SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL SEED ORGANIZATION SANSOR AGRONOMY DIVISION COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE AGRONOMY DIVISION COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE SANSOR AUDITORIUM, PRETORIA, GAUTENG ON 3 AUGUST 2012 PRESENT: J Odendaal (chairman) G Heyns W Engelbrecht A Wessels IN ATTENDANCE: SJF Pienaar (secretary) AG Reitsma E Goldschagg J Klopper L van Rensburg W Boshoff C Kleingeld L van Rensburg APOLOGIES: J Pieterse W Bergh T Esmeraldo 1. OPENING AND WELCOME Mr Heyns opened the meeting with a prayer, after which the Chairman welcomed everyone present. 2. ATTENDANCE LIST, ANTITRUST POLICY AND APOLOGIES The Chairman reminded the meeting of the SANSOR antitrust policy. All members present consented to the policy by signing the attendance register of which the policy was printed on the reverse side. The attendance list was circulated for record purposes and the attendance as listed above. Apologies were received from Mr Wikus Bergh, who attended the meeting of the Wheat Forum held on the same day as representative of SANSOR, as well as Mr Tony Esmeraldo of Pioneer, who replaced Mr Willem Engelbrecht on the committee who had moved to another company. However, Mr Engelbrecht replaced Mr Johan Pieterse as representative of KKSB and, therefore, remained on the committee. 3. POINTS FOR DISCUSSION UNDER GENERAL AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA The following points were added to the agenda for discussion: 6.1 Seed bags Waste Management. 6.2 Grains and Oilseeds Supply and Demand Liaison Committee 6.3 OECD Feedback and other matters
-2-4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2 FEBRUARY 2012 The minutes of the meeting of 2 February 2012 were taken as being read and on a page-by-page basis and approved as a true record of the meeting. Proposed: G Heyns Seconded: W Engelbrecht 5. MATTERS ARISING 5.1 Pest Risk analysis to establish maize seed exports to the USA Under SANSOR s instruction the PRA was completed by PhytoSolutions and submitted to the Directorate Plant Health. After some delay to get the document signed by the appropriate official, it was submitted to APHIS of the USDA. It was also forwarded to ASTA that would drive it from the USA. According to Mr Lomo van Rensburg it was given priority by ASTA and the USDA. Mr Gerrie Reitsma mentioned that Ms Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, would visit South Africa the week following the meeting. He suggested that this opportunity be used to give momentum to the issue, by writing a letter to Ms Alice Baxter at Directorate Plant Health. Action: Secretariat 5.2 Draft Seed Treatment Guideline As this aspect was of more concern to the Horticulture Division, the meeting decided to leave the matter in their hands. Action: Horticulture Division Committee 5.3 Seed statistics The Agronomy statistics was historically the most reliable, but recently there was some doubt on the accuracy thereof. When comparing the local seed sales indicated for maize to the actual hectares planted, it was clear that the figures were erroneous. One of the contributing factors may have been the conversion of the kernel count to mass. Furthermore, the persons at the seed companies who completed the forms were not necessarily well versed in seeds and may have indicated the sales incorrectly. The meeting also agreed that double reporting was done on the sales as there was confusion on the 1 st point of sale which involved full members of SANSOR. It was suggested that only sales of seed that was either self-produced or imported and sold locally, be reported. This aspect would be discussed and finalized at the next meeting of this Committee. Action: Companies, Secretariat
-3-5.4 Feedback Discussion on Farmers Privilege Messrs Reitsma and Pienaar met with Dr Julian Jaftha of DAFF, who requested SANSOR to submit a proposal in this regard, which also had the support of GSA. One option would be to allow farmers who planted 10 hectares or less to be exempted from paying royalties. The meeting supported it, but indicated that it should be reduced to 5 hectares. The meeting agreed that the other option of making use of licensing contracts would be too expensive to police. It was recommended that a letter be sent to DAFF, with copies to GSA and NAFU in which the preferred options are indicated. The letter would be drafted by the Chairman of this Committee, together with the Chairman of the Board of Directors, under which name it would be signed on a SANSOR letterhead. Action: J Odendaal; B Lever 5.5 Technology Innovation Agency Future opportunity for the trade Technology Innovation Agency made a presentation at the SANSOR AGM to the members. It was reported that some members already made use of the offer. The matter was considered as concluded. 6. GENERAL 6.1 Seed bags Waste Management Mr Heyns asked whether there should be any control on the disposal of empty seed bags, which contained treated seed, on the farms. It might present health risks if it would be used to bag feeds or food and the best option would be for it to be destroyed. The meeting concurred that seed companies should print a standardized warning on their seed bags and how it should be destroyed they should also make it part of their sales conditions. Guidance on the disposal thereof could be obtained from the manufacturers of the various bags. The Committee would write a letter to AVCASA to receive guidance on the wording in this respect. Action: G Heyns 6.2 Grains and Oilseeds Supply and Demand Liaison Committee Meeting SANSOR received an invitation from Dr John Purchase from Agbiz to attend a meeting of Grains and Oilseeds Supply and Demand Liaison Committee via the National Agricultural Marketing Council. The meeting requested Mr Pienaar to attend the meeting on behalf of SANSOR. Action: P Pienaar
-4-6.3 OECD Feedback and other matters Mr Goldschagg gave a brief summary of issues of interest to the Agronomy Division Committee covered during the last Annual Meeting of the OECD Seed Schemes. Application was made to OECD for the certification of mixtures of varieties the so-called Refuge in a Bag. South Africa would prepare a submission/paper in this regard for the next Technical Working Group Meeting, as well as a presentation on how Variety Testing for Certification was done in South Africa. Following a question from the floor regarding the cut-off of 5 hectares for refuge areas, it was telephonically confirmed by Ms Michelle Vosges that no distinction was made in the Regulations to that effect. However, provision is made that in the case where less than 5 hectares were planted by several farmers, refuge areas could be shared. In response to a question from the meeting, it was reported that the SADC Harmonization Initiative to ease the movement of seed in the region, was showing some progress. The SADC Seed Centre was established late last year and a coordinator appointed. The 1 st Steering Committee Meeting was held earlier in the week where a strategic plan for the way forward was discussed. Companies should be able to apply for listing varieties on the Regional Variety Catalogue within the next year. However, the database that would be used for that purpose still needed to be finalized and the National Authorities needed to adjust their systems. Standardization training workshops on seed certification done under the auspices of the HaSSP Programme of FANRPAN, was presented by SANSOR in Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, with Zambia and Malawi scheduled for October 2012. It was reported that the South African Seed Certification Scheme was reviewed earlier this year by a small group of experts, including representatives of DAFF. Several new Annexures were developed and the Scheme was brought in line with OECD, AOSCA and SADC requirements. The draft would be circulated to the trade before it would be submitted to the Registrar for finalization and publication. Action: E Goldschagg 7. DATE, PLACE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting was scheduled to be held at 12 February 2013 at 09:30 at SANSOR in Pretoria.
-5-8. CLOSURE The Chairman thanked all participants for their participation and contributions and concluded the meeting at 10:45 CHAIRMAN DATE SECRETARY DATE