In partnership with Vinpro, South Africa Wine hosted its quarterly Viticulture Forum at Zonnevanger Venue and Guesthouse, a scenic location perfectly suited for nurturing community and conversation. The forum brought together viticulturists, wine industry experts, and thought leaders for insightful presentations and robust discussions, focusing on today’s most pressing issues and opportunities facing the wine grape industry.
As the forum began, participants were greeted with a comprehensive seasonal overview led by Dr. Etienne Terblanche. His presentation, grounded in detailed weather data from TerraClim, explored key climate metrics such as the accumulation of daily positive chill units, rainfall, and temperature comparisons between the current and previous growing seasons. This data-driven approach sparked a lively discussion among viticulturists, who shared their insights on regional conditions, from the impact of weather on bud burst prospects to the challenges posed by recent infrastructure damage.
“The forum is a prime opportunity for viticulturists to exchange vital information and learn from one another’s experiences,” says Yolandi Botha, Agricultural Economist at Vinpro. “The insights gained here help us build a clearer, more comprehensive understanding of the seasonal outlook in various wine grape districts. This collaborative spirit is what drives innovation and resilience in our industry.”
The event also highlighted the intersection of technology and human resources within the agricultural sector. Kachné Ross, guest speaker and People and Skills Development Manager at South Africa Wine, introduced the Learner Management System, a cloud-based platform to revolutionise people management. “Technology is not just a tool; it’s a gateway to transform lives,” Ross stated, emphasising the importance of the South African Wine Industry Professional Body in maintaining the relevance and applicability of industry training.”
Following Ross, Hanno van Schalkwyk from Vinpro, demonstrated the capabilities of the South Africa Wine Learner Management System by showcasing the Vinpro Technical Vineyard Principles online programme. “Vinpro recognised a vital need for ongoing training in the industry. Since 2019, we have implemented vineyard pruning courses and other training programs to address this need.”
The forum then shifted its focus to the human resource aspect of viticulture, with André Bloem providing a detailed overview of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act. “Understanding the law is of extreme importance,” Bloem noted, cautioning against the spread of misinformation regarding labour housing, which could lead to challenging situations for producers.
Kim Paul from PeopleFlow contributed to the conversation by sharing key learnings on using technology to solve administrative challenges for blue-collar workers. “Digitisation is a multi-stakeholder journey,” Paul remarked, highlighting the need to rethink workflows when new tools are introduced and stressing the importance of face-to-face communication in managing change effectively.
Lisa Swart from Dipar took the stage to demonstrate the potential of data-driven agriculture through DataGear, a platform for labour data management and measurement. “This user-friendly platform offers real-time examples of how data can unlock valuable insights for farming businesses,” Swart explained, emphasising the importance of leveraging data to enhance operational efficiency.
Concluding the presentations, Gary Jones from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture presented the Storm Damages Assessment protocol. “No producer is forgotten when assessing damages after a flooding event,” Jones assured, explaining how funding from various government levels is strategically allocated to provide the most effective support.
The session ended with a dynamic panel discussion facilitated by Jason de Kock from PeopleFlow. Attendees engaged with guest speakers, asking questions about adapting technology in agriculture, overcoming low-tech challenges, and the ethical considerations involved in data gathering.
Reflecting on the forum’s success, Yolandi Botha concluded, “Events like these are essential for our industry. They provide a platform for open dialogue, foster innovation, and ensure all stakeholders have the knowledge and tools to navigate the future successfully.”
*Photo caption: From left to right: Gary Jones, Jason de Kock, André Bloem, Lize Moldenhauer, Paul Kim, Kachné Ross and Lisa Swart.
