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01 December 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Pieter Bruwer was recently announced as Agricultural Writers SA (AWSA) Agriculturalist of the Year. Pictured with his children at the award function, which took place at Nampo Park near Bothaville are, from the left, Marisna, Pieter, Etienne, and Hannes.
Pieter Bruwer, a doctoral student at the University of the Free State (UFS), was recently announced Agricultural Writers SA (AWSA) Agriculturalist of the Year.

The focus of this award, recognising excellence in the agricultural sector in South Africa, was on extension services in agriculture and the important role of disseminating information throughout the industry, according to Liza Bohlmann, chairperson of AWSA. She says the award is made to persons who have made it their life’s work to contribute to the sustainability of agriculture in South Africa.

Candidates considered for this award were assessed on their work in the agricultural sector. They were evaluated on their essence, principles, value systems, and life ethics, as well as their local and international status. Bruwer has dedicated a large part of his life and professional career to researching and promoting sustainable practices in agriculture. “This award is in recognition of years of dedication,” he says. 

Contributing to sustainable agriculture 

An extension officer and agronomist at Langfontein Seeds in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, Bruwer is working on his PhD in the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Extension and Rural Development at the UFS. Here he investigates, among others, the importance of true scientific research results, the effective dissemination thereof, and the potentially devastating impact of pseudo-science on sustainable agriculture.

“I am determining whether there is a communication gap between agricultural researchers and producers in our country. I investigate why and how pseudo-science slipped in through the back door. If we can determine the reasons and find alternative ways to effectively disseminate scientific results from the researcher right through to the producer, we would not have to be concerned about the quality and validity of information. That can only positively contribute towards sustainable agriculture,” states Bruwer.

One of the highlights of his PhD studies is the people crossing his path. “They have changed my perspective on life. What an eye-opener,” says Bruwer who, even before he started his studies at the UFS, believed “the university has the best Faculty of Agriculture in the country”. 

He indicates that he spent the best years of his life at the UFS. When he had to decide on a university for his postgraduate studies, he did not even consider any other university. “I am still of the same opinion regarding the faculty and my supervisors (Prof Johan van Niekerk and Dr JW Swanepoel), as well as other personnel from the centre. These staff members are highly skilled, motivated, and energetic individuals and I get most of my passion and drive directly from them. World-class!” All three of his children studied at the UFS. Marisna completed an LLB, Etienne the degree BScAgricHons, and Hannes an MComm.

Believing that there is a bright future for agriculture in South Africa and the rest of the world, Bruwer says the importance of tertiary institutions such as the UFS cannot be overemphasised. “The university has the resources and ideal infrastructure to complete the agricultural scientific dissemination chain from researcher and lecturer to student, who then subsequently develops into a sustainable producer or agriculturalist. Only the academic institutions can truly form and shape young agricultural professionals.”

Passionate about agriculture 

Since his childhood, Bruwer has always been passionate about agriculture. After completing his BScAgricHons at the UFS, and after farming with crops and livestock for many years, he started working as an agronomist at Langfontein Seeds, part of a large commercial farming operation in the Wakkerstroom area. Here he developed as a crop production specialist in maize, soybeans, dry beans, wheat, and certain pastures.

“This is where I became aware of the importance of soil and crop management, which is so important to the concept of sustainable food production all over the world. We have created a model where we advise on the farmer’s complete cycle of crop production by managing the soil, crop nutrition, and crop protection – right through to harvesting,” he says.

He also enjoys his work in the advisory field. “It starts with the analysis of soil and the subsequent calculating of crop production potential, responsible recommendations and application of our organic and inorganic resources and finding solutions for all the practical implications during the growth cycle – unique to each and every year.”

“Food security is an absolute priority and sustainability is non-negotiable,” he says, adding that at Langfontein Seeds – a leader in the concept of sustainable agriculture – “we believe that food security starts with every individual who goes to work with a happy heart in the morning.”

News Archive

New challenges for animal science discussed
2006-04-04

Some of the guests attending the congress were from the left Dr Heinz Meissner (honorary president of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) and senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council), Mr Paul Bevan (President of SASAS) and Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS).
Photo: Lacea Loader

New challenges for animal science discussed  

The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) is presenting its 41st Congress at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Main Campus in Bloemfontein. 

The congress started yesterday and will run until Thursday 6 April 2006.  The theme is New challenges for the animal science industries.

It is one of the largest congresses in the 45 years since SASAS was founded in 1961.  Among the delegates 12 African countries are represented, with the biggest delegation from Kenya.  Delegates are also from the United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal and African countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana.

“Many of our members play an important role in the training of animal scientists at universities.  The congress is specifically industry orientated so that scientists can interact with farmers through the respective producer organisations,” said Prof HO de Waal, Chairperson of the organising committee and lecturer at the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.

According to Dr Heinz Meissner, honorary president of SASAS and a senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council, the National Livestock Strategy (NLS) Plan clarifies the role and responsibility of the livestock sector. 

“Through this strategy we need to focus on enhancing equitable access and participation in livestock agriculture, improve global competitiveness and profitability of the livestock sector and ensure that the ventures implemented do not over utilise our resources,” said Dr Meissner.

In her welcoming address, Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS highlighted the related challenges that the UFS will be focusing on specifically over the next five years.  “We have identified five strategic clusters that represent broad areas of excellence in research and post-graduate education.  Two of these are food production, quality and safety for Africa and sustainable development,” she said.

“The food safety and security cluster will focus on the production of food in all its varieties within the African context, encompassing the entire value chain – from production to consumption and nutrition related issues.  This would include a strong emphasis on sustainable production systems,” she said.

According to Prof Fourie the rural development cluster will engage in questions around the role of higher education in sustainable development.  “One of the focus areas in this strategic cluster pertains to sustainable livelihoods.  It refers to a way of approaching development that incorporates all aspects of human livelihoods and means by which people obtain them,” she said.

Prof Fourie said that the challenges we are facing such as food production can only be effectively addressed through collaborative efforts.  “That is why it is important that collaboration takes place between different scientific disciplines, researchers, institutions and countries who are confronted with similar difficulties,” she said.

According to Prof de Waal the congress will give key role players a unique opportunity to present a profile of what they perceive an animal scientist should be and state their specific requirement regarding the animal sciences and its applications. 

“In this way we can determine what the industry’s needs are and we can re-align our curriculum to suit these needs,” said Prof de Waal.

During the next two days, various areas of interest will be discussed.  This includes ruminant and monogastric nutrition, animal physiology, beef, dairy, sheep and ostrich breeding and sustainable farming covering the range from commercial to the small-scale farming level.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
4 April 2006

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