Sustainability

What is carbon footprinting? Carbon footprinting is the measurement of an organisation’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). These emissions typically stem from fuel and electricity consumption, fertiliser application, packaging, and other sources. In recent years, increased focus on environmental impact has led to greater regulatory pressure on buyers to… Continue reading Greenhouse Gas requirements for auditors to assess.

Current state of biosecurity Biosecurity concerns have increasingly plagued South African agriculture in recent years, with Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) declared a National Disaster during the recent 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA). Thus far in 2026, South Africa has experienced one of the most severe biosecurity periods in recent history, including outbreaks of FMD,… Continue reading What an auditor must check for if livestock is on site, including biosecurity measures

The Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA) was established in 2008 in response to growing global demand for ethical and sustainable agricultural practices in South Africa. Initially focused on fair labour standards, SIZA was created to support fresh fruit farms, packhouses, and processing facilities in meeting both local legislation and international market expectations. From the… Continue reading Building Confidence in South Africa’s Ethical and Sustainable Supply Chains

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.

Despite the promise of data, the Global and South African agricultural sectors face an industry-wide challenge of data fragmentation. At this industry scale, data value is subject to six dimensions of data quality: timeliness, accuracy, consistency, completeness, uniqueness, and granularity. Suppliers often use multiple recordkeeping platforms, each with different standards and metrics. With multiple recordkeeping… Continue reading Data-driven farming: Putting the “value” in the agricultural value chain.

Navigating compliance and sustainability tools can be confusing, but knowing their purpose is vital. While SIZA focuses on ethical and environmental compliance verified through audits, Sherpa serves as a strategic tool for tracking and improving sustainability. By leveraging both, producers can meet compliance demands and enhance long-term sustainability. Explore their key differences and how they complement each other.

South Africa has several laws regarding asbestos, specifically on managing it when it is present on a site. The regulations give employers a clear duty to identify asbestos in place and manage it properly. This duty is also extended to employees to take care of their health and safety and also look after others who may be affected. The Asbestos Abatement Regulations, as promulgated in November 2020, set out the requirements for the disposal of asbestos under Section 21.

Effective soil management is essential for boosting farming productivity, supporting crop health, enhancing water retention, and maintaining ecosystem balance. Within the SIZA Environmental Standard, soil management is key in ensuring farm sustainability and audit compliance. While soil enhancement practices can be adapted based on specific conditions, common techniques such as soil health assessments, erosion control, nutrient management, and minimising compaction are widely used to promote soil health and prevent degradation.

Alien plant species are introduced, intentionally or unintentionally, to an area where they do not naturally occur. Once these species begin to spread and establish themselves beyond their initial point of introduction, they are classified as invasive alien plant (IAP) species.