O. T. Doyer

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND TRACEABILITY IN PORK CHAINS: THE BELGIAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN CASE

Consumer concerns about meat safety have led to an increased demand for information and transparency in food chains, and have acted as the major drivers for the development of traceability systems. This note focuses on the current and future role of supply chain management and traceability in Belgian and South African pork chains. The state of the art related to traceability is briefly reviewed and illustrated with the specific situation and recent developments in Belgium and South Africa. The background and evolution in both countries are similar, though occurring with some time lag. It is found that organisational and operational aspects of traceability are clearly dealt with. However, questions remain with respect to the management of information flows and the pro-active, instead of defensive use of traceability. Key attention points for future success in livestock production chains pertain to market orientation, claimed benefit substantiation and effective management of information flows.

CHALLENGING THE PARADIGM: HOW TO EXTEND CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT AGRIBUSINESS IN THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY

Agribusinesses in the global agricultural and food system are experiencing formidable competitive pressures. Agricultural supply systems are exhibiting innovative production arrangements, contracts, and closer vertical marketing arrangements to increase efficiency and profitability through greater market co-ordination. The complexity of the emerging agricultural marketing structures necessitates an appropriate research paradigm to analyse and understand these changes. Constructivism is proposed as an applicable research paradigm and a potential research framework for the analysis of supply chains is discussed.

Changing governance structures in South African agribusiness

This article examines the changing governance structures in the South African agri-food sector. Changing legislative and market conditions forced agribusiness managers to rethink their governance structures to ensure the competitiveness of the agri-food sector. They had to adapt to the new structures in a relatively short time. Three case studies of different levels of coordination between firms are presented. The analysis indicates a move away from spot markets to managed coordination structures in response to the deregulation of South African agricultural policy.

INVESTMENT IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN AGRO-FOOD AND FIBRE COMPLEX: PERCEPTIONS, EVIDENCE AND ANALYSIS

Abstract The question of investment in the South African agro-food and fibre complex is explored in this article. The analysis is based on empirical values and opinions/perceptions from ±400 agribusinesses operating in this complex. Investment in the agro-food and fibre complex has increased recently after having declined for a few years. Competitiveness ratings are also increasing. A correlation analysis between annual investment and the annual competitiveness rating in the agro-food industry indicted a correlation coefficient of 78%. Various factors, common to most sectors, were identified by the industry as constraints on future investment. A concerted effort through innovative measures and policies will now be required to promote sustainable agricultural activity in South Africa to stimulate further investment.

MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF IRRIGATING WITH GYPSIFEROUS MINE WATER

In the mining of mineral resources, pollution problems are created with adverse effects on the already scarce water resources. Discharge of gypsum-rich waters from mining operations in an environmentally acceptable manner is of importance to the country as a whole to allow the utilisation of mineral resources. Controlled irrigation with gypsiferous water is an option to deal with the pollution problem. Different cropping practices, however, have different implications for water utilisation, capital outlay, salt precipitation, and economic impacts. Mine management is therefore faced with multiple, noncommensurate, and conflicting criteria in the decision process. The objective of this study is to use Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques to advise Kleinkopje Collieries management on the economically and environmentally sustainable cropping system for irrigation with gypsiferous mine water. The Lucerne/Fescue: Milk farming combination is found to be the most preferred farming alternative.

THE TRAINING OF AGRIBUSINESS MANAGERS FOR THE FUTURE

Changing circumstances in the agricultural sector require new skills to address the challenges. Effective curricula must reflect and respond to employers needs and be constructed within a sound educational paradigm. This article explores the skills of agribusiness managers as obtained from AGRIMASS (Agribusiness Management Aptitude and Skills Survey). The results are compared with similar surveys implemented in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Agribusiness executives identified personal, interpersonal and educational skills as most important. Business skills were also ranked as important for success in agribusiness firms.

WELFARE EFFECTS OF REGULATION IN LESOTHO'S WHEAT MARKET / WELVAARTSEFFKTE VAN REGULERING IN LESOTHO SE KORINGMARK

Present marketing of wheat in Lesotho distort and imposes a heavy tax on the Lesotho economy. It puts upward pressure on producer and consumer prices, which results in welfare losses to consumers -including the majority of rural and agricultural households who are deficit producers of this commodity. The winners from these policies are the relatively small number of surplus producers and the three industrial mills enjoying some monopoly powers. It is recommmended that the Government of Lesotho liberalize Lesothos wheat market.

MEASURING THE IMPACT OF SUPPLY CHAIN INTERVENTION ON UTILITY IN POOR HOUSEHOLDS: THE QUEDENI COMMUNITY IN KWAZULU-NATAL

Improving the utility of households lies at the core of most development initiatives. Households act as an integral part of supply chains by supplying resources to supply chains and acting as the final consumer for the products produced by these chains. This article seeks to develop a conceptual framework to measure the impact of several possible supply chain interventions on household utility in the food sector. The effect of supply chain interventions is analysed by applying mathematical programming to the household utility model anti estimating the utility effects of the interventions on the households. The analysis shows that transportation costs are the biggest constraint to production and processing expansion by the households. Maize supply chain interventions are beneficial to households, but other products will have to be considered that are not as susceptible to transportation costs.