THE last thing one would expect in an orchard is a scientist in a
white coat. However, this is exactly where most of Citrus Research
International’s (CRI’s) research subject matter originates and where
CRI’s world-class scientists spend a lot of their time.
CRI is the
mainstay of scientific advancement in SA’s citrus industry. Without its
expertise the industry — especially its export component, which is the
most lucrative — would be brought to its knees. Yet the pivotal role of
CRI’s scientific innovation and world-class research in the citrus
industry is a story that remains largely untold.
Take citrus black spot, for example. South African citrus destined
for the export market is subject to various phytosanitary regulations.
Therefore, disease management is paramount — including formulating and
evaluating risk management strategies, and structuring spray programmes,
host resistance, and product comparison or evaluation.
CRI has
dedicated resources, both scientific expertise and funding, to a
multi-faceted citrus black spot research portfolio for many years. This
research has aligned itself with other citrus black spot research across
the world, demonstrating that it poses no realistic risk to citrus
industries in regions with Mediterranean-type climates, such as citrus
production regions in the EU. It is clear from research findings that
fresh citrus fruit is not a pathway for the spread of the disease.
For
CRI, it takes no more than an annual budget of R59m (far short of the
national research target of 1.5%, suggesting that the funding level
should be at R150m for the citrus industry), coupled with a staff
complement of 78, plus a network of research partners to generate
scientific findings that guard the livelihood of the industry, as well
as continue to benchmark it against the world’s best.
It is also
the groundbreaking work of CRI that lies behind the European Food and
Veterinary Office’s last glowing report that lauded the South African
citrus industry’s systems as comprehensive, robust, and exceeding EU
compliance and risk mitigation requirements. The office conducts audits
on the animal and plant health management systems in countries exporting
to the EU.
The citrus industry boasts annual revenue of R9.4bn,
of which 80% is due to export. Apart from being Africa’s leading citrus
exporter, the industry provides 100,000 jobs to South Africans. A boon,
given the current unemployment rate of 26.6% — with 500,000 jobs lost in
the first half of 2016.
Because export comprises such a
significant slice of the citrus revenue pie, compliance with
international standards remains a major feat for CRI.
What may
seem inconsequential to a novice — the presence of a minute insect or a
disease blemish — could qualify as non-compliance, and could result in
the rejection of entire shipments. The effect on export revenue and the
ubiquitous effects of politics, which have not left the industry
unscathed, add to pressure on scientists.
Ongoing research is
vital to keeping the industry viable — applying effective risk
mitigation and providing much-needed insight. To this effect CRI
collaborates with a large group of research alliance partners, including
universities, the Agricultural Research Counci,l and private research
service providers, to execute world-class research.
Their focus
areas are technical market access issues, pest and disease control,
horticultural production and fruit quality research, irrigation and
fertilisation optimisation, cultivar evaluation, post-harvest fruit
handling, post-harvest pest and disease control, biosecurity risk
management, the operation of a national Citrus Improvement Scheme, and
technology transfer.
They direct their research focus on
challenges and opportunities identified by Southern African citrus
producers, pack houses, growers, exporters, and export markets.
The
country’s citrus fruit meanders a long and costly journey in the export
value chain before it reaches international consumers. Production is
the first port of call (from choosing the right variety and cultivar, to
horticultural production practices and pest and disease control); then
picking (harvesting the fruit and sending it to the pack house); and
packing (including procedures such as de-greening, washing, treating,
and waxing).
The fruit has to be transported (from the pack house
to the port); exposed to pre-shipment cooling (which requires special
management); harbour handling (fruit may have to be stored at a harbour
terminal for a period); shipping (fruit is loaded onto ships, either in
containers, or as loose pallets, in accordance with a range of
temperature management regimes); receiving and transport (once at the
overseas market, fruit is often stored, before being transported to
where it is sold); and finally sales (at which stage the fruit is sold
at a retail price).
SA’s favourable and diverse climatic
conditions enable the country to produce good quality citrus fruit of
all commercial varieties that can, in turn, be exported to regions all
over the world where the climate inhibits the production of citrus; or
when harvest time comes before that region South African producers are
able to supply the fruit when theirs is not yet market-ready.
Disease
and pest control in SA come at a great cost for the industry, costing
more than R1bn annually in risk mitigation for citrus black spot alone.
The
disease has served as a major impediment in the progress of SA’s trade
relations with the EU. The dispute between SA and the EU on the risk of
the disease being transmitted by fruit to the EU has been ongoing since
1992.
Despite compelling scientific evidence from all over the
world proving the contrary, the EU maintains that fruit infected by the
disease could transmit the fungus to its orchards and cause harm to its
industry.
In reality the EU climate is not conducive to the
development of the disease, and the fungus cannot be transmitted by the
movement of fruit. Nonetheless, SA has been compelled to go to great
lengths to ensure compliance with the EU’s requirements, to maintain
sound trade relations.
The ninth two-yearly CRI Citrus Research
Symposium was held in the Drakensberg last month. The scientific minds
of the citrus industry gathered to give critical feedback on citrus
research from the past two years.
Department of Science and
Technology deputy director-general Imraan Patel was one of the keynote
speakers, reflecting the department’s support for the science that
underpins the success of the citrus industry.
The work that
emanated from the symposium will help maintain a viable industry, secure
substantial exports, and retain the 100,000 jobs that hinge on the
success of the citrus industry.
And it is owing to innovative
research that the SA citrus industry can continue to benchmark itself
against the best in the world.
The world population is projected
to be at 9.7-billion by 2050, which is expected to result in a 70%
increase in agricultural demand. The citrus industry, which is a major
contributor to the primary agricultural sector, simply could not meet
this surge in demand without world-class scientific expertise.
• Van der Linde is events and operations co-ordinator at Citrus Research International.
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