By Lebogang Mashala
Over 60 delegates from around the world will gather to assess the impact of hail on plums and apples. Hail damage accounts for approximately 90% of Santam’s business in agricultural insurance.
Santam, South Africa’s largest short-term insurer, will host the 2025 Loss Adjusters’ Seminar in Cape Town in February. This decision is regarded as international recognition for the continent, as it was made by the International Association of Agricultural Production Insurers (AIAG), which consists of the world’s leading agricultural production insurers, reinsurers and brokers.
The three-day event will take place from 24 February to 27 February in Cape Town, where over 60 delegates from around the world will gather to assess the impact of hail on plums and apples. According to Santam, hail damage accounts for approximately 90% of their business in agricultural insurance.
“As a long-standing member of the AIAG and a leading agricultural insurance provider on the continent, we are very proud to have been chosen to host this event. Africa has one of the lowest Gross Written Premiums in the global agricultural insurance market, at just 1%, which means we are not well represented on the international stage,” said Daniel Stevens, Executive Head of Agriculture at Santam.
“Hosting an event like this not only allows us to showcase our expertise in the agricultural and agricultural insurance sectors, but it also gives us the opportunity to highlight the beauty of our country to international delegates,” Stevens added.
Founded in 1951, the AIAG promotes the exchange of knowledge, experience and data among agricultural insurers worldwide. During its congresses and seminars, participants share valuable information about adjusting techniques and managing risks associated with various crops.
According to Stevens, assessing the damage after a storm has passed is crucial to insure crops against hail damage. The upcoming international seminar will feature speakers with expertise in hail damage, market trends, industry constraints, climate change, diseases, biosecurity and sustainability, among other topics.
“Assessments can be challenging because the potential recovery of a crop depends on several factors, such as the type of crop and the timing of the damage within its growth cycle. The seminar will emphasise a practical demonstration of assessing hail damage to fruit while it is still on the trees, which is critical for an accurate evaluation,” he said.
He added that attendees will include crop insurance assessors and reinsurance representatives. “Delegates will be divided into teams to assess the trees practically, after which the results of their assessments will be discussed.”
Stevens stated that Santam is leading the development of world-class and accurate methodologies and procedures for assessing agricultural damage claims. One of the key advantages of Santam has been its ownership of an experimental farm located in Bloemfontein, an important area for its crop insurance clients.
“Having our own experimental farm allows us to simulate the impact of hail, enabling us to create accurate and practical assessment protocols and methodologies,” said Stevens. He added that to enhance the depth of these simulations, considering various damage scenarios across different seasons, cultivars and regions, Santam collaborates with farmers nationwide to conduct trials and simulations.
