Heleen Viljoen, a junior economist at Grain SA, recently earned accolades for her technical article on wheat import tariffs, winning the Hollard Farming Portal Junior Agriwriters Award in the technical category. This prestigious competition, hosted by Hollard Agri in collaboration with CRA Media, celebrates young agricultural writers who bring fresh perspectives and impactful storytelling to the industry.
Celebrating Excellence in Agricultural Journalism
The awards ceremony, held at the historic Villa Arcadia on the Hollard Campus in Parktown, recognized the outstanding achievements of young agricultural writers across South Africa. Viljoen’s technical article earned her the top honor, while Carla Myburg won the General category, showcasing a high level of talent among the next generation of agricultural storytellers.
Heleen Viljoen grew up in Durbanville, in a household where the world of finance had a strong influence. She later pursued a degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State, where her love for agriculture flourished. Now a Junior Economist at Grain SA, Viljoen gets to combine her passion for agriculture and economics daily. She is also working toward her Master’s degree, with a focus on South Africa’s commodity markets – giving her unique insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the grain sector.
Commenting on the competition, Hollard’s Andries Wiese praised the exceptional quality of the submissions: “The standard of writing we saw was exceptional—on par with, and even exceeding, some of the professional work in the industry today. This speaks to a promising future for agricultural journalism, which aligns closely with Hollard’s commitment to creating a better future for all.”
Unpacking Heleen’s Winning Article
Viljoen’s article delves into the complexities of wheat import tariffs, explaining their critical role in protecting South Africa’s wheat farmers from subsidized international competition. She highlights how these tariffs help local producers remain viable, ensure food security, and support investment in research and development. Her clear explanation of the technical and administrative processes surrounding tariffs makes the article both accessible and impactful. Viljoen also addressed misconceptions about bread prices, showing that wheat contributes only 20% of the cost of a loaf of bread, with factors like energy, transport, and labour playing much larger roles. Her work demonstrates how well-designed tariffs can benefit the local economy without significantly impacting consumers.
Why Wheat Tariffs Matter
In her article, Viljoen emphasized the importance of self-sufficiency, particularly in the face of global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions. Without tariffs, local farmers could face immense pressure, leading to job losses and a decline in rural economies. Her work also highlighted how South Africa’s high-quality wheat production is at risk if cheaper, lower-quality imports dominate the market.
Grain SA lauded Viljoen’s article for its contribution to critical agricultural discussions: “As we face ongoing challenges within the global grain markets, Heleen’s work sheds light on strategies to strengthen our local industry’s competitiveness. Her achievement highlights Grain SA’s commitment to informed, impactful policy insights that support sustainable growth for South Africa’s grain producers.”
Fostering New Voices in Agriculture
The Hollard Farming Portal Junior Agriwriters Awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also serve to inspire the next generation of agricultural journalists. By providing a platform for fresh perspectives and thought leadership, initiatives like this play a crucial role in advancing agricultural reporting and its positive impact on society. Viljoen expressed her gratitude for the recognition: “This award is a milestone for me as a young writer and economist. It’s exciting to see initiatives like this that encourage fresh voices in agricultural journalism and help bring attention to the critical role agriculture plays in South Africa.”
Read the Full Article
For a detailed dive into Heleen Viljoen’s insights, read her award-winning article on wheat import tariffs here: Full Article.