The 3Ps (Profit, Planet, and People) of sustainability amidst climate change : a South African grape and wine perspective
Date
2021-03-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Conventional agriculture has made the search for sustainability urgent, more so with regards to climate change. This has extended to the grape and wine industry, an important industry in South Africa in terms of labor employment and foreign exchange. This paper aims to review the current state of knowledge with regards to the three pillars of sustainability and with regards to climate change. In order to understand sustainability in South Africa, a historical context is needed, because the welfare of farm workers still retains vestiges of past Apartheid. Ecological responsibility and higher profits are the main reasons for sustainable practices. Additionally, water use, chemical use, and soil erosion are important environmental sustainability concerns. With regards to climate change, in terms of economic sustainability, there will be winners and losers and social sustainability issues will intensify as changes occur in farms. Table grape producers are relatively more profitable than wine grape producers. Furthermore, pest, disease, irrigation pressure will worsen as the climate warms. However, there are long- and short-term adaptation strategies such as changes in viticulture practices and grape cultivars, respectively, to stem the effects of climate change, but this may be stymied by cost and farmers’ perceptions of climate change.
Description
CITATION: Gbejewoh, O., Keesstra, S. & Blancquaert, E. 2021. The 3Ps (Profit, Planet, and People) of sustainability amidst climate change : a South African grape and wine perspective. Sustainability, 13(5):2910, doi:10.3390/su13052910.
The original publication is available at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
The original publication is available at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
Keywords
Sustainability, Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa, Wine industry -- Economic aspects -- South Africa, Grape industry -- Economic aspects -- South Africa, Economic sustainability, Grapes -- Effect of climatic changes on
Citation
Gbejewoh, O., Keesstra, S. & Blancquaert, E. 2021. The 3Ps (Profit, Planet, and People) of sustainability amidst climate change : a South African grape and wine perspective. Sustainability, 13(5):2910, doi:10.3390/su13052910