Afgri, Willowton join global alliance

TWO South African agricultural companies joined the newly launched Global Agri-business Alliance (GAA) as a vehicle to promote agriculture and reduce poverty in the world.

The aim of the GAA is to collectively tackle major environmental and social challenges currently facing agricultural supply chains and rural communities across the world.

The GAA said the agricultural sector employed more than 2 billion people globally and agriculture accounted for 70percent of freshwater withdrawals and generated 12percent of all man-made greenhouse gases, or up to 25 percent if forestry and other land use were included.

“The sector’s ability to boost productivity, minimise food losses and reduce impacts on natural resources is critical to food security and inclusive growth for a world population projected to rise,” the GAA said.

South Africa’s Afgri and Willowton Group joined 34 other agricultural institutions for the launch, which was held in Singapore last week.