Browsing by Author "Barr, Alison"

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    An analysis of the factors impacting the competitive performance of the South African wine industry value chain
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Barr, Alison; Van Rooyen, C. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : The purpose of this study was to analyse the competitive performance of the South African wine industry and to compare the findings with the results obtained from similar previous studies in 2006 and 2011. The study followed the comprehensive Vollrath-Porter approach, following a five-step analytical method. Due to the sustained export orientation of the South African wine industry, the trade-based relative trade advantage (RTA) measure (Vollrath) and industry opinions through Porter’s competitive diamond were used to measure competitive performance. This study defined competitiveness as “the ability of the South African wine industry to sustain or grow business through trade for South African wine amidst a changing agricultural, political, social, environmental, governance, and production landscape and an unpredictable exchange rate, while consistently earning at least the opportunity cost of resources employed.” The annual competitive performance of the South African wine industry was calculated using the RTA formula and the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) datasets. The competitive performance of the industry from 2001 could be divided into two clear phases: Phase 1: Fluctuating and increasing competitive performances (2001-2009); and Phase 2: Fluctuating and decreasing competitive performances (2010-2017) Despite being in a state of declining competitive performance, the South African wine industry remains competitive across the entire global arena. The average RTA for 2001-2017 was 5.83, with a peak of 7.15 in 2009 and a lowest point of 3.75 in 2012. Industry insight and opinions into key influencing factors were collected through a two-stage Delphi process. In stage one, a Wine Executive Survey (WES) involved rating 121 factors as either enhancing or constraining competitive performance, rated on a Likert scale with 1 (constraining) and 5 (enhancing). The purpose of the WES was to establish an opinion benchmark for comparison with the empirical RTA measurement; and also to compare the current situation with the 2005 and 2008 WES results. The 2018 WES results – when analysed at value chain cluster level – revealed a high level of alignment between the clusters, which indicated a well-informed value chain. The survey also obtained opinions from different points in the wine industry value chain, from two clusters viz. agribusiness (including wine grape producers and agri-support services); and wine business (including cellars, intermediaries and wine trade). The baseline results from the Wine Executive Surveys in 2005 and 2008 showed that the competitive space decreased substantially from 2005 to 2008. However, the results from the 2018 WES reveal that this competitive space has expanded again, recovering almost to its position in 2005. The 121 rated factors were grouped into the Porter Competitive Diamond – a six-determinant model which included ‘production factors’, ‘demand factors’, ‘firm structure, strategy and rivalry’, ‘related and supporting industries’, ‘government factors’ and ‘chance factors’. The ‘firm strategy, structure and rivalry’ determinant received the highest overall determinant rating of 3.53/5 or 70.6% as most enhancing while ‘government factors’ received the lowest average rating of 2.19/5 or 43.8% as most constraining. These results were confirmed in a priority rating of the six determinants during the focus group session of the second phase Delphi. The most enhancing factors across all Porter determinants were ‘the competitiveness drive of the South African product market’ – rated at 4.59/5 or 91.8% ̶ followed by the ‘importance of well-developed infrastructure’ (4.52/5 or 90.4%) while the two most constraining factors were ‘government consultation and interactions’ (1.17/5 or 23.4%) and ‘government financial support’ (1.24/5 or 24.8%). From an assessment across the value chain, bulk wine is the most competitive category, followed by bottled wine. The least competitive category was ‘spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc’, which was rated as uncompetitive. The prevalence of a socio-economic theme was observed in some of the most constraining factors across all the Porter determinants. This resulted in a proposal that the Porter Competitive Diamond be expanded to accommodate a seventh ‘socio-economic’ determinant in order to highlight the impact of socio-economic/political transformation factors on the competitive space in the emerging South African environment. This new determinant, grouped from socio economic/political factors identified in the study, highlighted the overall constraining impact of these factors on competitive performance. The most enhancing factor was ‘obtaining unskilled labour’ and the most constraining was ‘crime perceptions’. The addition of such a new determinant to the Porter Competitive Diamond needs to be explored further but mirrors Michael Porter’s own view that economic objectives need to complement social objectives in a developing country environment (2007). Other aspects that need to be considered through future research include a refined process for identifying relevant factors, as well as linking these factors with the progress reported in existing socio-economic/political transformation interventions. This will improve the application of the Porter-Vollrath approach to improve the analysis of competitiveness in the South African agri-food business environment. The results from this study were drafted into a set of strategic findings and recommendations that propose to address the most prevalent and achievable constraining influences on competitive performance. A key area for consideration by the industry is the negative association with government-related factors. The crux of the recommended approach is to re-engage with government in a collaborative approach to transformation while protecting the impact of factors that enhance competitive performance. Important key strategic areas for enhancing competitive performance include access to water, short-term finance solutions and a branded bulk wine packaging format.
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    Assessment of microbial loads of the Plankenburg and Berg Rivers and the survival of escherichia coli on raw vegetables under laboratory conditions
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-12) Barr, Alison; Ackermann, Alison; Britz, T. J.; Sigge, G. O.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Food Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the last decade, studies on the quality of the water in many of South Africa.s rivers revealed an increase in pollution levels (DWAF, 1996; DWAF, 2000). In agricultural areas of the Western Cape many farmers draw water for irrigation from nearby rivers without knowing what the microbial pollution level is. In order to investigate the current quality of river water in some of the Western Cape.s major rivers and to explore the possibility of pathogen carryover from water onto produce, this research project was initiated. In an exploratory study over a five month period, the microbiological and water chemistry of three selected sites from the upper Berg and two from the Plankenbrug Rivers were assessed. Studied organisms included Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Listeria, endosporeformers, coliforms, Escherichia coli and intestinal Enterococci, while the chemical analysis consisted of pH, alkalinity, conductivity and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Faecal coliform counts ranging from 540 to 1 700 000 cfu.100ml-1 and 490 to 160 000 cfu.100ml-1 were found for the Berg and Plankenbrug Rivers, respectively. The water temperature ranged from 12º to 21ºC with COD values always below 100 mg.L-1. Potential human pathogens such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Listeria, endosporeformers, E. coli and intestinal Enterococci were frequently isolated from all five sites that were sampled. These results are of great concern to farmers, fresh produce retailers and consumers alike as the river water is regularly drawn for irrigation of produce that is later consumed raw or after a minimal processing step. From the exploratory study it was concluded that the water from all the sites were not suitable for use in irrigation practices as they regularly exceeded the guidelines for faecal coliforms and E.coli as set out by South African authorities. Irrigation with faecally polluted river water is one way that fruit and vegetables can become contaminated with foodborne pathogens. The risk of disease transmission from potential pathogens present in the irrigation water is influenced by the microbial load present and the numbers carried over to the produce. In this study the carry-over and survival of Escherichia coli on green beans, sugar-snap peas and cocktail tomatoes was assessed under controlled laboratory conditions. The produce was exposed to E.coli under different combinations of exposure times (5, 15 or 30 min), drying times (30 or 120 min) and different inoculum concentration ranges (107, 105, 104, 10³ and 10ª). In all cases a reduction of at least one log value in original inoculum number was found with the 10ª inoculums showing no survivors. Follow-up studies with an exposure time of 60 min and increased drying times of 6 or 12 h. Neither of these parameter changes affected the variation in numbers for the same inoculum or the E.coli survivors. Similar E.coli loads to those detected on the green beans were detected on the sugar-snap peas. The number of survivors on the cocktail tomatoes was much lower than found for the beans and peas. The number of survivors on the cocktail tomatoes was much lower than found for the beans and peas. This was attributed the 'smooth'surface of the tomato skin probably making attachment of the E.coli bacteria difficult. With the exception of the 10ª inoculum range, all E.coli survivors detected on the three types of produce studied exceeded the guideline numbers set for fresh produce. If similar survival patterns are to be found in the environment then results from this study should serve as a warning that the Plankenburg river water is unsafe for use in the irrigation of fresh produce. Some farmers are already treating river water with chlorine prior to irrigation to eliminate the chance of pathogen transfer onto produce. However, this is not a feasible solution for most farmers due to the high cost of implementing a system such as this.