Hardier varieties with greater yield would also enable the struggling South African wheat sector to better compete against cheaper international wheat.

This on the back of the ongoing wheat tariff row after an article quoting a millers industry body claimed the recalculated tariff will cause an increase in bread prices. De Villiers says, however, there was never any reduction in bread prices when millers benefitted from cheaper international wheat.

“If the price was R1 lower when they were buying the cheaper wheat then it would have increased by R1 now. But it never went down and therefore we say there is no reason it has to go up now.

“The tariff made up was for the period when the millers were importing the wheat cheaper. 

"So while we agree the tariff could make up a part of the R1 increase, they never reduced the bread price when they were getting cheaper wheat so they, as the milling industry, enjoyed a benefit of about R180 million during the period when the world wheat price was lower and the tariff was not implemented.”

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