At the AgriSciences graduation ceremony held last Thursday, 12 December, we celebrated not only the culmination of academic journeys but also the remarkable achievements of our top-performing students. These individuals have excelled in their respective fields, earning medals for their outstanding academic performance.

Prof AI Perold Silver Medal
Awarded annually to the top final-year BScAgric student who completed their degree with distinction, this prestigious medal goes to Willem Daniël van der Merwe, who achieved an impressive average of 77.50% over four years in Animal Science.

Prof PA van der Bijl Silver Medal
This medal honours the top final-year BScAgric student who also completed their degree with distinction. Congratulations to Abigail Herbst, who achieved an outstanding average of 76.60% over four years in Animal Science.

Sir William Schlich Gold Medal
Awarded by the National Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, this medal recognizes the top BSc Forestry graduate. This year’s recipient is Anneke Joubert, who achieved an exceptional average of 79% over four years in Forestry and Natural Resources.

Sir William Schlich Silver Medal
Also awarded by the National Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, this medal honours the second top BSc Forestry graduate. Congratulations to Nathan John Doyle, who achieved an excellent average of 75.80% over four years in Forestry and Natural Resources.

Farmer’s Weekly Eckart Kassier Medal
This medal recognizes the best final-year BAgric (Agri-Business Management) student. This year, the award goes to Liesje RonéEigenhuis, who achieved a remarkable average of 74.60% over three years.

We are incredibly proud of these students for their hard work and dedication, and we wish them continued success in their future endeavours. Well done to all our graduates!

Stellenbosch University boasts the oldest Agricultural Economics Department in South Africa. The Department was established in 1925 with Prof J.F.W. Grosskopf as the first Chair. Since then, the Department has graduated just over 2 000 students with bachelor’s degrees, the first awarded in 1926, and about 400 students with postgraduate degrees, the first awarded in 1930.Some of our era’s best agricultural economists have helped shape the Department and Agricultural Economics discipline over the past century, including Profs F.R. Tomlinson, W.E. Kassier, P.H. Spies, N. Vink, M. Karaan, and T. E. Kleynhans.

The evolution of the Agricultural Economics discipline in South Africa has its roots in the contributions of Prof Tomlinson, particularly on the interplay between macro-and microeconomic analysis in understanding and solving economic dilemmas in the agricultural industry. A strong foundation that we as a department are building when we develop the next generation of leaders in the agricultural sector to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Some of the key strategic actions we have taken to prepare ourselves for the responsibility of developing our future leaders are a re-evaluation of our curriculum, the memorandum of understanding with the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), the appointment of industry partners as research fellows in the Department, the inauguration of the Stellenbosch AgroInformatics Initiative at our Department, and the establishment of a formal postgraduate committee to represent our Department’s postgraduate students, and foster connections with our industry network.

The Department’s centenary is as much a celebration of the achievements of our alumni and industry partners as it is of our own legacy. Together, we have made a lasting impact, and together, we can shape a sustainable future for agriculture. We warmly invite our alumni, colleagues, and public and private sector partners to join us throughout 2025 as we commemorate this historic occasion under the theme 100 Years of Empowering Agriculture through Economics.

Your continued support ensures that the next chapter of our journey is as impactful as the last. Let’s celebrate this centenary together!

Author: Prof André Jooste (Chair: Agricultural Economics)

Die US Biblioteek beskik oor ‘n wonderlike versameling ontspanningsleesboeke wat jy kan verken vir jou Desember- / Januarie-lees. Of jy nou hou van ‘n goeie moord-raaisel, fantasiewêrelde wil verken, jou in ware misdaad wil verdiep, of ‘n diep nadenkende en reflektiewe roman soek – jy sal dit op ons ontspanningsleesrakke vind wanneer jy die biblioteek binnekom. Vir jonger lesers – kyk gerus na ons strokiesprentversameling of besoek die Opvoedkunde-biblioteek vir kinderboeke.

As jy verkies om aanlyn te lees (en ook vir ons alumni / eksterne gebruikers wat nie toegang tot ons versamelings het nie), kan jy inskryf vir die Libby app deur jou plaaslike biblioteek. Libby bied toegang tot wonderlike ontspanningsboeke en tydskrifte. Jy kan meer oor Libby uitvind hier: https://westerncape.overdrive.com/

SU Library has a wonderful collection of leisure reading books that you can have a look at for your December / January reading. Whether you want a good murder mystery, travel the fantasy lands, delve into true crime or want a thought provoking reflective novel – you can find them on our leisure reading shelves as you come into the library. For younger readers – do consult our comics collection or visit the Education library for children’s books.

If you prefer online reading (and also for our alumni / externals that don’t have access to our collections), you can sign up for the Libby app through your local library. Libby contains access to great leisure books and magazines. You can find out more about Libby here: https://westerncape.overdrive.com/

Heléne Booyens (Bewaringsekologie-klas van 2014) het vanjaar die eerste titel in ’n reeks natuurboeke vir kinders geskryf en gepubliseer. Boek een gaan oor soogdiere, en het in Engels en Afrikaans uitgekom. Soogdier-safari is ’n feit-en- aktiwiteitboek, met speletjies, blokraaisels, doolhowe en kopkrappers, asook interessante stories oor meer as 70 soogdierspesies – van die kameelperd tot die kleine klaasneusmuis. Heléne vertel:

Waar kom die konsep vandaan?

Ek het voorgraads bewaringsekologie geswot, en onthou nog hoe ’n dosent een keer vir die klas ’n vasvra gegee het: Hoeveel wildsbokke kan jy identifiseer? Gemsbok, Kudu, Blesbok . . . Dis nog maklik. Maar hoeveel van die duikers ken jy? Watter een is die njala en watter een die bosbok? Selfs ’n groep ekologie-studente het gesukkel! Op skool en as kind leer ’n mens meer oor groot, beroemde diere, soos die Groot Vyf. So, ek wou al lankal ’n kinderboek doen wat met ál Suid-Afrika se soogdiere spog – insluitende die minder bekendes, soos die bosvark, grysbok en ons hordes verskillende muishonde.

Watter muishond is jou gunsteling?

Beslis die dwergmuishond, Afrika se kleinste jagter. Vol persoonlikheid en vol planne.

Hoe lank vat so ’n projek?

Dit was amper ’n jaar se werk, maar net deeltyds. (Ek werk voltyds by Struik Nature, waar ek veldgidse redigeer en uitlê, soos Spiders of South Africa en Proteas of the Fynbos.) Wat die langste gevat het, was die foto-navorsing, want jy soek lekker aksie-belaaide foto’s wat interessante gedrag uitbeeld: sebra-hingste wat baklei, mamma-leeus wat welpies versigtig ronddra, olifante wat in die water snorkel . . .

Wat kom eerste, die prentjies of the woorde?
Vir my, die prentjies. Ek is ook ’n uitlegkunstenaar, en het die boek eers ontwerp en met dummy teks uitgelê voordat ek die teksblokkies ingevul het. Ek het ’n spesieslys van Afrika-soogdiere byderhand gehou om seker te maak dat elke diertjie sy kans in die kollig kry – selfs die molle en rotte.

Wat kom volgende?
Voëls is volgende in die Safari-boekreeks, dan reptiele. Dan het ek ook pas twee storieboeke by LAPA uitgegee, oor Jorsie die Worsie, ’n klein worshond wat ’n polisiehond wil wees.

Heléne Booyens (Conservation Ecology class of 2014) wrote and published the first title in a series of nature books for children this year. Book one is about mammals, and came out in English and Afrikaans. Mammal Safari is a fact-and- activity book, with games, puzzles, mazes and brainteasers, as well as interesting stories about more than 70 mammal species – from the giraffe to the little elephant shrew. Heléne says:

Where did the concept come from?

I studied conservation ecology as an undergraduate, and still remember how a lecturer once gave us a quiz: How many antelope species can you identify? Gemsbok, Kudu, Sable. . . Those were still easy. But how many duikers do you know? Which is the nyala and which the bushbuck? Even a group of ecology students struggled! At school and as a child, you learn more about large, famous animals, such as the Big Five. So, I wanted to do a children’s book that shows off all South Africa’s mammals – including the lesser known ones, such as the bushpig, reedbuck and our hordes of different mongooses.

Which mongoose is your favorite?

Definitely the dwarf mongoose, Africa’s smallest hunter. Full of personality and plans.

How long does such a project take?

It was almost a year’s work, but only part-time. (I work full-time at Struik Nature, where I work on field guides, such as Spiders of South Africa and Proteas of the Fynbos.) Photo research took the longest, because you are looking for nice action-packed pics that show interesting behavior: zebra stallions fighting, mother lions carefully carrying cubs around, elephants snorkeling in the water. .

What comes first, the pictures or the words?

For me, the pictures. I am also a layout artist, and first designed the book and laid it out with dummy text before I filled in the text boxes. I kept a species list of African mammals handy to make sure that every animal got its chance in the
spotlight – even the moles and rats.

What’s next?

Birds are next in the Safari book series, then reptiles. I’ve also just published two story books at LAPA, about Jorsie die Worsie, a dachshund who solves mysteries.

Die Landboubesigheidskamer van Suid-Afrika (Agbiz) het op 21 November 2024 tydens hul Raadsaandete in Kaapstad hulde gebring aan Professor Nick Vink, Emeritus Professor Landbou Ekonomie, van Stellenbosch Universiteit. Prof. Vink is vereer met ’n ere-toekenning wat sy lewenslange positiewe impak op landbou en landboubesigheid erken.

Oor dekades heen het Prof. Vink ’n blywende invloed gehad op landboubeleid in Suid-Afrika. Sy werk sluit bydraes tot die Kassier-komitee, die Strauss-kommissie, handelsbeleid, verskeie Grondhervormingsbeleidsdokumente, en die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan in. Hierdie beleidsraamwerke het ’n belangrike rol gespeel in die rigtinggewende besluite wat Suid-Afrika se landbousektor gevorm het.

Prof. Vink, ’n alumnus van Stellenbosch Universiteit, het sy loopbaan as dosent by die Universiteit van die Noorde (Turfloop) in 1979 begin. Hy het later aangesluit by die Ontwikkelingsbank van Suider-Afrika waar hy vir tien jaar die ekonomiese navorsings- en beleidsnavorsingseenheid bestuur het. In 1996 is hy aangestel as Professor en Voorsitter van die Departement Landbou-ekonomie aan Stellenbosch Universiteit, ’n pos wat hy tot sy aftrede in 2020 beklee het.

Tydens sy 24-jaar lange loopbaan aan Stellenbosch Universiteit het Prof. Vink talle meesters- en doktorale studente gelei. Sy onwrikbare toewyding tot opleiding het ’n nuwe generasie landbou-ekonome toegerus om uit te blink in ’n dinamiese en voortdurend veranderende landbou-omgewing. Baie van sy studente het daarna ’n merkbare impak in besigheid, beleid en akademia gemaak.

Ten spyte van sy aftrede, bly Prof. Vink steeds ’n aktiewe en invloedryke stem in die landbou- en ekonomiese beleidsdiskoers. Hy dien tans op die Direksie van die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank en speel ’n aktiewe rol in verskeie ander organisasies. Tydens sy toespraak by die Agbiz Raadsaandete het hy veral gefokus op die uitdagings en geleenthede vir landboubeleidsvorming in ’n nuwe risiko-omgewing gekenmerk deur verhoogde geopolitieke spanning.

Die Departement Landbou-ekonomie en die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe is trots op Prof. Vink se merkwaardige bydraes en die nalatenskap wat hy in die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou laat. Ons wens hom opreg geluk met hierdie welverdiende eerbetoon en sien uit na sy voortgesette betrokkenheid by landbou en beleid.

From 13 to 18 November 2024, the Department of Agricultural Economics in the AgriSciences Faculty at Stellenbosch University hosted a delegation of 29 leaders from prominent Brazilian agribusiness companies. This visit was part of a comprehensive program to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between South Africa and Brazil.

The intensive 32-hour seminar series on “Innovation, Sustainability, and Competitiveness in Agriculture” was scientifically and technically coordinated by Markestrat Agribusiness (led by Prof Marcos Fava Neves) and Stellenbosch University (Prof André Jooste and Drs Melissa van der Merwe and Albert Strever). Delegates participated in lectures, debates, and field visits across government agencies, universities, research institutes and agribusinesses.

On 13 and 14 November, the program featured visits to key agricultural hubs in KwaZulu Natal, including the Sugar Terminal at the Durban port, the South African Sugar Association, the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI), and one of the sugar cane farmers of the South African Cane Growers Association.

On 15 and 18 November, the delegates participated in the short seminar series hosted by Stellenbosch University. The program addressed critical topics such as technological advancements, artificial intelligence in agriculture, and the intersection of sustainability and competitiveness. Key industry leaders such as Prof Marius Ungerer (SU Business School), Dr Ilse Trautmann (WCDoA), Dr Dirk Troskie (WCDoA), Sibusisiwe Maseko (GreenCape), Kobus Pienaar (Woolworths), Dr Doris Viljoen (SU Business School), Sean Walsh (KAL Group), André Diederichs (André Diederichs and Associates), Prof Johan van Rooyen (SU), and Dr Albert Strever (SU).

Being in the winelands, the delegates also engaged with innovation in the wine and beverage industry with a visit to the House of J.C. Le Roux, where Caroline Snyman (Heineken Beverages) led the discussion around innovation.  The delegates also attended a masterclass in Pinotage led by Beyers Truter and Abrie Beeslaar at Somerbosch Wine Estate followed by a traditional “skaapbraai”.

This visit highlighted the vital role of networks in agriculture. While discussions focused on the impact of innovation, technology and AI, the week served as a powerful reminder that, at its heart, agriculture is about people—sharing existing knowledge and generating new insights through collaboration. The Department of Agricultural Economics is proud to have been part of this meaningful exchange and looks forward to future partnerships that strengthen the ties between South Africa and Brazil.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Prof Marcos Fava Neves and Markestrat for selecting Stellenbosch University as a key partner in this initiative. We also thank the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and the South African Sugar Association for hosting us for parts of the program, as well as the South African Cane Growers Association who assisted in organising the itinerary while visiting KwaZulu-Natal. 

H₂^NutriO™

The 7^th of November saw the conclusion of the Catalyst 2024 grand finale, a biotechnology pitch competition which was hosted by UVU Bio and the sector disrupting start-up Immobazyme, whose early incubation and acceleration occurred at the Institute for Plant Biotechnology (IPB). The esteemed panel of judges Santosh Ramchuran (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR), Sandra Clelland (Von Seidels), Daniel Strauss (Stocks and Strauss), DheepakMaharajh (CEO, UVU Bio), Dominic Nicholas (CEO, Immobazyme) had their proverbial “hands full” with the innovative ideas pitched by the 7 finalists.

While the competition was fierce, there was such impressive talent showcased that the judging panel created an impromptu runner-up prize for the outstanding Meghan Oosthuizen from H₂^NutriO™, who was awarded three months at the UVU Bio Labs and an amazing opportunity to work toward a scale-up project with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Meghan is a MSc. candidate at the Institute for Plant Biotechnology and, represents the first structured project offered by the innovation hub of the IPB. Working together with Drs. BiankeLoedolff and Jeannine Marais (Department of Food Science) – the challenge is to focus the MSc. study into venture which develops a quick-to-market relevant product while assisting in developing real-world graduate attributes in business. Bianke is an essential pivot to the innovation hub, in her capacity as both an embedded extraordinary appointment and the founder and CEO of Biosupport.

Congratulations to the team for representing us with such distinction at Catalyst 2024 and, a special thanks to both UVU Bio and Immobazyme for stimulating the emergent Biotechnology ecosystem in the Western Cape and beyond.

Die 50ste herdenking viering van die Internasionale Bestuursassistente (IMA) in Stockholm, Swede, wat van 17 – 20 Oktober gehou is, het ‘n beduidende mylpaal gemerk in die verkenning van kunsmatige intelligensie (KI) en sy rol in die vorming van lewens en beroepe. Personeellede wat die konferensie bygewoon het, het dit as ‘n verhelderende ervaring ervaar, wat KI uitlig as ‘n hulpmiddel vir groei en innovasie eerder as ‘n bron van vrees.

Die konferensie het gewys hoe KI al hoe meer in daaglikse roetines geïntegreer word, take vereenvoudig en doeltreffendheid verhoog. Alhoewel bekommernisse oor KI se dominansie voortduur, het die gebeurtenis die aanpasbaarheid en potensiaal daarvan beklemtoon wanneer dit deurdagte gebruik word.

Beroemde denkleiers soos Marvin Minsky en Geoffrey Hinton het insigte gedeel oor KI se geskiedenis en evolusie, wat die reis daarvan van vroeë stagnasie tot sy huidige robuuste groei opgespoor het. Hul refleksies het die volharding en kreatiwiteit wat KI se merkwaardige vooruitgang gedryf het, beklemtoon.

Die voordele van KI is bespreek, van sy bydraes tot mediese deurbraakke tot sy vermoë om individue met gestremdhede te ondersteun. Een inspirerende voorbeeld was ‘n blinde hardloper wat suksesvol ‘n maraton voltooi het met die hulp van KI-gedrewe kamerategnologie. Innovasies soos LinkedIn illustreer verder hoe KI die toegang tot inligting en ontleding transformeer.

Etiese uitdagings rondom KI het ook ‘n kritieke deel van die besprekings uitgemaak. Sprekers het die belangrikheid van die bevordering van vertroue, billikheid en sekuriteit in KI-innovasie beklemtoon. Namate die samelewing hierdie tegnologie omarm, bly die versekerings van etiese en billike gebruik ‘n topprioriteit.

Hierdie konferensie het waardevolle instrumente en insigte verskaf om deelnemers voor te berei op ‘n KI-gedrewe toekoms. Dit het die potensiaal van KI om persoonlike en professionele groei aan te dui, en individue bemagtig om selfversekerd met hierdie transformerende tegnologie te betrek.

Soos IMA vyf dekades van vooruitgang herdenk, het die gebeurtenis nie net vorige prestasies gevier nie, maar ook toekomstige moontlikhede visioneer. Die konferensie het as ‘n oproep tot aksie gedien, wat deelnemers geïnspireer het om KI se potensiaal voort te sit om lewens te verbeter en positiewe verandering te skep.

Artikel voorsien deur Gretchen Bickerstaff