They have called their vision: In Living Farms. Supported by The Living Farms Reference, a comprehensive compilation of current legislation and better practices, already demonstrated in leading agricultural sectors, and an overview report of the current status quo entitled Agriculture Facts and Trends, South Africa.
The WWF report provides a snapshot of the overwhelming evidence that better environmental practices are central to ensuring ongoing productive agriculture in SA and to supporting food security in the long term. ‘Amidst the global concern of rising food insecurity, rapidly depleting resources and biodiversity in retreat, SA needs to pay particular attention to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of its agricultural industries and the role of innovative farmers and an emerging trend towards farming in balance with nature,’ explains Mark Botha, head of the Living Lands unit at WWF.
Healthy natural ecosystems underpin SA’s economy and support productive agriculture. ‘Better environmental practices are also crucial to limiting negative impacts on people’s health and in ensuring that critical resources like water are conserved. Our country’s limited water resources are severely threatened through (often illegal) over-abstraction as well as pollution from agricultural effluent, fertilizers and pesticides. Farming practices need to ensure that these natural systems, our catchments, rivers and wetlands are maintained in a healthy and functioning state - in a state that one would be happy for one’s children to play in,’ continues Botha. Commercial farmers form the backbone of SA’s efforts to maintain food security and yet farming is one of the least supported and most difficult livelihoods in SA. WWF’s Living Farm Reference is a step towards assisting farmers and key buyers in achieving better practices throughout the agriculture value chain - from producers through to retailers, manufacturers and government.
‘This is a first in SA,’ says Botha. ‘We set out to define a common language and understanding of and vision for what comprises a productive, well-managed farm, starting from a point of legal compliance. It took a year to create a harmonised master document for well-managed farms through a participatory process which included consultants, sector representatives, expert inputs, four large stakeholder workshops and an in-depth review.’ There are good examples of many agricultural industries that have already taken decisive steps to protect ecosystems. According to the latest Red Data list published by SA National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), one in every five plant species in SA is threatened through agricultural expansion. Climate change will further stress agricultural ecosystems and food production, while agriculture itself is responsible for significant contributions to greenhouse gases and therefore to the increasing problem of an unstable climate.
The importance of the South African agriculture sector must be recognised, emphasises Botha, but they cannot be expected to do alone. Working together is what we need to thrive; everyone’s future is at stake!
