Environmental Audits

The SIZA Standards are developed to encompass various South African laws, which cover topics like worker health and safety, environmental protection, and general labour and environmental management. Key legislation incorporated into the SIZA standards includes the National Environmental Management Act, the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and the Constitution of South… Continue reading Which legal requirements form part of the SIZA Standards

Managing agricultural wastewater is critically important due to the high risks it poses to the environment and human health. South Africa’s National Water Act (NWA) of 1998 defines different types of wastewater and the limits thereof via the General Authorisations published under the NWA. The legislation recognises the following types of wastewater: Wastewater Water containing… Continue reading Demystifying Wastewater

As sustainability becomes increasingly important in global trade, businesses are under growing pressure to measure and manage their environmental impact. Understanding their carbon footprint for agricultural suppliers is no longer just a regulatory checkbox — it’s a competitive advantage. Accurate carbon footprinting helps ensure compliance with global requirements and opens doors to improved efficiency, cost… Continue reading Choosing the Right Carbon Footprint Advisor: Essential Pre-Appointment Checks

Continually monitoring a representative species or habitat justified in environmental terms is essential to the SIZA Environmental audit with the LEAF Bolt-On. Monitoring a representative species serves as a key indicator of on-farm biodiversity and an indicator of the effectiveness of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) practices that conserve and enhance biodiversity over time. By measuring… Continue reading Ensuring Audit Compliance Through Biodiversity and Ecosystem Monitoring

As we approach the end of the citrus season in South Africa for most regions, it is remarkable to see how well citrus suppliers are performing in compliance. Audit results as of 1 April show a dramatic increase of 55% in the number of environmental audits conducted nationwide compared to last year. Even more impressive, 72% were… Continue reading South African Citrus Suppliers are making a Remarkable Impact.

An effective environmental management system is the foundation for complying with the SIZA Environmental Standard. This standard is built on four pillars—soil, water, biodiversity and energy, materials and waste —all of which are addressed holistically across your business or farming enterprise through risk identification, prevention and mitigation measures, and legal compliance A common misconception is… Continue reading Why Full-Scope Audits Matter

One of the main focuses of sustainability is to preserve key resources.  Agriculture faces various challenges related to soil degradation through overplanting, overgrazing, clearing of natural vegetation to ensure that more agricultural development can occur, and much more. The SIZA Environmental Standard highlights soil as a key element and resource to the supplier and the agricultural environment in which they operate. Certain human activities can cause negative impacts on the environment, and one of those impacts a supplier can have is soil erosion. Soil erosion can be defined as the topsoil, the top layer of soil that is the most fertile, getting carried away by natural or human activities and causing environmental harm.

Waste management in line with good practices and legislation is necessary and a crucial part of any business in agriculture because the irresponsible disposal and management of waste can harm the environment. The Waste Management plan of the supplier, which includes the methods of waste management for the specific waste streams identified, should be done in accordance with and consideration of the locality and availability of services for the production or processing site. The waste management hierarchy should be followed as far as reasonably practicable when deciding what waste management methods are to be adopted.

South African agriculture is undergoing significant regulatory changes concerning the use of agricultural remedies, particularly those classified as “restricted agricultural remedies”. These changes underscore the crucial role of the registered Pest Control Operator (PCO) in ensuring the safe and responsible management of pests while safeguarding human health and the environment. A PCO is defined by the Pest Control Operator Regulations 2011 under the Fertilizer, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act No. 36 of 1947. For many years, these regulations were not enforced due to the lack of definitions for “restricted agricultural remedies”. This changed in 2023 when the “Regulations relating to agricultural remedies” were published, defining a new class of restricted remedies which apply to PCOs.

Environmental stewardship in agriculture involves incorporating good and best practices into the management systems that oversee agricultural activities. The need for these practices arises from the valuable ecosystem services that a healthy and functioning ecosystem brings to agriculture.