The Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Michael Masutha, will address delegates at the opening of a symposium in Cape Town on 19 November, focusing on innovative technologies to improve the fresh fruit export value chain in South Africa.
To be held at the Spier Conference Centre in Stellenbosch, the two-day symposium will be the first to be hosted by the Post-Harvest Innovation Programme(PHI) a partnership between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF).
The PHI was established in 2007 following a study commissioned by the DST to identify gaps as well as areas of intervention, to improve the country’s fresh fruit export industry’s global competitiveness.
Fruit is a major contributor to South Africa’s GDP, providing approximately 460 000 jobs. The country is also the second largest citrus exporter in the world, exporting 2.5 million tons of fruit to 92 countries per year, at R12 billion.
The country is also one of the major exporter of deciduous and subtropical fruit. Yet, there is a perception that a large amount of fruit and money is lost every season. This is thought to be mainly due to a loss of fruit quality as a result of breaks in the cold chain. Some of the cold chain breaks result in claims, while in other cases a reduced price is accepted.
It is for this reason that the PHI seeks to engender a culture of innovation by providing funding to creative solutions for technology gaps identified in the fruit export value chain. Between 2007/08 to 2013/14 financial years, the DST’s funding to PHI will total R30 million, invested in 50 research and development projects at universities, science councils and the private sector.
Projects funded so far include research into improving product temperature control during transit, post-harvest disease control, non-invasive fruit quality assessment and packaging, among others.
The symposium will reflect on the progress made in research and innovation in post-harvest science and technologies, supported under this programme. Funded projects will be showcased through oral and postal presentations depicting the outcome of the research and impact or benefit to the industry.
The Deputy Minister will be joined by FPEF Chief Executive Officer and chair of the forum Anton Kruger, Dr Angelo Zanella of the Laimburg Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in Italy and Dr Wojciech Janisiewicz, of the US Department of Agriculture. Ms Nkuli Shinga, Chief Director: Innovation and Technology at the Department of Trade and Industry will also attend, including researchers and post-graduate students involved in the project.
All media are invited.
For enquiries:
Veronica Mohapeloa, Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 882 3818
Tel: 012 843 6788
E-mail: veronica.mohapeloa@dst.gov.za
