Terwyl Suid-Afrika se natuurlike habitat stadig krimp, wys Rooibosboere in die Cederberg dat daar ander oplossings is. Een wat boerdery én natuurbewaring kombineer. Volgens Marthane Swart van die Rooibos Raad is meer en meer boere besig om hul grond nie net vir Rooibos te gebruik nie, maar ook om bedreigde spesies en plante te beskerm.
Die jongste rooibos navorsing wys nou besliste en opwindende gesondheidsvoordele. Mediese navorsing het ‘n R4.8-miljoen inspuiting van die Department van Wetenskap en Innovasie gekry. Die SA Rooibosraad gaan dieselfde bedrag bydra. Twee plaaslike universiteite sal binnekort ‘n R9.6-miljoen hupstoot kry om hul navorsing verder te dryf.
Scientific research into the health benefits of Rooibos have now been boosted with a R4.8-million investment from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The investment is aimed at unlocking the potential socio-economic value of SA’s favourite tisane.
History was made this past week when the Rooibos industry disbursed the first round of benefit-sharing funds to the National Khoi and San Council and the South African San Council as part of an Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) agreement that was signed between the parties in 2019.
Maskam beteken “plek van water” maar aan die voet van die Maskamberg, net buite Vanrhynsdorp, reën dit die afgelope paar jaar hopeloos te min. Daar is wel baie ondergrondse water, jy moet net weet waar om die aar raak te boor.
The European Commission has included Rooibos/Red Bush on its register of protected designations of origin, which will help consumers to distinguish the genuine article grown in the Cederberg.
A growing preference for natural products free from chemicals, along with a concern for the environment is driving the demand for herbal beauty products, which includes our indigenous herb, Rooibos.
While in his office, Hennie hooks me up to the Rife scanner to scan my system for parasites. “It doesn’t look too bad,” he proclaims after a few minutes. I spot a few unwelcome internal guests on the report but Hennie brushes it off. “Be grateful you don’t have slugs in you!”
