1. AGBIZ GRAIN SYMPOSIUM 14 AUGUST 2019 – CSIR PRETORIA
Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land
AGBIZ GRAIN SYMPOSIUM
14 AUGUST 2019 – CSIR PRETORIA
Hein Lindemann
Land Use and Soil Management

2. Background Ultimate outcome: Natural Resources Management
THRIVING FARMING COMMUNITIES
ULTIMATE NRM OUTCOME
Systematically and Progressively Improved Whole Agro-Ecosystems

3. Background Whole Agro-ecosystem pathway
Systematically and Progressively Improved
Whole Agro-Ecosystems
PRODUCTIVITY
STABILITY
VIABILITY
RESILIENCY
EQUITABILITY
Factor of unique
combination
of natural assets
Limited availability
highly productive
agricultural land
Food insecurity
a national risk
Minimise land
use changes,
Resolve land use
conflicts
Long-term
survival, growth,
profitability of
farmers and
farming
communities
Evolve over time
Recover after
disturbance
functionality,
structure and
feedback
mechanisms
Reciprocal, just & trust relations
Just and fair
treatment

4. Background Focus: Natural Capital
POTENTIAL, CAPABILITY, SUITABILITY, STATE, risks AND USE
AGRO-CLIMATE
SOIL
VELD
WATER

5. Background Regenerative farming systems
SYSTEM OF FARMING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
FOR REGENERATIVE FARMING SYSTEMS
INSTRUMENTS
PRODUCTS
SERVICES
SPATIAL NR DATA
PROGRAMMES
Policies
Conserv. Agric
Acts / Bills
CARA
SALA
PDALB
Strategies
Irrigation
Invader plants
Climate Change
Tech Guidelines
Irrigation
Mitigation
Adaptation
Agro-ecosystems and farm planning
NR Data standards
Research
Water use
Climate change
Soil & Veld Man.
Administrative
Advisory services
Permits
Consents
Enforcement
CARA
Spatial data sets
Irrigated land
Land capability
Crop suitability
Grazing capacity
Protected Agricultural Areas
Climate change
Irrigation
Development
LandCare
Migratory pests

6. Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill
The aim of the Bill is to promote the preservation and sustainable development of agricultural land in a proactive manner.
Instruments proposed within the Bill includes:
Agro-ecosystem framework including matters related to productivity, stability, viability, resiliency and equitability.
Provincial agricultural sector plans, to be revised every 5 years & compiled in a participatory manner
Protected Agricultural Areas to formally protect areas of high value agricultural land against non-agricultural uses
Agro-eco Information System to provide access to data on the potential capability and use of agricultural land
Agreed on evaluation and classification tools for agricultural land
Listed activities & agro-ecosystem authorisations

7. Definition: Agro-ecosystem
Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill: Agro-ecosystem Framework
Definition: Agro-ecosystem
“means a spatially and functionally coherent unit of agricultural activity,
that can be defined on varying spatial scales,
and includes the interactions between the living and non-living components of the unit
within larger landscapes”
Major components: Spatial & temporal trends
Agricultural land use
Farming communities
Farming systems / practices
On & off farm infrastructure
Natural capital

8. Maize Agro-ecosystem Govan Mbeki Local Municipality: 2006

9. Maize Agro-ecosystem Govan Mbeki Local Municipality: 2016

10. Soya Agro-ecosystem Govan Mbeki Local Municipality: 2006

11. Soya Agro-ecosystem Govan Mbeki Local Municipality: 2016

12. Land use spatial trends Govan Mbeki Local Municipality: 2006 to 2016
Agro-ecosystem
Area cultivated 2006 (ha)
Area cultivated 2016 (ha)
Maize - Dryland
28 498
42 418
Maize - Irrigated
480
1 060
Maize - Total
28 978
43 478
Soya - Dryland
8 492
25 294
Soya - Irrigated
360
487
Soya - Total
8 852
28 781

13. Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill
Current status of the Bill:
Completed the public participation process (Nine provincial workshops and one national workshop)
Obtained approval from the Socio Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) from the Presidency.
Obtained pre-certification on the Bill from the Office of the Chief State Law Advisors.
Currently the Bill is discussed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council
Once enacted this Bill will replace the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act and will provide an enabling environment to manage agricultural land in South Africa in a proactive manner.

14. Conclusion: Thinking in Systems: Donella Meadows
Dancing with Systems
Expose your mental models
Honor & protect information
Expand caring boundaries
Good of the whole
Expand our time horizons
Celebrate complexity