Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
More than 300 delegates gathered at Allée Bleue Wine Estate in Franschhoek on 5 and 6 August for the inaugural South African Table Grape Conference. During the conference, emphasis was placed on the industry working together, adapting and innovating to secure its future.
Hosted jointly by the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) and the South African Society for Oenology and Viticulture (SASEV), the conference was presented under the theme “Connecting Ideas – Cultivating Success”. It brought together table grape producers, researchers, academics, exporters, technical specialists, industry leaders, and commercial partners for two days of presentations and discussions on the issues shaping the sector.
The event featured more than 30 research presentations, four keynote addresses, and several panel discussions. The programme provided a platform for knowledge exchange and for connecting scientific research with the realities faced by South Africa’s table grape growers.
Managing water and soil health for the industry’s future
During a panel discussion on water management, moderator Dr Ilse Trautmann warned that competition for water will define agriculture’s future. “In future, we will not be fighting for land, but for water,” she said. The discussion highlighted several key challenges that table grape growers face in managing water effectively, from water budgeting and irrigation scheduling to declining water quality. The message was that efficient water management will rely more on trustworthy data, accurate measurement and the willingness to adjust practices as weather, soils, crops and water quality change.
Plant and soil health were also discussed during the conference, with Trix Quixly, technical manager of crop protection at NexusAG, discussing biostimulants and highlighting three pillars of soil health: biological, physical, and chemical.
Quixly explained that the relationship between plants and soil microorganisms was particularly important. For example, approximately 30 to 35% of a plant’s photosynthetic products, or sugars, are exuded through its roots to feed soil microbes. Healthy plants, in principle, support healthy microbial populations, and healthy soils create a stronger foundation for productive vineyards.
Talitha Venter, chairperson of SASEV, highlighted nematodes as a serious threat to table grape production. These microscopic roundworms occur naturally in soil, water and plant tissue, and certain species cause significant crop damage. Systematic soil sampling and diagnostic analysis are therefore essential for identifying harmful nematodes, managing their impact, and protecting beneficial organisms.
Developing future industry leaders
The conference looked beyond immediate production challenges to consider what the industry would need from the next generation of professionals. Keynote speaker Prof Albert Strever, an academic specialist and chair of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University, challenged delegates to rethink how future professionals are trained.
Prof Strever noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is also changing the education landscape. “Instead of competing with AI, universities need to focus on qualities like critical thinking, sound judgement, ethical decision-making, and the ability to understand complex systems that technology will not easily replace.” He argued that the industry needed graduates who possessed more than technical skills. “While skills can be taught, competencies with the right mindset combine knowledge and enable people to understand market needs, solve problems, and think entrepreneurially.”
Moderated by SATI CEO Mecia Petersen, the panellists discussed the characteristics needed to develop future industry leaders: adaptability, open-mindedness, and the ability to think on one’s feet. Ownership and accountability were regarded as non-negotiable, as was the willingness to consistently give one’s best.
The panel also acknowledged that young people enter the workplace against a difficult backdrop, with many students facing mental health challenges, financial pressure, debt, and food insecurity. Stronger support programmes, mentorship and industry-academia partnerships would play an important role in helping graduates succeed.
Resilience requires collaboration
South Africa’s table grape industry has a long history. Mecia Petersen noted that its legacy stretches back to 1659, when hanepoot table grapes were first produced. Today, the industry is a major contributor to the agricultural economy, with South Africa ranking as the world’s fifth-largest exporter of table grapes, exporting approximately 76 to 78 million 4,5kg cartons annually, equivalent to roughly 350 000 tonnes.
Quick facts
- About 86% of exports are destined for Europe, which highlights the importance of international market access and the industry’s ability to remain competitive in global markets.
- The table grape sector covers approximately 90 300 hectares.
- Major production areas include the Orange River, Berg River and Hex River regions.
- The industry provides around 105 000 jobs.
- Popular cultivars include crisp white varieties such as Sweet Globe, Autumn Crisp and Prime, red varieties such as Sweet Celebration and Crimson Seedless, and black varieties such as Sable Seedless.
For Petersen, the challenge is not simply to maintain the industry’s position, but to ensure that the entire value chain remains innovative, efficient, and connected. SATI’s strategic work, she explained, includes research funding based on identified industry needs, as well as communication, market development and industry affairs. Her focus on practical, producer-driven research was echoed by Dr Trautmann, who emphasised the importance of developing innovation with growers rather than simply delivering new technologies or research findings to them.
Other conference sessions addressed crop protection, post-harvest management, packaging, sustainability, overhead plastic protection, emerging technologies, and logistics. Marius Boshoff, managing director of Villa Crop Protection, highlighted the changing crop-protection landscape and the need for integrated solutions that combine conventional chemistry, biological products, precision agriculture, and emerging technologies.
Vineyards remain essential for industry success
Post-harvest specialist Oscar Salgado of Infruta Chile and Proteku Spain, which is part of the AgroFresh Group, focussed on maintaining fruit quality through increasingly complex global supply chains. The core message of his address was that post-harvest success does not begin in the packhouse but in the vineyard, and that it depends on attention to detail throughout the entire value chain.
The first South African Table Grape Conference represented a new chapter in the collaboration between SASEV and SATI, building on previous knowledge-sharing initiatives and strengthening the connection between research and practical application.
The event concluded on a positive but realistic note. South African table grape producers operate in an environment shaped by climate change, water scarcity, geopolitical uncertainty, logistical pressures, and changing consumer expectations. The discussions in Franschhoek demonstrated that the industry is actively adapting to these challenges and moving forward. Talitha Venter noted that the challenges are too complex for any individual, organisation or discipline to solve alone. Scientific knowledge, practical experience and innovation will have to work together to produce practical solutions for the vineyard.
The conference reinforced that although technology and innovation open new doors, the fundamentals of successful farming remain essential. Sound production practices, responsible resource management, investment in people, collaboration across the value chain, and a willingness to adapt will determine whether South Africa’s table grape industry remains competitive.
Against the backdrop of welcome winter rainfall on the conference’s second day, delegates left Allée Bleue with plenty to consider. The industry’s future would not be cultivated by a single idea, technology or organisation. Instead, it will be cultivated by connecting many ideas and translating them into action.
For more information, contact SATI on 021 863 0366 or denene@satgi.co.za, or SASEV on 021 889 6311 or sasev@sasev.org. – Carin Venter, Plaas Media
Delegates Henry Mienies (left) with Johannes Links.
