An agreement that pushes the boundaries in terms of research and innovation.
This was how Mr Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape, referred to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Stellenbosch University (SU) on Monday (24 August 2015). Winde attended the event on SU's main campus where Miss Joyene Isaacs, Head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation at SU, signed the MOA on behalf of the two parties.
The agreement formalises the existing relationship between the Department of Agriculture and SU and will boost research and capacity building to the benefit of both.
Highlighting the importance of the MOA, Winde said "collaborative approaches on agriculture will be key in helping us deal with the challenges humanity face in the foreseeable future."
"It is through innovation and skills that we remain competitive in the world and take our economy forward."
Winde pointed out that SU is creating the enabling environment for research, skills and innovation that will take the Department and the Western Cape government to next level.
"We must work together with Stellenbosch University to show entrepreneurs and business people what opportunities there are in the province in terms of agriculture."
"If we can share those spaces together, we will create a better platform of opportunity for people living in this province and people wanting to come to this province," added Winde.
Echoing Winde's sentiments regarding the MOA, Prof Eugene Cloete said "many good things will come out of this partnership especially in terms of building capacity and exchanging expertise."
Cloete added that agriculture is extremely important for SU and that the institution wants to cement its relationship with the Department of Agriculture.
- Contact Michael John Freeborough at mfree@sun.ac.za or Maryke Hunter-Hüsselman at mh3@sun.ac.za for more information on the MOA.
Photo: Back Ms Bongawisa Matoti, Director: Agricultural Economic Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture; and Mr Alan Winde. Front Dr Ilse Trautmann, Research and Technology Development Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture; Prof Eugene Cloete; Ms Joyene Isaacs; and Prof Danie Brink, Acting-Dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences at SU.
Photographer: Stefan Els
