Whernit Dirks transitioned from fourth generation farm labourer to farm owner, but a recent knock meant he had to bounce back from bankruptcy. In this edition he talks more about his farming journey and struggles he has faced and advice on how to navigate as a new era farmer in Mzansi…

We celebrate this week’s #SoilSister, Christene Mesolo. She talks more about her journey getting into agriculture…

Globally there is a buzz around climate change and agriculture, the industries impact, mitigation and how to adapt to remain food secure. As the risk and disaster manager at Agri SA, Andrea Campher is the innovative driving force to support farmers in their network.

Today she joins us to talk more about what attracted her to the sector and what it takes to keep at it day by day despite the many challenges we face…

In this edition we share tips on how to grow beetroot in Mzansi. Livestock farmer, Keatlegile Mnguni and founder of Devroll Scenery Farm, Devroll Legodi has some advice on how to process and farm with this crop. Food For Mzansi commercial journalists, Octavia Spandiel.

Tawfeeq Brinkhuis grew up on his family-run farm in Schaapkraal, Philippi in the Western Cape. In this edition we chat to him about the day to day of life on the farm and how much their farming business has grown over the past few years…

This week’s #SoilSister, Sewagodimo Mthethwa. For as a long as she can remember, producing food at home meant sharing with neighbours and she still practices this today.

Tamsin Mzozoyana, lead consultant and founder of Krystal Consulting believes women can become effective and active participants in the agricultural industry, they just need to take up space. She’s well on her way to breaking the class ceiling in Mzansi's agri sector and in this edition, she talks more about where her exciting journey started, with some tips for new farmers to succeed…

There is no doubt that rolling blackouts negatively affects farming operations and production along the agricultural value chain Mzansi. In this edition we share some tips for farmers to survive power cuts with Dr Naudé Malan, Senior Lecturer in Development Studies at the University of Johannesburg and Daniel de Sousa, co-founder of The Farm Nearby.

Food For Mzansi commercial journalists, Octavia Spandiel chats to them about Alternative energy options for farmers and how agriculturalists should change their business models…

Young, ambitious, and versatile is how I'd describe Wafiq Essop, an agronomist and technical support and business developer at AfriNat, a business providing agricultural products and real-time food value chain solutions. I got to pick his innovative brain in this episode and also found out what he would do if he sat in the hot seat as agricultural minister in Mzansi!

We celebrate this week’s #SoilSister, poultry farmer Phiwokuhle Shabungu. She talks about how being in selected for the Corteva Women Agripreneur programme has aided in her farming business.

For new farmers to commercialise in Mzansi’s agricultural sector is no easy feat. We’ve spoken about fast tracking transformation so often on this podcast and this week Tebogo Mokgoadi, poultry farmer and the head of socio-economic development at the Kagiso Trust, one of South Africa’s leading development agencies, talks more about the work they do to support agriculturalists.

Mzansi’s poultry sector continues to attract new farmers and agricultural economist, Lunathi Hlakanyane believes it’s one of the top three commodities to trend this year. In this edition we understand the economics of operating a broiler production in South Africa.

Food For Mzansi commercial journalists, Octavia Spandiel chats to Tinyiko Khoza, centurion poultry farmer. She unpacks some of the key areas that determine the cost economy and profitability for new farmers!...

So, you’ve probably heard the buzz around the agricultural agro-processing master plan signed in policy recently. It's an economic framework that provides the growth path for the agricultural and food sector in South Africa, identifying key priority areas, partnering with government, agribusiness, and the labour sector. One of key role players is Dr Sifiso Ntombela, the chief economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council and the deputy president of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa.

We change gears from the agricultural agro-processing master plan to focus on the rise of cultivated meat and how this new technology affects farmers and veterinary professionals. To unpack this, Dr Nandipha Ndudane, the President of the South African Veterinary Council about this lab grown meat...

Dr Tatenda Kawhena is a natural problem solver. His most recent idea could eventually help shrink the pomegranate industry’s plastics footprint and can curb food losses along its value chain. Dr Kawhena came up with when he developed an edible coating that extends the storage and shelf life of this Mediterranean fruit.

This week’s #SoilSister, Eastern Cape farmer Tuleka Ngcingwana. She comes from an entrepreneurial family. Operating different business comes naturally, from hospitality to retail so when her parents decided to start a commercial farm succeeding was inevitable. She recalls learning from her grandfather that finding a niche market is key to ensure any business thrives…