SA Groundnut Forum (SAGF)
held on 20 July 2022 at 10:00 at the PRF Office building and also by means of a virtual platform (MS Teams)

1. Opening

   The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr G Keun.

2. Welcome

   The Chairperson welcomed all present to the meeting of the Groundnut Forum. She reminded the members that the forum's Terms of Reference will apply for the duration of the meeting.

3. Attendance

   Present
   Ms A Botha	Chairperson
   Ms R Beukes	DALRRD
   Mr D Boltman	LB Nuts
   Dr E Briedenhann	OAC
   Mr T Clark	RCL Foods
   Mr J Greef	SA Peanut
   Mr RW Higgs	Triotrade
   Mr TG Jansen	C. Steinweg Bridge
   Mr C Joubert	NAMC
   Mr G Keun	Chief Executive Officer
   Mr H Lazarus	LB Nuts
   Mr C Louw	Grain SA
   Ms W Mafiri	NDA
   Ms M Mattsone	C. Steinweg Bridge
   Ms P Mondhlane	Bureau Veritas
   Mr I Nazma	Bureau Veritas
   Ms S Ngeniswa	SGS
   Ms A Prinsloo	Bureau Veritas
   Mr T Prinsloo	ARC-GCI
   Ms M Scheepers	DALRRD
   Mr B Schultz	SAGIS
   Mr W Snijman	ARC-GCI
   Ms S Steenkamp	ARC-GCI
   Mr G van Wyk	VGM
   Mr C Vercueil	Grain SA
   Mr PA Visser	SA Peanut
   Mr N Wegner	PPECB
   Ms M Du Preez	OPDT
   Apologies
   Mr K van Huysteen	SANSOR
   Mr W Lemmer	Agbiz Grain
   Dr A van der Vyfer	SACOTA
   Ms W Louw	SAGL
   Mr H Engelbrecht	PPECB
   Ms L Muller	Triotrade
   Mr GL de Kock	Roba Foods

4. Governance/Personalia

   The Chairperson reminded the forum members that the terms and rules of the Competition Commission needed to be considered.

   She shared the gratitude of the members in seeing Mr Gerhard Keun back in the office after suffering a heart attack at the end of May and wish him a speedy and full recovery.

5. Confirmation of agenda

   The agenda was adopted with no amendments.

6. Approval of minutes

   1. Approval of the minutes of the meeting of the SA Groundnut Forum held on 9 February 2022

      Resolution:

      1. That the minutes of the meeting of the SA Groundnut Forum held on 9 February 2022, be approved.

7. Matters for discussion

   1. Research and Technology Transfer

      1. Breeding Programme

         The Chairperson mentioned that the Breeding Programme will be discussed in detail during the Groundnut Symposium, which is held on 25 August 2022, and suggested that an article will be published after the said Symposium.

         Resolution:

         1. That an article regarding the Breeding Programme would be published after the Ground­nut Symposium held on 25 August 2022.

            Chairperson

      2. Cultivar Maintenance and Trials

         The contents of the presentation of Dr R Prins included in the agenda as Annexure B were noted.

         Following the report received from Dr R Prins, a meeting was held in June 2022 with the team of the ARC, SANSOR representative, Mr E Goldschagg, Mr de Kock, and Ms Botha to discuss the ARC's own findings and the way forward. In a follow-up engagement, the ARC presented its plans for purifying the 5 major ARC cultivars and how DNA technology would be used in the future to manage existing and new cultivars as well as protect the IP of the ARC. The presentation gave perspective on required industry involvement going forward.

         A detailed presentation will be presented during the Groundnut Symposium which is held on 25 August 2022.

      3. Research Projects

         1. Peanut Smut

            The contents of the updated standards of the import requirements included in the agenda as Annexure C were noted.

            The Chairperson mentioned that the updated standards of the import requirements are also available on the OPDT/OAC website.

         2. Research Funding 2022/2023

            The contents of the List of Projects approved for 2022/23, included in the agenda as Annexure D, were noted.

            Mr Visser requests further detail on the project "Addressing Aflatoxin contamination in the South African peanut value chain", due to the value of the project for the producers. Mr Keun mentioned that further negotiation needs to take place on the project, especially on the budget and that comments will be asked from the industry before a final decision can be made about the funding of the project.

            Resolution:

            1. That further negotiation needs to take place on the project, especially on the budget and that comments will be asked from the industry before a final decision can be made about the funding of the project.

               Chairperson

   2. Tariffs and Levies

      1. Import Tariffs

         An MOU had been signed with DTIC in July 2021; the two applications for import tariffs (Roasted Groundnut and Peanut Butter) were confirmed pending review and a decision by Minister Patel. A general delay was being experienced with ministerial approvals and the consultants had advised that the inaction presented an undue delay in finalising the applications and could be construed as a denial of administrative justice. A letter was sent to Minister Patel to implicate the delay of the import tariffs (Roasted Groundnut and Peanut Butter) on the industry and was followed up, but no feedback was received from the Minister. A legal letter of demand was submitted to the Minister by Prinsloo Bekker Attorneys. Feedback in this regard is awaited.

         Resolution:

         1. That a legal letter of demand was submitted to Minister Patel by Prinsloo Bekker Attorneys and feedback in this regard is awaited.

            Chairperson
            Mr Keun

      2. Leaf Services

         The contents of the document included in the agenda as Annexure E were noted. Mr C Louw mentioned a tentative DALRRD 'principle assignee' meeting during August 2022.

         The matter will be removed from the agenda until further development.

   3. Industry Information

      1. Crop and Area estimates

         The contents of the document included in the agenda as Annexure F were noted and notice was taken of the presentation of Ms Scheepers in respect of the Crop Estimates for Groundnuts for the 2022 season.

         The chairperson referred to an industry letter, that was compiled with the support of Ms Beukes and Ms Scheepers, to discuss and place into perspective the recent 22% adjustment in crop expectation. She thanked Ms Beukes and Ms Scheepers for the continued efforts to supply relevant and accurate crop estimates – especially for the special surveys done for groundnuts.

         During the ensuing discussion, it was again reiterated that the crop estimates are relying on the industry to participate and supplying relevant and accurate information – from the volume of seed sold already. It is reported that the current season, unexpectedly marred by high and late rainfall, in addition to generally lower yields, was also indicated to have limited Choice 1 and seed availability. The importance of import duty on Peanut Butter and Roasted Groundnuts to support local prices was again stated.

         Farmers make planting decisions based on the availability of quality seed, yield expectation, price, and crop rotation programs. Groundnut prices did not increase to the same extent as other commodities, and as farmers tend to mostly remember the past season, it is foreseen that they will be less inclined to consider groundnuts for the 2022/23 season.

      2. SA Grain Information Services (SAGIS)

         The contents of the document included in the agenda as Annexure G were noted.

         Notice was taken of the presentation from Mr Schultz in respect of SAGIS, general feedback, and market information.

      3. Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB)

         No new information was reported.

         The Chairperson undertook to write a letter requesting that all the laboratories that are involved with aflatoxin testing investigate the possibility of collaboration in supplying similar reports or information to the industry.

         Resolution:

         1. That the other testing laboratories be contacted to ensure full local/import testing coverage and that the emerging testing patterns be addressed, together with the authorities at an industry level.

            Chairperson

      4. Transparent Market Information

         After a detailed discussion of the Transparent Market Model, the forum agrees that a monthly publication will be published in the Grain SA Market Commentary, Weekly Oilseeds Report and on the OPDT/OAC Facebook page with a detailed description between the different models available and their functions.

         Resolution:

         1. That a monthly publication will be published in the GrainSA Market Commentary, Weekly Oilseeds Report, and on the OPDT/OAC Facebook page with a detailed description between the different models available and their functions.

            Chairperson

      5. Articles

         The contents of the articles included in the agenda as Annexure H were noted.

   4. General

      1. Groundnut Symposium

         The contents of the program of the Groundnut Symposium included in the agenda as Annexure I were noted.

         The Chairperson mentioned that registration for the Groundnut Symposium will open on 1 August 2022. She mentioned that the event is also addressing the request received, via Grain SA, from producers to arrange an industry event.

8. Meeting dates 2022

   The date of the next meeting was planned for:

   • 25 October 2022

   The Chairperson noted that she is unfortunately not available on that date and Mr Keun indicated that the office will confirm an alternative date.

9. Adjournment

   The Chairperson expressed her gratitude for the contributions and inputs provided by the participants. The meeting was adjourned at 11h29.