The much-anticipated Africa Agri Tech conference took place at the Sun Arena in Pretoria from 14 to 16 March 2023. The three-day event focused on biotechnology in agriculture.
The event explored global trends and advances in agricultural science, technology, and innovation, and the benefits that these would bring to the agricultural ecosystem in the future. The event aimed to deliver premium insights coupled with best-in-class presenters and suppliers.
Visitors had the opportunity to gain a strategic overview of the impact of scientific and technological breakthroughs on future production methodologies.
Television presenter and journalist, Anlie Hattingh, said that agriculture encompasses much more than food. The textile, leather, liquor, medical supplements, and multiple other industries are dependent on agricultural produce.
“The Africa Agri Tech conference lifted the lid on new discoveries, with a strong focus on the role that the application of biotechnology would play in uncovering new uses for agricultural outputs,” said Hattingh.
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Technology Day anchored by Aki Anastasiou
Aki Anastasiou, a well-known personality in the field of technology, kicked off the opening day of the conference on Tuesday, 14 March. Anastasiou led a lineup of dynamic speakers, including Kevin Kalb, a 14-time winner of the National Corn Yield Contest and a leading dry-land farmer in the USA, who was also known for his popular TV programmes Corn Warriors and Live to Farm. In addition, Bill Petzer, a cyber security expert from CSIR, spoke about cyber threats in agriculture.
Science and biotechnology come under the microscope on Day 2
On Wednesday, 15 March, Day 2 of the conference, science and biotechnology in agriculture were in the spotlight. The proceedings were anchored by award-winning science journalist Bobby Brown. Notable speakers included Dr Hennie Groenewald of Biosafety SA, Professor Johan Burger of the University of Stellenbosch, Dr Maneshree Jugmohan-Naidu, Director of Agricultural Biotechnology from the Department of Science and Innovation, and Professor Alan Guthrie from UP, who spoke on vaccine development.
On Day 3 of the conference, attendees gained valuable insights into the business of agriculture and the economic landscape.
Financial journalist and television presenter, Gary Alfonso, took on the role of MC on Thursday 16 March. The day’s keynote address was delivered by business maverick Vusi Thembekwayo, known for his role in Dragon’s Den South Africa. Other notable speakers included Professor Johann Kirsten of the Bureau for Economic Research, who provided an overview of market trends, and Noa Isralowitz, VP of DealFlow Operations at Israeli InNegev Incubator, who shared her expertise in assessing emerging technologies.
Original Source: Farmer’s Weekly