SIZA Environmental Standard

Importance of water in South African agriculture Water is one of the globe’s most valuable resources, particularly in drought-prone agricultural hubs like South Africa. This is because both the quality and quantity of water directly affect all organisms, ecosystems, and biological processes, including agricultural production and sustainability. Furthermore, according to code requirement 3.1 of the… Continue reading Water Stewardship and Climate Resilience during the Summer Months

Climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture in South Africa, affecting crop growth, productivity, and quality across all commodities. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events are disrupting traditional cultivation practices, threatening food security and livelihoods. Temperature fluctuations remain one of the most significant challenges, as many crops are highly sensitive to… Continue reading Climate Change and Agriculture in South Africa: Challenges and Solutions

For a SIZA-recognised Environmental auditor, assessing animal ecology fundamentally differs from evaluating animal welfare. While welfare focuses on the health and well-being of individual animals, animal ecology examines the interaction between livestock populations—including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry—and their surrounding environment. It is about managing all animals as integrated components of the ecosystem to… Continue reading Animal Ecology – What Does This Mean for a SIZA Environmental Audit?

Burning waste is often the selected method of waste disposal for farms, notably in areas that lack adequate municipal waste management service delivery and/or infrastructure. Although a common practice, suppliers should be aware of the high risks and the multi-legislative requirements that govern the burning of waste and differentiate this from other burning practices. Legal… Continue reading Before You Burn: Understanding Waste Burning Laws

Including bees and pollinators as key species within the Landscape and Nature Conservation and Enhancement Plan is an essential aspect of the SIZA Environmental and LEAF Bolt-On audit. Pollinators are immensely valuable, not only to farming operations but also to food security as a whole. They are essential for producing fruits, vegetables, seeds, etc., directly… Continue reading Pollinators: Why they should be carefully considered