The South African Table Grape Project. Improving produce quality and shelf life

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1 The South African Table Grape Project Improving produce quality and shelf life

2 How it all started The UNIVEG Group signed a Food Chain Partnership agreement with Bayer in 2012 after a meeting with the Bayer Team to discuss possible areas of collaboration. As a result, this table grapes project was initiated in What we aimed to achieve The main aims of the project were to identify and implement best practices on UNIVEG s own farms so as to maximize efficiencies, quality and sustainability. Meeting the due diligence requirements of individual retailers and customers is an increasing challenge leading to much duplication and time resource allocation. The certification schemes targeted vary from customer to customer and include GLOBALG.A.P., Tesco Nurture, HACCP & BRC, as well as ethical certification.

3 Who is involved UNIVEG South Africa (Pty) Ltd., a producer and exporter of table grapes. Experico, an industry research institution contracted to evaluate the effect of on-farm spray programs on yield loss and post-storage quality of table grapes. Bayer with its knowledge of local crops and conditions, pest and disease complexes, as well as trial design and evaluation.

4 The integrated crop solution The solution developed in cooperation with Experico involved a number of components including an alternative spray program put forward by Bayer to achieve better produce quality and shelf life, and alternative nozzles to improve the effectiveness of spray programs. The table grapes were treated with the crop protection product Luna Privilege. This improved the overall quality and shelf life of the varieties tested and improved the quality of the market arrivals. Training sessions were run on the safe handling of agrochemicals and the Bayer Sustainability Radar was used to identify the most pressing on-farm and business needs. Last but not least, residue tests were carried out and the quality and shelf life of the table grapes evaluated.

5 What we achieved The key achievements with respect to the varieties tested were less wastage and improved storability / shelf life. Residue counts and levels were reduced, customers quality requirements met, and high-quality produce at affordable prices made possible. The success of the project was due, not least, to the intensive monitoring and discussions that accompanied the work undertaken. Both UNIVEG and Bayer benefited from the project: the former through improved quality and shelf life, the latter through trial site and produce performance data, which will prove useful in future projects and consultations. While the project was indeed beneficial to both parties, the ultimate winner has been the final consumer of South African table grapes. Next steps This Food Chain Partnership project is continuing and there are plans to expand the acreage, to extend the project to include the full Bayer offering (including in-field measurements of yield and time spent), to cover apples and pears, and to test application technology for chemical drift and efficacy. left: Margaret Reinecke Area Manager Bayer CropScience right: Koot Nel Manager More Ster UNIVEG

6 Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the need for healthy nutrition. Food Chain Partnerships help to supply consumers with high-quality fresh produce, which forms the basis of a healthy diet. But such partnerships can only succeed if they involve every player in the food chain from the farmer and processor to the exporter or importer and retailer. Bayer CropScience has the global experience and cutting-edge expertise to create a successful partnership at every level. For more information contact: Bayer (Pty) Ltd. 27 Wrench Road Isando 1600 South Africa Phone: Mobile: jan.vanvuuren@bayer.com UNIVEG South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Unit 2A, Carpe Diem Building Quantum Street Stellenbosch, South Africa Phone: Mobile: fred@univeg.co.za Bayer CropScience AG Food Chain Management Alfred-Nobel-Str Monheim Germany Phone: Fax: foodchainpartnership@bayer.com Internet: Experico Idas valley Stellenbosch 7609 South Africa Phone: Mobile: dawie@experico.co.za 2016 by Bayer CropScience FCP