Within an agricultural landscape, there are natural areas that serve important functions in the agroecosystem whilst providing a safe refuge for indigenous plant and animal species. An important tool that farmers can use to assist with the protection of these remaining natural areas is the usage of buffer zones of indigenous vegetation. Buffer zones are […]
Waste production in any industry is inevitable, even in agriculture. Therefore it has never been more important to be mindful of your waste. Adopting practices to minimize the footprint that your business is responsible for is the way to go, to start it is important to follow the rule of three R’s, namely Reduce, Reuse […]
PathCare Laboratories have sent out a notice explaining that due to a worldwide discontinuation of the Whole Blood Cholinesterase Assay (CHE), PathCare can unfortunately not continue to offer this service anymore. CHE is used to test for exposure of chemicals to crop sprayers, along with other individuals exposed to hazardous chemicals. As the biological monitoring […]
As the SIZA programme has positioned itself as a multisector global leader in the drive towards continuous improvement as well as managing risks for producers and buyers through its rigorous third-party audit systems, it is no surprise that more than 34 different commodities are represented by the SIZA programme. The high variety of commodities is […]
We understand that cost is an important factor when considering SIZA audits. While audit costs vary depending on your workforce size, the size and location of the farm/packing facility, and the type of audit you choose, take note of the following factors which influence audit cost: Location of the business/farm/packing facility Travel costs can contribute […]
Due to a multitude of risks within each business, it is crucial that we understand how important it becomes for a buyer, based locally or globally, to have an assessment of a business’s risks and what it has done or could still be done to improve or mitigate those risks. As part of this understanding […]
Producers are ultimately responsible for the implementation and selection of the audit programme to be undertaken, there are a few aspects to consider and take into consideration when making this decision. This will ultimately lead to the following question: What should I know when I choose a Standard and Audit Programme? It is crucial for […]
The Emerging Grower Compliance programme is an essential part of SIZA’s involvement in ensuring that producers are encouraged and guided to embark on their journey towards compliance and self-sustainability. The goals of this programme are to support emerging growers, facilitate and encourage their compliance journey, and enable these growers to access local and global markets. […]
The audit process has been a catalyst for driving sustainable change in the global supply chain for a number of years as the number of workplace violations have been reduced through the principle of driving continuous improvement. The completion of audits on farms, packhouses, processing facilities and in the workplace in general have provided an […]
Due to a multitude of risks within each business, it is crucial that we understand how important it becomes for a buyer, based locally or globally, to have an assessment of a business’s risks and what it has done or could still be done to improve or mitigate those risks. As part of this understanding […]