Category Archives: GIBS Knowledge and Information Services

All things relating to the workings and service offerings of the Information Centre

How A.I. and DNA are unlocking the mysteries of global supply chains (NYtimes)

Firms are turning to advanced technologies to help answer a surprisingly tricky question: Where do products really come from? At a cotton gin in the San Joaquin Valley, in California, a boxy machine helps to spray a fine mist containing billions of molecules of DNA onto freshly cleaned Pima cotton. That DNA will act as […]
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Three major risks that have the banking industry on edge (CNN)

It’s been one month since Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, triggering alarms throughout the halls of global finance. The initial panic has settled into a more tolerable state of tension. We can all take a deep breath, knowing our money is safe and that banks have the tools they need, courtesy of the federal government, to weather […]
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Transforming food systems through Global Field ID – a new standard for agriculture? (OAGov)

The new digital farming tool ‘Global Field ID’ maps field boundaries with technology and assigns unique IDs to each plot of land, with the potential to track changes in food systems ‘We’re currently experiencing supply chain issues. It’s become a common sight in supermarkets these days. The vegetable shortage that has been emptying the shelves of […]
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Led by China, India, the 5 BRICS nations now contribute more to world GDP than industrialised G7 (ThePrint)

BRICS countries overtook G7 in 2020 by making up a larger share of global GDP in PPP terms, with China & India respectively in second and third positions globally that year. New Delhi: The Covid-19 pandemic served as a watershed moment in several ways, including marking the point when the global economic power dynamic changed in […]
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Oil fuels inflation risks, weighing down equities: Markets wrap (Moneyweb)

Investors across asset classes rushed to adjust for the risk that inflationary pressure may be more persistent than previously thought. The dollar extended gains for a second day, strengthening against Group-of-10 currencies. The Norwegian krone was little changed after an earlier rally on the expected benefit to the Scandinavian country from higher energy prices. The […]
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Standard Bank, Absa lend Zimbabwe $193m for hospitals (Moneyweb)

Zimbabwe has raised a $193.3 million loan from South Africa’s Standard Bank, its Zimbabwean unit and Absa Group, to finance public hospitals and clinics, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said. The Treasury through the Zimbabwe Debt Management Office negotiated the Export Credit insurance Corp of South Africa-backed sovereign loan, Ncube said in an emailed statement. The […]
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New GIBS article: Cannabis industry plans for South Africa have stalled By Motshedisi Mathibe (Moneyweb)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently reiterated plans to accelerate the commercialisation of hemp as well as cannabis plants. His speech setting out government’s priorities for 2023 was a reminder of a pledge in 2022 – also in his state of the nation address – that the government would mobilise investment in the hemp and cannabis sectors. In his speech, […]
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Importance of agri tech in farming today (IOL)

South Africa’s agriculture is currently faced with an array of challenges ranging from the high cost of production as inputs costs are high, lower output prices for many horticultural commodities, failing local infrastructure, high shipping and freight costs and recently continued accelerated load shedding. Land Bank, the agricultural industry and key stakeholders are particularly concerned […]
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2023 retail industry outlook (Deloitte)

Embrace the changing consumer to bolster growth in inflationary times Amid market volatility, labor pressures, and supply chain constraints, how can retailers sustain the resiliency of the last few years to better navigate the current headwinds? Our 2023 industry outlook explores retail trends to help your company elevate its business strategy beyond traditional cost-cutting. Learn […]
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New GIBS article: Future-fit leadership By Abdullah Verachia

When the entire planet comes to a standstill because of a virus, and a war on the other side of the globe deepens the economic slump in Africa, leaders must adjust rapidly. What used to work previously is no longer fit for purpose. Companies need ‘future-fit’ leaders to help unlock new value and future-proof their […]
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