Plagued by droughts, poor crop yields, substandard seeds, wage disputes and labour strikes, the agricultural industry is under enormous pressure to contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), social welfare and the creation of jobs. Increased labour and production costs have meant that the profitability of the sector has come under threat.

Professor Marcos Fava Neves from the University of São Paulo, Brazil and chief executive officer at Inova Biofuels, is an expert in international agriculture. He says the long-term view for the agriculture sector appears to be positive worldwide.

A revolutionary new product, co-developed in Australia and South Africa, seems to signal an end to one of the most critical and expensive threats to the future of the two dry countries.

While the bioenergy policy of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) is geared toward the increased use of renewable energy and the development of mega energy infrastructure for the African continent, Africa cannot afford development models where growth is not synonymous with economic inclusivity.

Farm structure affects and is affected by public policy and the economy. It describes important developments in the farm sector and specific commodities and impacts on productivity, financial performance, prices, and environmental outcomes.