who we are
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JACO VOGES
After completing his studies in 1996, Jaco began his career in the agricultural-chemical industry as an agronomist in Mpumalanga, focussing on row crops. He soon became the youngest Technical Manager and a Director of one of Syngenta’s chemical distributors, then advanced to Regional Technical Sales Manager and, later, Portfolio Product Development- and Marketing Manager at Syngenta itself.
Jaco moved to BASF as Technical Product Manager and Project Lead (South Africa) for the International AgCellence Concept, launching products such as Abacus and Euro Lightning. He continued his rise at BASF, ultimately serving as National Sales Manager. Subsequently, he joined Bayer as Sub-Sahara Business Unit Manager FAP, before moving to Brandt/Elim as an Agronomist—combining his expertise in precision nutrition with crop protection.
He is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP, Reg # 118635).
THOMAS STRYDOM
Thomas earned a B.Sc Agric (Soil Science & Agronomy) with honours from the University of the Free State in 2007. He spent 11 years as an Agronomist & Marketing Manager at an international company specialising in independent laboratory analysis and precision-farming services. In 2015 he completed a Diploma in Business Management, graduating as top student.
In 2017 Thomas founded Sion Agri, which has since provided independent soil and agronomy advice to grain producers on about 800 000 ha over the last 19 years. Sion Agri remains entirely independent, focusing exclusively on yield improvement and risk management for farming enterprises.
Thomas is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP (Reg # 400366/11). His work centres on rigorous data and evidence-based recommendations that deliver consistently excellent results for clients.
GROUP 3 REGISTRATIONS
LEGISLATION ACT 36 OF 1947 FERTILISER GROUP 3 M
As novel natural and synthetic inorganic, organic and living products proliferate in crop production, Act 36 of 1947 (as amended) demands robust proof before any product can be registered. A clear distinction must be drawn between products that enhance or improve plant growth and those that protect plants against pests and disease (classified as an Agricultural Remedy). Only the first category is regarded as Group 3 Fertilisers under Regulation R. No. 972 of 8 September 2017. These include Bio-fertilisers, Plant Bio-stimulants and Plant Growth Enhancers—any substance, micro-organism or combination thereof that, when applied to seed, plant surfaces or soil, colonises the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant and raising tolerance to abiotic stress (Vessey, 2003).
Launching a new product—or testing formulation changes to an existing one—therefore hinges on scientific proof of efficacy. Yet with bio-stimulant products flooding the market, complete analyses of every active ingredient have become problematic, and traditional field trials are cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring up to three years of data. In contrast, under the controlled environmental conditions of the Greenhouse Trial Centre, these trials can be conducted fully independently within six to eight weeks.
Under Group 3 Registration (Act 36 of 1947), if a product tested in controlled greenhouse conditions shows a statistically significant higher biomass yield after six weeks’ growth, it qualifies for registration as a “soil conditioner” or “plant growth enhancer,” and the corresponding efficacy claims may lawfully be made.