and higher incomes for farmers, can be found in Asia, Latin America and also in Africa. In West Africa, for example, cotton producers are employing tens of thousands of small farmers, tying them in to production systems and providing training to ensure that the required quality standards are maintained during cultivation. In several African regions, DEG has given targeted development support to enterprises that work with contract farmers to supply agricultural produce, and has provided them with long-term capital.
Another example is “AgroAfrica”. To achieve efficient development of the agricultural sector in Southern Africa and boost the range of available foods, DEG has entered into a strategic partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, a major provider of structured agricultural finance. Their first joint project offers packaged solutions for farmers. Along with crop input finance and insurance, the farmers receive detailed advice and an optimisation programme for cultivation tailored to their specific soil conditions.
The advice is supplied by a further project partner, Farmsecure Holdings (Pty) Ltd.. By providing surety, DEG has made it possible for the project to be considerably expanded. It has already attracted so much interest that consideration is being given to offering it in Eastern Europe or Latin America.
Diversifying the national economy
Because of increasing mechanisation, any development of the agricultural sector can be expected to displace jobs. That is why rural development must go hand in hand with the creation of skilled jobs in manufacturing and the service sector.
In Namibia, for example, only a fifth of earnings is generated by manufacturing. The government has explicitly set itself the target of bringing about change. Schwenk Zement KG, a German family business, is contributing to that change. It is building a cement works roughly 400 kilometres north of Windhoek, in a remote region where farming is currently the main occupation. The factory will provide 300 jobs and indirectly generate work for a further 2,000 people. At present, Namibia has no cement factory of its own, so all its cement has to be imported. However, if the nation’s infrastructure is to be upgraded as planned, a local supply is urgently needed.
Ohorongo is Schwenk’s first foreign location. DEG has been operating in Africa for over 40 years and has advised the medium-sized business on taking this step and arranged the necessary debt finance of approx. EUR 132 million. DEG itself provided a long-term loan of just under EUR 32 million; co-financers were the European Investment Band (EIB) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). Schwenk prefers to use secondary raw materials and fuels in order to conserve resources where possible. It is an approach the business intends to pursue in Africa as elsewhere. It plans to use invasive vegetation, known as “invader bush”, as an energy source.
Provided by Cordula Rinsche, editor of the DEG HORIZONS.