IMPLICATIONS FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR OF A GREEN ECONOMY TRANSITION IN THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA: A SYSTEM DYNAMICS MODELLING APPROACH TO FOOD CROP PRODUCTION

Authors

  • Jacobus Bosman Smit Van Niekerk Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • A.C. Brent Department of Industrial Engineering, Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University
  • Josephine Kaviti Musango School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University
  • Imke Hanlu De Kock Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/28-1-1611

Keywords:

Green economy, system dynamics, food crops, agriculture Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Abstract

The Western Cape Provincial government in South Africa has introduced a green economy framework, ‘Green is Smart’, to create a more sustainable economy. This framework stipulates plans for the Western Cape Province to implement more sustainable farming practices for food crop production. While sustainable farming practices will have benefits for the environment, they will also impact food crop production and will require financial investments from stakeholders. To comprehend fully the problem at hand, and to understand better the implications of a green economy transition for the food crop production system, system dynamics modelling was undertaken. The model’s findings highlight that sustainable farming practices will only be financially and environmentally viable if they match the yields of conventional farming practices. 

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Published

2017-05-26

How to Cite

Van Niekerk, J. B. S., Brent, A., Musango, J. K., & De Kock, I. H. (2017). IMPLICATIONS FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR OF A GREEN ECONOMY TRANSITION IN THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA: A SYSTEM DYNAMICS MODELLING APPROACH TO FOOD CROP PRODUCTION. The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 28(1), 133–144. https://doi.org/10.7166/28-1-1611

Issue

Section

General Articles