Table of contents for 15 March 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

It still happens, from time to time, that when you meet people from other continents while travelling you have to explain to them that Africa is not a country, but a continent with many countries. The differences in cultures between two neighbouring African countries can be as great as the cultural differences between countries on opposite sides of the Earth. Similarly, developmental challenges African countries face are often unique to the economic, political and cultural state of a particular country. Stark contradictions even exist within countries. In South Africa, for example, we have a well-developed and sophisticated agriculture sector that is not only able to securely deliver enough food to ensure that South Africa enjoys food security on a national scale, but is also able to export a variety of…

In the 1 March issue of Farmer’s Weekly (published online on 26 February), editor Denene Erasmus addressed the sugar crisis in South Africa in her editorial, ‘The sugar crisis is your problem’. The editorial focused on challenges hampering growth of the South African sugar industry, the effect of imports on the industry, and the importance of self-reliance. Here is what some of the FW Facebook followers had to say about the sugar industry crisis: Grant Taylor: Time to convert the [sugar] industry into a sugar cane industry by producing [fuel for] energy [production]. Farmers get no value for the fibre [of the cane], which makes up about 80% of the crop. The industry needs a shakeup. Mareli Minnaar Petersen: It will be a struggle to turn around the anti-sugar campaign…

Improving the quality and safety of food preservation using natural products could meet market demand for healthier products containing fewer chemical residues, according to Selda Güney, technical account manager at CHR Hansen. The company is a global supplier of bioscience-based ingredients such as starter cultures, dairy enzymes, probiotics and natural colours for the food, health, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Güney was speaking at a recent poultry and meat symposium hosted by Lake Foods in Johannesburg. “Starter cultures are bacteria used to limit the growth of harmful micro-organisms [in order to ensure] desired flavour and structure and to produce best quality products. Some of the improved cultures also offer bioprotection against contamination flora and Listeria monocytogenes. “Consumers are showing a growing interest in the ingredients used in the foods they purchase,…

The South African government is working hard to finalise an interim trade agreement between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the UK before 29 March, when the UK is set to leave the EU. This was according to Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter, deputy director general of the International Trade and Economy Division at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). So far, the UK had made a commitment to continue with a short-form agreement of the EU’s economic partnership agreement, but some issues still had to be addressed. Mlumbi-Peter said the first issue related to the formalisation of commitments. “The UK has made various promises that trade would not be negatively affected by Brexit, but these promises need to be legally formalised in a way that would bring both sides comfort.”…

SAHEL REGION The Sahel region of Africa could see rainfall double in the 21st century due to global warming, new research models show. Now known for regular severe droughts and mega-droughts, the Sahel is a semi-arid region of transition between the Sahara and the Sudanian Savanna. Projections by scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing found that precipitation in the region would increase 109%. INDIA An environmental anthropologist at Purdue University in the US, Andrew Flachs, has blamed the high suicide rate among farmers in India on ‘choice-overload’ with regard to agricultural decisions. “[For example,] when genetically modified seeds were first introduced, there were just three seed varieties. Now there are more than 1 200, and figuring out which particular seed to buy has become an incredibly difficult…

South Africa needs a formalised structure to address the shortcomings in local predator management as identified by farmers, researchers and government. This emerged during a recent workshop held by the Predation Management Forum (PMF) at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth. “This [structure] should ultimately address environmental, societal and economic needs in terms of predator management,” PMF chairperson, Guillau du Toit, said. The PMF adopted a new constitution during the workshop, which would pave the way for it to be registered as a legal entity. Prof Graham Kerley of the Department of Zoology at Nelson Mandela University was tasked with summarising the information gaps identified in the scientific assessment of livestock predation and management in South Africa. According to a statement by the PMF, the appointment of a dedicated person…

Farmers are set to feel the pinch of the latest fuel price increase, which took effect in the first week of March. Dr Requier Wait, head of economics and trade at Agri SA, said the rising diesel price was a concern as diesel was an important input cost for the majority of farmers. “In terms of agriculture’s total expenditure on intermediate goods and services, fuel represented approximately 9% [R12,6 billion] in the 2017/2018 financial year.” He added that farmers were price-takers and rising diesel prices increased farmers’ input costs, which lowered the margin they could earn on their produce. “South African farmers are, [however], very resilient. They focus on increasing production efficiencies as far as possible, aiming to mitigate rising inputs costs. The rising costs would have a more adverse…

The draft Feeds and Pet Food Bill, aimed at regulating ingredients used in the manufacturing of feed and pet food in the food production value chain, has been released for public comment. The purpose of these regulations will be to ensure that the feed used for animals ultimately intended for human consumption is safe. The new statute is expected to disseminate an efficient and effective traceability system to regulate the feed ingredients used in the manufacturing of feed and pet food, as well as the licensing or registration of facilities used for the manufacture of these products. According to the Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association of South Africa, implementing the bill would mean that parties who had previously not been regulated and/or inspected in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural…

Common livestock illnesses such as coccidiosis, respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia, and conditions such as foot rot all seem to arise during wet weather when bacteria and other organisms are active. In addition, studies have shown that cattle up to one year old in feedlots are susceptible to gastric illnesses and respiratory tract and lung infections. This is probably due to the cramped conditions found in many feedlots, as well as stress, which can weaken their immune systems. Similarly, many communal farmers kraal their animals at night to protect them from predators and stock theft. This often creates a stressful environment, particularly if kraals are too small for the number of animals, or there is insufficient clean drinking water and feed. COCCIDIOSIS: SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT Coccidiosis is especially prevalent…

If farming is the most ancient occupation on the planet, then weeding definitely comes second, says Leonard Oberholzer, head of technology development and agronomy at Bayer Crop Science. Speaking at a combined congress of soil, weed, horticulture and crop production societies earlier this year, Oberholzer outlined what the future of weed management might entail as farmers sought to employ new techniques in response to a fast-evolving challenge. According to Oberholzer, the change from hand weeding to chemical control, especially in developing countries, is one of the factors driving so-called weed shifts. This is when the relative populations of weed species in an area change, particularly when some species are more susceptible to a herbicide and others are more tolerant of it. The latter grow in number at the expense of…

Traditionally, tracking devices for vehicles have been supplied by companies, with the user tied into a contract with an expensive monthly premium. These days, tracking devices can be purchased as DIY kits at a fraction of the price. AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT I recently came across a Johannesburg-based company, Protrack, that sells affordable tracking devices and many other electronic gadgets. The devices vary in price from R800 to R1 000 and there are no contracts. The first year is free; thereafter the annual fee is R175, which equates to just R14,50/month. I know of two large businesses in my district that monitor all their trucks, tractors and vehicles using the Protrack platform. This gives the owners round-the-clock access to their vehicles, while staff can monitor equipment online and receive notifications from…

Mac and cheese is one of those feel-good comfort food dishes, and this version is a notch above thanks to the extra richness of the added cheese types. I made all three cheese options, and while the two wines chosen went well with the Parmesan and mozzarella versions, the Gorgonzola, being a blue cheese, needed a wine with a little more oomph. The rule is always: the bigger the dish, the bigger the wine. Without the Gorgonzola, the dish needs a crisp, fresh, unwooded white, while the Gorgonzola worked best with a slightly richer white wine, like a lightly wooded Chardonnay. Boer and Brit wines on the West Coast is a partnership between two men whose great-great-grandfathers fought on opposing sides of the Boer War. They make Bob’s Your Uncle…

Because the phenols in olive oil are potent antioxidants, they reduce inflammation. A study carried out in Cordoba, Spain, showed that consuming olive oil high in phenols helps reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. For the six-week trial, researchers recruited 20 men and women with metabolic syndrome, standardised their diets, and arranged for them to eat an olive oil-based breakfast either high or low in phenols. The results indicated that the phenols suppressed the genes associated with inflammatory mediators. This is crucial, as inflammation is the true cause of heart disease. The endothelium is a thin layer of cells that lines the inner surface of the arteries and regulates their function. Repeated injury of the endothelium can lead to the development of atherosclerosis and vascular disease. Olive oil soothes and…

“As the planet’s human population grows, the area of arable land available to feed and clothe each person continually declines. It is anticipated that this figure will be approximately 0,15ha/person by 2050, compared with 0,3ha/person in 1980. So the global agriculture sector, including its livestock industry, is facing the massive challenge of having to significantly improve its productivity to adequately feed everybody, while using fewer resources. Animal rights activists pose a major threat to the international livestock industry’s ability to improve its productivity into the future. These activists have surprisingly large financial resources and they influence policymakers and the general public. They are able to get consumers to take a closer look at and to question the methods used to produce animal products. It’s good that consumers want to know…

Saudi Arabia has maintained a keen interest in deepening economic and trade relations with South Africa in recent years. The latest expression of intent is a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on technical cooperation in the field of agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, to identify potential opportunities for trade, investment, capacity-building, research and development. The most interesting part of a recent visit by a Saudi delegation was the desire expressed to acquire land in South Africa on a 99-year lease basis to produce various agricultural commodities to export to that country. The timing and the content of this visit is curious. The Saudis’ intent to acquire land in South Africa comes against the backdrop of an ongoing debate on land reform, and concerns about foreign ownership of large tracts…

South Africa experienced a “massive upswing” in human rabies cases during 2018 compared with the figures of the preceding five years, according to Steve Galane, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). He said this was largely because the vaccination of dogs had not been carried out due to a lack of resources. Statistics provided by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) showed that 16 cases of human rabies had been reported in 2018. Of these, eight were in KwaZulu-Natal, six in the Eastern Cape, one in Mpumalanga, and one in the Free State. Six cases of rabies in humans were confirmed in 2017 and two in 2016. “The Free State case of a cat contracting the disease from wildlife and then biting a human…

Just four varieties account for almost half of all crops grown globally, and researchers say this presents major challenges for the sustainability of global agriculture. Soya bean, wheat, rice and maize are grown on almost 50% of the world’s agricultural land, while 152 other crops are produced on the rest. A study by the University of Toronto in Canada found that crop diversity in some regions had actually increased. An example was North America, where 93 different crops were grown today, compared with 80 in the 1960s. However, according to assistant professor of ecology Adam Martin, worldwide more of the same types of crops were being grown on a far larger scale. This had resulted in industrial-sized farms in Asia, Europe, North and South America all beginning to look the…

Pork production is highly competitive and requires ongoing emphasis on production techniques and the utilisation of cutting-edge technologies to maintain outputs. This was according to a statement by the organisers of the 2019 Ensminger Pig Symposium, to be held near Benoni in Gauteng on 22 and 23 May. The symposium forms part of the Ensminger Program, run by the Department of Animal Science and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University in the US. According to the statement, the aim of the programme was to improve and expand activities in international animal agriculture. The symposium had been held for the past 50 years to share such knowledge with producers. Topics to be addressed at the symposium would include increasing sow longevity, reducing the use of antibiotics,…

The Cape Wools Merino Indicator fell 57 points, or 0,3%, to close at R217,60 (clean) at the last sale of February. Finer-end wool performed well due to demand from Europe, but broader-end wool was under pressure due to the halting of all imports of raw or processed animal products by China, following the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Limpopo. Demand for shorter wools was also markedly down. The offering comprised 6 278 bales, of which 88,5% were sold. Major traders were G Modiano SA (1 951 bales), Standard Wool SA (1 339), Lempriere SA (806) and Tianyu SA (707). The greatest decrease, of up to 1,5%, was in the 20,5-micron segment, according to Heinrich Victor, operational manager for fibre at OVK. “Good-quality, long, fine Merino wool performed well,” he said.…

RCL Foods has attributed the decline in its profitability for the six months ended 31 December 2018 to ongoing imports of cheap sugar and frozen chicken. A recent statement by the company said these imports had continued to result in an oversupply of the commodities, leading to lower prices for its own sugar and chicken. “Sugar was particularly distressed by abnormally high dumped imports displacing local market sales, leading to an adverse sales mix,” the statement added. RCL reported that while its revenue for the period 1 July to 31 December 2018 had increased to R13,27 billion (2017: R12,82 billion), its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation had dropped to R1,1 billion (2017: R1,2 billion), and headline earnings had declined to R475,1 million (2017: R644,7 million). Miles Dally, the…

The founder of Future Farmers’ Foundation, Judy Stuart, has dismissed suggestions that young people are not interested in careers in farming. Stuart said that so far this year the foundation had interviewed more than 40 candidates in the Free State who were interested in participating in the mentorship and training initiative. She told Farmer’s Weekly that the foundation had previously had up to 30 enquiries a week from young people from across South Africa. Stuart said her experience to date had shown that the “top future farmers” were often to be found among school leavers who had not yet had a chance to study further. “When people come to see us, the important thing we’re looking for is passion. We’re not looking for qualifications,” she said. Since its inception in…

The end of February saw the launch of yet another farmers’ organisation, the South African Agricultural Initiative (SAAI). According to the organisation, its main purpose is to assist middle-sized commercial family farmers individually in crises such as land grabs and farm attacks. It reportedly differs from other national farmers’ organisations, such as Agri SA, TAU SA and the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa, by being structured as a national organisation rather than a federation. Afriforum and the Institute for Race Relations will provide administrative and technical assistance to the new organisation. Some farmers feel the existing national agricultural organisations focus on the interests of mega-farmers. As Dr Piet Croucamp recently pointed out, the scale of these mega-farmers’ operations and their very good relations with politicians create the impression they…

Compared year-on-year, the average beef carcass price for all grades was significantly down by an average of 15,6%. For the week ending 15 February, prices declined week-on-week by 1,6%. (All week-on-week prices cited here are for 8 February to 15 February). Further declines, however, are not expected for A and B grades; Class A beef prices are expected to enjoy underlying support in line with seasonality as demand is likely to increase until April (see Graph 1). The Class C beef price could trade between 3% and 4% lower until March. Week-on-week, the average Class A price traded 2,6% lower at R38,99/kg, while the Class C price increased 0,4% to R37,54/kg. The average weaner calf price increased significantly by 12,4% to R31,54/kg from the price of a month ago, when…

• While South Africa’s economy is expected to grow over the coming decade, various factors are likely to put this growth under pressure. • Government needs to clarify its land reform programme so that the country’s farmers can decide whether or not to continue investing in their agribusinesses. • If South Africa wishes to substantially increase its exports of livestock products, both government and farmers will need to dramatically improve national, provincial and farm-level biosecurity controls.…

To make 12 cinnamon rolls, you will need: FOR THE ROLLS: 10g dry yeast 200ml warm milk 1 tablespoon vanilla essence 500g cake flour 60g caster sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 2 extra-large eggs 130g butter 150g pecan nuts, chopped FOR THE MAPLE GLAZE: 125ml maple syrup 60ml muscovado sugar 80g butter FOR THE CINNAMON BUTTER: 100g butter 100g treacle sugar 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon ½ tablespoon ground ginger 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the yeast, milk and vanilla essence in a bowl and mix to combine. Set aside in a warm place for five minutes or until bubbles appear on the surface. 2 Place the flour, sugar, salt, eggs, butter and yeast mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook, and beat on low…

I recently received a call from Nandeep in a town in central KwaZulu-Natal. He wanted three extra cottages built on the property where he lives. The local town-planning authority had already indicated that this would be approved, as there is a dire need for lettable accommodation. Nandeep wants cottages that will cater for nursing staff or young, single people working at technical training facilities. With two bedrooms per cottage, people on both day and night shifts can be accommodated. The sketch shows the three cottages in a secluded corner of the property. Each will have a separate entrance and a parking bay. The layouts are slightly variable, but each has a private porch with views to the north. Unit 3 is flipped back to front, with the porch and repositioned…

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 24 TO 25 MARCH The IRES 580th International Conference on Food and Agricultural Engineering, Cape Town. Email info@theires.org , or visit theires.org/Conference2019/ SouthAfrica/1/ICFAE . 24 APRIL Soil Preparation Workshop, Kuruman. Visit bommereaipela.co.za , or email info@bommereaipela.co.za . 21 TO 23 MAY Southern African Manufacturing Expo, Nasrec, Johannesburg.Visit localmanufacturingexpo.co.za . 6 TO 7 JUNE Hortgro Technical Symposium, The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. Email Thea van Zyl at thea@hortgro.co.za . 10 JULY Agribusiness Africa Conference, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. Email Marianna du Plessis at africa@caxton.co. za. COURSES & TRAINING 25 TO 29 MARCH Introduction to Poultry Production, Kuruman. Phone Thebe Tshabang on…

Meeting the food demand of a rapidly increasing global population remains a major concern for many developing economies. Increasing urbanisation, climate change and land use for non-food crop production intensify the problem. Over the past few decades, many developing countries have focused on improving agricultural production, land use and population control to cope with increasing food demand. However, post-harvest loss is a critical issue that does not receive the necessary attention. Post-harvest losses refer to produce that is lost or wasted between harvesting and the moment of human consumption, anywhere along the value chain. Reducing post-harvest losses could be a sustainable solution to increase food availability, reduce pressure on natural resources, eliminate hunger, and improve farmers’ livelihoods. LARGE POST-HARVEST LOSSES It is said that more than one-third of all food…

Stock theft in Limpopo cost the province’s economy over R103 million between April 2017 and March 2018. A recent report on the economic impact of stock theft in the province indicated that the value of cattle stolen was almost R90,7 million, while the values of stolen sheep and goats were R2,8 million and R10,3 million respectively. The DA said in a statement that the party had written to Limpopo’s provincial police commissioner, Nneke Ledwaba, requesting his immediate intervention to stop the escalating theft of livestock. “We are convinced that the stock theft unit in Limpopo is not adequately resourced, as livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats remain the main targets,” said Jacques Smalle, the Limpopo DA provincial chairperson. Limpopo Agriculture’s CEO, Willem van Jaarsveld, said the problem was a…

The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has denied that the organisation’s call to have chicken imports from Brazil banned due to a salmonella scare is opportunistic. Izaak Breitenbach, managing director of SAPA’s Broiler Organisation, said the organisation had written to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) about health and safety concerns with regard to poultry imports from Brazil. This followed news that Brazilian food processor BRF had recalled hundreds of tons of poultry meat in February. Breitenbach said this latest incident substantiated the information received during tariff negotiations with EU officials. “In these discussions, [EU officials] said they had stopped all imports from Brazil as a result of contamination with Salmonella enteritidis.” He said on visits to processing plants in Brazil, EU officials had also found that food…

A study by researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK has found that laboratory-grown meat may not be the answer to mitigating the negative impact of conventional meat production on the environment. Some projections indicated that particular forms of cultured meat could be better for the climate, while others suggested that it could actually lead to higher global temperatures. The research found that the impact of cultured meat production on the global climate would depend on energy demand and the availability of low-carbon energy sources. Researcher John Lynch said it was not yet clear whether substituting beef from cattle with cultured meat would provide an important climate benefit, partly due to uncertainties about how cultured meat would be produced at scale. “The climate impact will depend on what…

The prices of South African export figs have fallen by up to 40% in some markets, according to Keith Wilson, a fig expert and international fig consultant. This was due to small fruit sizes as a result of the unusually cool weather experienced during October last year in various production regions, combined with poor management practices. The unfavourable weather had also resulted in fruit maturing up to two weeks late in some regions, and ripening much quicker than usual, he said. In addition, many farmers were struggling to cope with fertilisation or manage fig production as a sideline business, especially during years when their main income streams were performing well. “A few farmers are producing excellent-quality, large figs, but the majority are merely adapting programmes developed for other fruit species…

The soya industry is expected to receive a boost of R1 billion per year from the recently imposed Breeding and Technology Levy (BTL). The levy will be used to fund research into improving seed cultivars to ensure increased yield and quality, and South Africa’s competitiveness in the global market. Previously, seed companies had little incentive to fund costly seed development research. Prof Ferdi Meyer, director of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), said that ‘farmer privilege’ allowed farmers to save and replant seed. “For self-pollinated crops such as soya bean, this means that farmers only have to buy seed once, and can continue planting the same variety in subsequent seasons. As a result, the financial motivation for seed companies to invest in local, long-term, expensive breeding programmes, or…

Despite facing some significant challenges in its South African operations, multinational forestry, packaging and paper company Mondi reported strong performance for the year ending 31 December 2018. Compared with the preceding year, Mondi increased group revenue by 5% to about €7,5 billion (R117 billion) and underlying operating profit by 28% to approximately €1,3 billion (R20,3 billion). Mondi’s 2018 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation also increased 19% to about €1,8 billion (R28 billion) year-on-year. The group’s CEO, Peter Oswald, attributed these improved financial results largely to Mondi having benefitted from good demand across its fibre packaging businesses, higher average selling prices for products, and the contribution of recent acquisitions that included commercial forestry plantation assets in KwaZulu-Natal. The challenges Mondi reported in its local operations during 2018 included the…

There is a strong outlook for agriculture in Africa, due to the strengthening of economies in countries such as Angola and Botswana, which is resulting in a rapidly emerging middle class and increased demand for maize. This was according to Christin Hunter, marketing and communications manager at Pannar, speaking during a recent media tour in KwaZulu-Natal hosted by Corteva Agriscience, the new agriculture division of DowDuPont. She said this created a great opportunity to increase maize yields through crop improvement without having to use more arable land. Many farmers in Africa still produced yields of less than 2t/ha, she said. Eve Dunlop, research scientist at Corteva for the eastern, southern, and central regions of Africa, said environmental pressures challenged crop production, which necessitated more research. “As we do research, we…

A recent decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal dealt with an interesting tax matter. The Court was asked to decide whether or not certain income had flowed from a contract, which in this case was a franchise agreement. The taxpayer maintained that the income was as a result of the franchise agreement. The tax effect of the franchise agreement depended on the interpretation of Section 24C of the Income Tax Act. The Section 24C allowance is particularly attractive, as it allows future expenditure under a contract to be deducted from the income of the taxpayer in the present year. In other words, the deduction is limited to the income earned in the present year. If there is more than one agreement, perhaps one that provides for certain rights and…

When developing a natural area, plan the road network carefully. Should the road be merely a brush-cleared track, or should it be gravelled or tarred? Material brought in could leach into the soil or increase run-off. If a hand-cleared track is adequate, avoid bulldozing through the landscape and building a surfaced road. A road should be suitable for low- or high-load vehicles, as necessary. It should also be well sited. Use the landscape as a guide and take advantage of the topography; avoid working against it. This will reduce the usual road problems such as erosion. A road can affect wildlife by fragmenting the habitat and disrupting animals’ natural movements. It can even affect animals that live in the soil. For example, subterranean and burrowing animals such as blind snakes…

In a previous column, I was critical of farmers who didn’t make the effort to grade their potatoes properly. The fact of the matter is that this criticism applies to any fresh produce offered for sale. Farmers need to appreciate the key role that grading plays on the market floor. FIRST IMPRESSIONS REALLY COUNT Consumers buy fruit and vegetables with their eyes. In other words, if it looks good and tempting, they will buy it; if not, they won’t. Any successful trader in fresh produce understands this well. But if this factor alone is not enough of a reason for farmers to grade their produce properly, here are some other important considerations: • Buyers don’t all buy the same things; they each have different requirements. Properly graded produce provides them…

ENDURANCE by Scott Kelly (Doubleday, R195) Astronaut recruitment and training ensures that only those who can take the mental and physical strain of the job end up in space. But that doesn’t stop us wondering, ‘How do they do it?’ Kelly spent a record-breaking year on the International Space Station. His experiences suggest that space explorers on super-long flights such as those proposed to Mars will face considerable challenges. Alongside the technical drills and duties are the everyday events and emotions, such as feeling homesick, Friday-night potluck dinners with fellow Russian or German astronauts, and trying not to worry about gravity changes deforming your eyeballs. JUST EAT IT by Laura Thomas (Bluebird, R295) Over the past decade or more, food producers have often been bewildered by…

To make macaroni and cheese for six diners, you will need: FOR THE PASTA: 250g of macaroni 15g of butter 50g of breadcrumbs 30g of butter Pinch of salt Ultra-thin medallions of chorizo sausage FOR THE SAUCE: 60g of butter 50g plain flour 750ml milk 200g grated Cheddar cheese 100g grated Parmesan cheese ½ teaspoon of salt 1 tablespoon each of fresh chopped parsley and basil 1 Bring a 4l saucepan of lightly salted water up to a rolling boil, then add the raw macaroni for as long as it suggests on the package. Drain the pasta in a colander, return it to the now empty saucepan and gently mix with a tablespoon of butter. Fit the lid and put aside. 2 Make the breadcrumbs by macerating a couple of…