Werner van Niekerk (Macadamia Nursery Association Committee Chairperson) and Dr Elrea Strydom (SAMAC)
Seedling Growers Association of South Africa (SGASA) macadamia audit standard
The Seedling Growers Association of South Africa’s macadamia audit standard is the preferred accreditation within the South African macadamia industry and is endorsed by SAMAC. In addition to traditional elements such as administration, health and safety, and compliance, this macadamia audit standard places a strong emphasis on plant quality. This comprehensive standard covers good nursery practices, pest and disease management, plant quality, and the traceability of graft material.
Continuous improvement
SGASA regularly updates the macadamia audit guidelines based on recommendations from the Macadamia Nursery Association Committee and SAMAC R&D structures. This ensures that the macadamia audit standard, and thus the quality of trees produced by SGASA-accredited nurseries continuously improves. Over the last three years improvements regarding Phytophthora and Pythium monitoring, prevention and test laboratory credibility were made. A Macadamia Tree Standard and a Plant Quality Index was added, and certain legal requirements were removed. The incorporation of traceability and yield performance data for mother blocks and recognition of other certification standards such as SIZA to prevent audit duplication further constituted significant improvements to the standard.
Macadamia felted coccid inspections
All SGASA-accredited macadamia nurseries and their corresponding mother blocks are subject to macadamia felted coccid inspections. These nurseries – independent of their geographical location are inspected for the macadamia felted coccid three times annually, of which one is unannounced. Orchards from where graft wood is acquired are also inspected twice annually before the grafting seasons in autumn and spring. The inspections are performed by Cropwatch Africa, who supplies nurseries and growers (in the case of orchards where graft wood is sourced) with an inspection report stating that the site was found macadamia felted coccid-free. These documents are included in the SGASA Macadamia Plant Material Traceability Record. SGASA, SAMAC and Cropwatch Africa have been instrumental in physically examining all propagated trees from these accredited nurseries as well as in-house traceability protocols. In the long-term, we hope these measures will slow down the spread of the macadamia felted coccid.
ISO 9001 Accreditation
The ISO 9001 standard specifies requirements for quality management systems, and specifically continuously providing services that meet stakeholder and regulatory requirements. As part of their continuous drive towards excellence, SGASA is currently working on its ISO 9001 accreditation, which should be completed by the end of 2024.ISO 9001’s focus on improved performance and customer management practices will improve the credibility of SGASA certification locally and internationally.
SGASA hosts an annual technical symposium where nursery stakeholders can learn, are exposed to new ideas can collaborate and network.