Uniting for a Greener Future.

Metos South Africa, Raisins SA, and PepsiCo SA Collaboration

Weiz, 9.10.2023 – by Metos South Africa and Zietsman van der Walt (PepsiCo)

Raisins SA’s interest in METOS® gave PepsiCo South Africa’s raisin division the opportunity not only to contribute to a good cause but also to give back to the community where it is really needed.

PepsiCo South Africa, a leading food and beverage manufacturer, sources much of its raw materials from the agriculture sector. Without these producers, there would be no business. By partnering with Metos South Africa and industry body Raisins SA, PepsiCo SA is not only contributing to the future success of these farmers, but is also building on its end-to-end transformation strategy, known as PepsiCo Positive, which that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how it creates value and growth.

PepsiCo SA decided to share access to this tool with other producers who can use it. What is this use if one producer can make a change, but not the neighbor? Together, we can make a change in agriculture.

There is no doubt that the climate is changing. A report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that temperatures are approximately 1 °C higher than pre-industrial times and could rise by another 1.5 °C by the early 2030s.

One thing is certain: business can’t continue as usual.

The viticulture industry could face major changes if producers don’t adapt. Although it may not be possible to stop the effects of climate change, we can minimise the risks by farming better. Accurate weather data leads to more informed decisions, like determining the best time for spray applications, minimising risks through disease models, and choosing the best cultivars for geographical locations based on historic weather and terrain data.

Metos South Africa leads data-driven decision making to mitigate climate change risks

Climate change poses an increasing risk to sustainable growth in agriculture as extreme weather events such as floods, heat waves and drought, are occurring more often and increasing in severity. Every farmer needs tools to better understand and monitor external factors that have a direct impact on the success or failure of their business. Monitoring and understanding day-to-day weather and short-term climate variability is one of these external factors, making it vital for farmers to have access to accurate weather data. In an era where data-driven decision making is increasingly important, access to quality weather data will empower farmers to make proactive decisions to minimise losses, optimise resource use, maximise crop yields and strengthen their resiliency against the risks of climate change.

Metos South Africa is the exclusive local distributor of METOS® weather stations in South Africa. They are popular worldwide due to the high-quality hardware, advanced software, and easy data integration into other platforms.

The weather station, the IMT300 USW, installed at Raisins SA is the most advanced METOS® Weather station.

The IMT300-USW can measure:

  • Temperature
  • Relative Humidity
  • Rainfall
  • Wind Speed
  • Solar Radiation
  • Leaf Wetness

The data is logged hourly and is available on the FieldClimate web platform or mobile app. FieldClimate is the first platform (introduced in 2005) not only to provide weather data but taking weather data from the weather station and analysing it to provide insights.

iMETOS 3.3 header

Meteoblue provides weather predictions, one of the best weather prediction models in the world. The weather prediction also comes with a “work planning” function, providing insight like optimal spray windows and when to fertilise according to the weather conditions, etc.

There are also disease models – algorithms comparing the environmental conditions with what is required for the pathogen to develop and cause infection. It shows your infection risks before symptoms become visible so you can plan spray applications accordingly.

For more information on grapevine disease models click here.

About PESSL Instruments GmbH

For almost 40 years, Pessl Instruments has been offering tools for informed decision-making. A complete range of wireless, solar powered monitoring systems under the METOS® brand, and an online platform FieldClimate are applicable in all climate zones and can be used in various industries and for various purposes – from agriculture to research, hydrology, meteorology, flood warning, snow removal, sports turf, smart city and many more.

Over the years, METOS® has become a global brand with local support and has managed to reach out to almost every corner of the world. The METOS® brand lasts longer, performs better, is easier to use and offers you the lowest total cost of ownership. For more information about Pessl Instruments, visit the website here.

About Metos South Africa

Owned by WUSA, Metos South Africa is the exclusive distributor of Pessl Instruments weather monitoring solutions. Metos South Africa solutions include weather stations to provide access to live, real-time weather data, hyperlocalised weather forecasting, over 80 disease models on 40 crops, insect monitoring equipment and other in-field decision-making tools such as daily ET0 for irrigation management and optimal spray windows and Delta-T for the application of crop protection products.

About Raisins SA

Raisins South Africa, a Non-Profit Company, was incorporated in 1997, previously known as Dried Fruit Technical Services (DFTS). Towards the end of 2018 DFTS was restructured and renamed and is now known as Raisins SA. Raisins SA’s mandate is to advance the interest of the local industry in an international competitive environment. In total Raisins SA represents approximately 700 growers.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complimentary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s global product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. In South Africa, the company’s brands include Weet-Bix, Simba, Lay’s, Doritos, Liqui Fruit, SASKO, White Star and Spekko amongst others. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive. PepsiCo Positive is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people. For more information, visit the website here.

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