Climate change and disaster management, we know, is part of our country's programme towards hosting Cop 17 later this year in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries are central to this agenda, since these sectors are simultaneously a major producer of greenhouse gases, and being seriously impacted upon by climate change. We are therefore focusing on bringing to the table Cop 17 proposals for adaptation strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of these industries, as well as mitigation strategies to protect our food producers from the worst effects of climate change.