By Isabeau Media (Inteligro)
“Genetics need to deliver when conditions are favourable, but they also need to perform when the season becomes more challenging,” says Gerrie Ludick, Technical Marketing Specialist and row crop expert at InteliGro, who will attend his 46th NAMPO this year.
As growers plan for another season shaped by uncertainty – from unpredictable weather patterns and climate pressure to rising input costs and ongoing market volatility – the emphasis is increasingly shifting towards yield stability and practical risk management.
This thinking underpins InteliGro’s presence at NAMPO Harvest Day 2026, from 12 to 15 May in Bothaville, where the company is presenting an interactive maze experience that takes growers step by step through an integrated approach to crop production – from the soil to the roots and ultimately the plant.
According to Janet Lawless, Marketing Manager at InteliGro, this year’s NAMPO theme, “Resilience through Innovation”, speaks directly to the realities growers are currently facing.
RESILIENCE STARTS BELOW THE SURFACE
“Our focus this year is to showcase our genetics,” says Lawless. “We’re exhibiting two Avanta sorghum cultivars, Croplan® white maize and Insun sunflower. NAMPO gives us the ideal platform to introduce growers to this material in a practical way – to come and see it in the field, ask questions and experience the difference for themselves.”
A key development this season is the local introduction of the Croplan® white maize hybrid, following multiple seasons of evaluation under South African production conditions. The cultivar has been tested across trial sites and commercial farms to assess performance under variable environments, forming part of a broader strategy to align international genetics with local agronomic insight and field-generated data.
But genetics are only part of the story, says Lawless.
“We’re not just bringing new cultivars to market; we walk the entire crop journey with the grower. The maze experience demonstrates what an integrated approach looks like in practice – from soil fertility and root development to plant performance and yield stability.”
According to Lawless, resilience quite literally starts beneath the surface.
“When soil fertility is managed correctly – chemically, physically and biologically – it creates the foundation for strong root development, improved nutrient uptake and ultimately better plant performance. That’s where sustainable production starts.”
MANAGING RISK IN AN UNCERTAIN 2026 SEASON
Ludick says South African growers currently find themselves in a unique position: good harvests in many parts of the country, but at the same time considerable uncertainty around the next production season.
“We can be thankful for good yields, but challenges such as climate variability, erratic rainfall, input costs and market pressure remain major concerns,” he says. “Resilience means looking back at the past season and asking: What worked? What didn’t? And how do we manage things better going forward? Innovation should ultimately bring greater stability and better decision-making for the grower.”
According to Ludick, growers increasingly need to think in a more integrated way.
“We need to consider all three pillars – the soil, the roots and the plant – when developing solutions and making recommendations.”
He says genetics play a key role in yield stability. “With our Croplan® white maize, the focus is not only on top-end yields, but on stable performance when conditions change.”
Ludick also emphasises the need for practical adaptations to changing weather patterns such as El Niño. “In a season like this, for example, we recommend biological products and biostimulants to support root development and improve plant resilience. Soil remains one of the biggest stabilising factors available to growers.”
He also refers to a warning by agricultural economist Prof. Johan Willemse that growers should avoid rushed planting decisions when markets are under pressure. “It is exactly in times like these that good data, sound advice and integrated decision-making become critical.”
PRACTICAL DATA AND INSIGHTS FROM THE FIELD
Innovation also plays a central role in modern risk management, says Lawless.
“Through our data-driven projects such as our InField initiatives, we generate practical insights that help growers make better-informed decisions – decisions that improve yield, quality and ultimately profitability.”
According to Lawless, the aim is not only to unlock genetic potential, but to protect it throughout the season.
“For example, we test genetics alongside specific seed treatments and biostimulants to determine which combinations deliver the best results under certain conditions. In this way, we are building a database of practical knowledge for growers.”
Lawless highlights the distinction from the traditional model where the focus is mainly on pre-season marketing.
“We walk the entire production process with the grower. Especially in dryland row crops, growers need to adapt continuously, manage risk and make smarter decisions. Effective water use, plant resilience and data-driven management are becoming increasingly important.”
NAMPO REMAINS A PLATFORM FOR RELATIONSHIPS AND INNOVATION
For both Lawless and Ludick, one of NAMPO’s greatest strengths remains the relationships built there.
“NAMPO is not only about technology and products – it is about people,” says Lawless. “That is why we are also involved at the Steakhouse, where we help create a space for conversations, networking and connection.”
“I’ve attended NAMPO for 46 years now – and only missed one,” says Ludick. “That personal contact and relationship-building remain invaluable. It is often where conversations begin that later lead to collaboration and new solutions.”
Source: Novus Group – Press Bulletin
