SATI Beyond The Bunch 3rd Quarter 2026

Quarter 3

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FOCUS ON: Carbon footprinting

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Measure. Unde Turn carbon data into practical insight.

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A SATI PUBLICATION

About Beyond the Bunch This quarterly publication aims to serve as a science-based resource for the South African table-grape industry. Each edition explores a topic or questions raised by industry, with links to related additional reading. Submit your topic or questions Producers and industry stakeholders are encouraged to suggest scientific or technical questions or topics of interest. We will strive to address as many of these as possible.

Email tarryn@satgi.co.za to submit your request.

Content disclaimer SATI does not take responsibility for

accuracy or validity of information supplied by advertisers. Views expressed are those of the partner and may not reflect our organisation’s views. Contact tarryn@satgi.co.za to feature your brand.

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erstand. Improve.

www.climatefruitandwine.co.za

DEWALD KIRSTEN | LUCENTLANDS

CARBON CALCULATIONS

Why and how should table-grape growers track their greenhouse gas emissions? BY ANNA MOUTON

BEYOND THE BUNCH • 4 • QUARTER 3 • 2026

Many consumers no longer assess table grapes on appearance and taste alone. They also want to purchase food that is ethically and sustainably grown. As consumers become more carbon-aware, retailers have started asking suppliers about their carbon footprints, and third-party certificates increasingly assess greenhouse-gas emissions. However, retailers are not only motivated by consumer interest, and retailers are not the only reason growers should be calculating their carbon footprints. By tracking their emissions, growers can position themselves to respond to an evolving local and international regulatory environment.

Europe leads the way

The European Union aims to achieve net zero by 2050, and it is gradually reforming its regulations to encourage individuals and businesses to adopt more climate-friendly practices. These regulations might not apply directly to South African growers. Still, growers will have to align with European climate ambitions if they want to continue supplying European markets, which absorbed about two-thirds of South African table-grape exports in 2025–2026. Retailers and regulators Since 2022, the European Commission has been gradually implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which obligates large European companies to report their climate and environmental impacts. The CSRD reporting threshold was revised in December 2025, and it now applies only to companies with more than 1 000 employees and over EUR450 million in net annual turnover. Even if companies are

headquartered elsewhere, they are subject to the CSRD if their subsidiaries in the European Union have an annual turnover over EUR200 million. Although the new threshold exempts most businesses, it still applies to the majority of the retailers buying significant volumes of South African table grapes. The CSRD exposes retailers to consumer scrutiny and influences investors, particularly as European investment managers must disclose the sustainability profiles of investment funds under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. Under the CSRD, retailers must report on scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3 emissions. Scope 1 emissions are the retailers’ direct emissions (for example, from their own vehicles). Scope 2 emissions are the indirect emissions from purchased energy (electricity and gas). Scope 3 emissions are the indirect emissions from their value chains (for example, table-grape growers).

Read more about emission types on the SIZA website.

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The European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive obligates large European companies to report their climate and environmental impacts.

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These issues, which apply beyond agriculture, have prompted the development of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The CBAM aims to create parity between carbon-related costs for domestic and imported products. It currently only applies to iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity, and hydrogen. Other countries are likely to follow the CBAM model. The United Kingdom will implement a CBAM from 2027, covering broadly similar imports and excluding agricultural products, while Australia, Canada, and Japan are considering CBAMs. Commentators have mixed views on whether the European CBAM will be extended to agriculture and, if so, when. However, the CBAM’s size will depend on South Africa’s carbon taxes. If a product is subject to equal carbon taxes whether it is made (or grown) here or in Europe, it will not attract additional taxes under the CBAM.

This implies that a third-party certificate alone will no longer be sufficient to meet retailers’ requirements. They need real emission data from their suppliers. Furthermore, while measuring and documenting emissions is a good start, the ultimate goal is reduction. Companies will be expected to set targets and formulate plans to bring down their emissions. Once retailers have trimmed what they can from scope 1 and 2, their only option for further cuts will be scope 3 — their suppliers. Carbon border adjustment mechanisms Europe recognises that trade-offs between profitability and climate change mitigation (as well as other sustainability objectives) could disadvantage their businesses. The European Commission is also concerned about carbon leakage, in which carbon emitters relocate to less-regulated countries.

DEWALD KIRSTEN | LUCENTLANDS

Consumers want to purchase food that is ethically and sustainably grown. A carbon footprint is one way that growers can demonstrate this.

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The South African situation

The Carbon Tax Act At the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, South Africa committed to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 42% by 2025. The Carbon Tax Act (Act 15 of 2019) was introduced to help achieve this goal. South Africa’s emissions peaked around the time of the Copenhagen summit. They had dropped by nearly 20% by 2022, partly due to the unreliable electricity supply and poor economic performance. However, the Carbon Tax Act and substantial investment in renewable energy have since kicked in, and emissions continue to decline. Implementation of the Carbon Tax Act has been slow, and our rate is lower than most other carbon taxes or carbon markets. It is also lower than the World Bank’s recommended rate needed to limit global warming. Agriculture appears set to enjoy exemption from carbon tax until at least 2035. However, the exemption isn’t permanent, and, as discussed above, agriculture may become subject to CBAMs, which would negate any carbon-tax savings within South Africa. Therefore, growers would do well to start tracking their emissions, so they have the data they need once carbon taxes come into effect. Sectoral emission targets South Africa is a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agree ment, an international treaty adopted at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference. This agreement aims to limit global warming through emission reductions, and signatories are legally bound to set reduction targets. As a result, South Africa promulgated a Climate Change Act (Act 22 of 2024) in 2025. Among other provisions, the Act empowers the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to set sector-specific emission targets that allow South Africa to meet its international commitments. Sectoral emission targets are the basis of carbon budgets. Sectors must determine their greenhouse gas emissions and compare these to their budgets. If they are in the red, they must submit a mitigation plan to the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The Ministry will revise the emission targets every five years. Agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions represent roughly 10% of South Africa’s total. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

is responsible for developing agricultural emission targets and implementing policies and measures to meet them. The Department published preliminary targets in 2024 and is currently revising these based on stakeholder inputs. Once the Department has targets, it must share the carbon budget among the various agricultural commodities. From there, the Department will probably leave balancing these budgets to industry organisations such as SATI. Within the agricultural sector, livestock generates more than two-thirds of emissions. The other third is mostly from soil disturbance, fertiliser applications, and fuel use. In future, the table-grape industry will need to find ways to reduce emissions from these three sources. Mandatory carbon accounting From January 2026, carbon-intensive companies (for example, coal mining, oil and gas production, electricity generation, cement and glass production, and food and beverage manufacturing) must comply with the Draft National Greenhouse Gas Carbon Budget and Mitigation Plan Regulations. These Regulations support the implementation of the Climate Change Act (Act 22 of 2024). For now, they apply to companies that emit greenhouse gases equivalent to more than 30 000 tonnes of CO 2 annually. These are typically medium- to large manufacturers or logistics companies. Under the regulations, companies must submit and implement mitigation plans. They must report progress yearly and may face higher carbon-tax rates, fines, or other penalties for non-compliance. As with the European CSRD, the Draft National Greenhouse Gas Carbon Budget and Mitigation Plan Regulations are unlikely to affect table-grape growers directly in the short term. However, they may have indirect impacts, such as data requests from local retailers or cost increases from local suppliers. The Draft Regulations also show that the South African government takes climate change seriously and expects businesses to do the same.

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DEWALD KIRSTEN | LUCENTLANDS

A THREE-STEP PLAN FOR GROWERS

South African table grape growers already implement climate friendly practices such as protective netting.

1 ONE

2 TWO

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THREE

1. Track your emissions Carbon footprints are built from data. Although growers can start with 12 months of data , they will need data collected over at least three years to average out seasonal variation and identify areas for improvement. For example, a grower might use more electricity for irrigation or less fuel for spray applications in some years than others. The data are fed into a carbon calculator. Growers who are registered with SIZA can enter their data into SIZATrack360 (formerly the SIZA Digital Recordkeeping Programme). They can

Globally and locally, climate change policies are giving rise to regulations, and businesses must measure, report, and, in some cases, pay taxes on their emissions. Large companies, including the major retailers, also experience consumer and investor pressure. Tracking, publishing, and reducing emissions helps them manage reputational risk and meet reporting requirements. As a result, they are asking suppliers for their carbon footprints. So, how can growers protect their markets? Fortunately, the South African agricultural sector has access to a wealth of tools to support their transition to lower carbon.

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then choose to have their data automatically exported to the third-party carbon calculator of their choice (currently, either Confronting Climate Change or AgrigateOne). Alternatively, growers can access these and other carbon calculators directly. However, keep in mind that not all carbon calculators are created equal. Firstly, carbon calculators use conversion factors to estimate emissions from various inputs, such as electricity. These emission factors are country specific, so South African growers need a carbon calculator that uses South African emission factors. Secondly, reputable and accurate carbon calculators are based on recognised international standards. SIZA checks that the calculators linked to their platform meet these standards, but not all online calculators do. If a grower uses an unreliable calculator, retailers and regulators may question the results. Lastly, some platforms offer growers extensive support, ranging from regular training sessions to one-on-one assistance. Calculating a carbon footprint might seem daunting, but help is on hand to walk growers through the process. 2. Apply your results A good carbon footprint tool doesn’t spit out a single number. It provides an emissions breakdown, allows benchmarking by commodity and region, and highlights hotspots. For example, the calculator might reveal that a farm uses much more electricity or fuel per unit of table grapes produced than the regional average. Once growers know their emissions profile, they may be able to identify obvious areas for improvement and act on them immediately . They can also develop longer-term reduction plans or enlist professional assistance to draft goals. Organisations can use a methodology from the Science Based Targets initiative to set goals and measure progress toward mitigating climate change. Science Based Targets is a global climate organisation that publishes internationally accepted methodologies and standards. Science Based Targets is complex and usually involves contracting a consultant to get started.

However, large retailers tend to have Science Based Targets, and the wine industry has already seen instances of retailers demanding the same from their suppliers. For now, the main shift in retailer requirements seems to be away from wanting a certificate to wanting the data behind it. This is partly to protect their brands, and partly to comply with reporting or other regulations. Understandably, growers may feel dismayed by the prospect of more paperwork, but they should keep in mind that all emissions originate in inputs, and all inputs cost money. Therefore, cutting emissions tends to save money . For example, cover crops take a few years to yield benefits, but reduce fertiliser, herbicide, and fuel costs (as well as emissions) in the long term. friendly practices, such as cover cropping, drip irrigation, shade netting, or even planting windbreaks. Yet they don’t take credit for these achievements – they don’t even recognise that their farming methods are achievements! One advantage of carbon calculators is that growers can showcase their climate-friendly interventions to consumers, retailers, and everyone else. Building emission data over several years, setting and meeting goals, and demonstrating improvements is good for the table-grape industry’s competitiveness as well as for the planet. It’s worth adding that greenhouse-gas emissions are just one piece of the sustainability puzzle. Oftentimes, activities that promote another aspect of sustainability are also climate-friendly. For example, improving soil organic carbon benefits soil and grapevines, lowers fertiliser and water use (thereby reducing emissions), and removes carbon from the atmosphere. Whenever growers face even more regulations and reporting requirements, it can be easy to feel discouraged and view sustainability as a burden. But the most successful growers remember the true meaning of sustainability. For them, a carbon footprint is an opportunity to up their game while simultaneously creating a better world for generations to come. Now they should also share their success stories with other growers and the public. 3. Share your success Many South African table-grape growers already implement multiple climate

BEYOND THE BUNCH • 9 • QUARTER 3 • 2026

TURNING CARBON DATA INTO PRACTICAL INSIGHT

Carbon footprinting is increasingly becoming an important component of sustainability management. Its greatest value lies not only in quantifying emissions, but in using carbon data to identify emission hotspots, prioritise reduction opportunities, and support more informed decision-making.

expectations around carbon reporting, CCC has evolved into a valuable source of emissions data, benchmarking insights, and strategic information for producers and industry stakeholders. Its continued industry relevance is supported through collaboration with key sector bodies, including SATI, which is a key partner of CCC.

The principle is simple: you cannot manage what you do not measure. Through participation in Confronting Climate Change (CCC), the South African table-grape industry has been building a robust carbon footprint dataset for 14 years. Initially established to help the fruit and wine industries respond proactively to growing market

BEYOND THE BUNCH • 10 • QUARTER 3 • 2026

ADVERTORIAL

More than a carbon footprint A CCC Product Carbon Footprint report gives producers insight into total emissions, emissions by source and scope, key hot spots, and consumption benchmarks. Many of the largest emissions sources in agricultural operations – including electrici ty, refrigeration, fertiliser, and fuel – are also significant operational costs. Understand ing where these hotspots occur can there fore help producers improve efficiency, prioritise interventions, and potentially reduce costs. Benchmarking adds another layer of value. CCC enables producers to compare in dicators such as electricity and diesel consumption against relevant commodity- and region-specific benchmark values, providing useful context for their own per formance. CCC benchmarking is built from graded datasets, using reviewed producer data to strengthen industry-level benchmarks and improve the reliability of sector insights. The most valuable benchmark, however, is often your own performance over time. Completing a carbon footprint annual ly allows producers to track progress, as sess whether interventions are having an impact, and identify areas for further improvement.

Support throughout the process A CCC licence is more than access to an online calculator. For R3 130 (excluding VAT) per licence, producers can include relevant farm, packhouse, cold store, and distribution boundaries. The licence includes access to the CCC support team, guidance on data requirements, and a rigorous sense-check and data review process to support credible and consistent carbon data. Once finalised, producers receive a detailed product carbon footprint report and relevant benchmarks. CCC participants can also gain recognition (at no extra cost) through the Carbon Heroes platform, which celebrates agri-businesses going the extra mile on their sustainability journeys. It provides a transparent space to showcase progress and achievements, with digital awards and personalised QR-linked profiles that help build visibility, trust, and recognition. Producers using SIZA’s online record-keeping system can transfer relevant data into CCC through the existing API integration, reducing duplicate data capture and saving time. Blue North also offers carbon training through out the year, including free Light Carbon Work shops, as well as paid competency-based Full Carbon Workshops and the broader Agri- Carbon Crash Course.

SATI

From measurement to action

Calculating a footprint is the starting point.

As markets increasingly expect transparency and measurable sustainability performance, carbon data is becoming more than an environmental metric. It is a practical business tool that can support efficiency, demonstrate progress, strengthen industry credibility, and contribute to the long-term competitiveness and resilience of the South African table-grape sector.

With several years of CCC data, producers can identify trends and use that information to support

more targeted carbon-reduction plans. Blue North can also assist with visual insights reports, Corporate Carbon Footprints, Life Cycle Assessments and broader carbon-management support.

Start by knowing where you stand. Visit the Confronting Climate Change website to calculate your product carbon footprint.

BEYOND THE BUNCH • 11 • QUARTER 3 • 2026

FURTHER READING

l Climate change mitigation is one of the cornerstones of the SIZA Environmental Standard, and growers can use the SIZATrack360 platform to capture, manage, and share their emission data. SIZATrack360 also links to the carbon calculators offered by Confronting Climate Change and AgrigateOne. l Confronting Climate Change was born out of consumer concerns about food miles. Read more about this ground breaking collaboration, which included SATI and other fruit-industry bodies, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, and implementation consultancy Blue North. Or go straight to the source at the Confronting Climate Change website. l The December 2023 issue of Hortgro Science’s Fresh Quarterly magazine has several articles about climate change. The December 2025 issue has an article about carbon bookkeeping that explains the difference between corporate and product carbon footprints. l Are you confused about the difference between greenhouse gases and CO 2 -equivalents? Or carbon fixation and sequestration? Read this Fresh Quarterly article on carbon jargon. l For down-to-earth climate change mitigation, learn more about conservation agriculture (in Afrikaans) in Beyond the Bunch 2024 Q1, overhead plastic in Beyond the Bunch 2024 Q2, and precision irrigation and nutrition in Beyond the Bunch 2026 Q1.

This list isn’t complete. We recognise that other resources may be available.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to the following persons for contributing the information in this newsletter: l Larissa Abrahão. Environmental, Social, and Governance Group Director at the AMFRESH Group. l Anél Blignaut. Commercial Director at Blue North. l Annelize Crosby. Head of Legal Intelligence at AgBiz. l Roland Frölich. Head of Agronomy at the AMFRESH Group. l De Waal Hugo. Carbon Footprint and Life Cycle Assessment Consultant at Blue North. l Axelle Rupert. EU Policy and Regulations Expert at COLEAD. l Werner van Dyk. COO of SIZA.

CONTACT US FOR CONTENT ENQUIRIES: Submit your topic or question. tarryn@satgi.co.za

CONTACT US FOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES: Feature your brand. tarryn@satgi.co.za

BEYOND THE BUNCH • 12 • QUARTER 3 • 2026

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Beyond the Bunch editions are published quarterly as follows: March, June, September and December

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A SATI PUBLICATION

About Beyond the Bunch This quarterly publication aims to serve as a science-based resource for the South African table grape industry. Each edition will feature an article exploring a topic or questions raised by industry, with links to related additional reading. Submit your topic or questions Producers and industry stakeholders are encouraged to suggest scientific or technical questions or topics of interest. We will strive to address as many of these as possible. Feature your brand SATI invites interested businesses and organisations to sponsor this publication. Sponsorship includes a banner and full page advert in the applicable edition. An advertorial option is available. Contact denene@satgi.co.za to feature your brand. Email tarryn@satgi.co.za to submit your request.

FULL PAGE ADVERT 210 mm wide x 297 mm high (indicated as light grey colour). Please supply final CMYK PDF, no crop marks, no bleed.

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BERLIN, 2025 5-7 FEBRUARY GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BANNER ADVERT 420 mm wide x 55 mm high (indicated as light grey colour). Please supply final CMYK PDF, no crop marks, no bleed.

Rates per edition as follows: RATES AND DISTRIBUTION

Advertising only: R7 500 per edition (includes banner advert on inside front cover & full page advert on inside back cover). Advertorial: R12 500 (includes both the above advertising opportunities and a relevant industry article written by the advertiser).

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There is an option to book space in more than one edition at a time – a package rate can be offered depending on the request. Enquiries: tarryn@satgi.co.za

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BEYOND THE BUNCH • 13 • QUARTER 3 • 2026

More than a carbon footprint. A CCC licence gives table grape producers the tool, support and quality-checked data to measure, understand and manage their emissions.

R3 130

excl. VAT per SA licence

Included in a CCC licence cost:

1

2

4

5

3

Measure

Review Understand Support

Act

Receive a detailed Product Carbon Footprint report, with hotspots and commodity and region-specific benchmarks.

Track performance over time and use your data to support

Guidance on data requirements, workshops and direct support throughout the process.

Annual licence per dataset covering farm, packhouse, cold store and distribution boundaries.

Rigorous sense checking and data review support credible, consistent carbon data

reduction planning.

Recognise your business through Carbon Heroes - included with your CCC licence at no additional cost. Share your PCF report to qualify for a Bronze Carbon badge, providing credible recognition of your commitment to transparent carbon reporting.

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www.climatefruitandwine.co.za support@bluenorth.co.za +27 63 688 5593

Start by knowing where you stand.

BEYOND THE BUNCH • 14 • QUARTER 3 • 2026