CEO, Grain SA
Every March we have the privilege to host the Grain SA Congress at NAMPO Park. This important event on our calendar is an opportunity for members and value chain partners to discuss our progress, as well as the challenges and strategic priorities that shape Grain SA’s work.
As CEO, I am pleased to highlight how our organisation continues to evolve and drive positive change, ensuring the profitability and sustainability of South Africa’s grain producers.
Grain SA has evolved from influencing policy to a dynamic advocacy social enterprise. Like other social enterprises, we offer services to develop human capital, provide information, and support compliance, and our activities now span economic, industrial, and technological spheres. Our team of nearly 70 professionals engage with stakeholders, consumers, communities, and policymakers to promote sustainable grain farming.
Sustainable grain production, in turn, leads to economic growth, job creation, and environmental stewardship through conservation practices. It feeds the population and supports rural livelihoods, fostering a more resilient South Africa.
Grain SA’s strategy is built on five key pillars. We optimise farm profitability by improving resource efficiency and yields and by reducing costs. By offering cost-effective plant health solutions, we empower producers to make informed production decisions.
Advancing productivity starts with improving input efficiency. We provide access to advanced agricultural technologies and data. Through research, we improve crop varieties and evaluate cultivars; we also develop crop protection strategies aligned with conservation goals. By leveraging technology, we help producers optimise performance and stay competitive.
We are committed to developing and diversifying markets. By promoting free-market principles, we foster competition and pricing transparency. We provide current market data and ensure smooth local and international operations. Safeguarding biosecurity, backed by pest and disease monitoring, upholds market integrity. Diagnostic clinics offer insights, helping producers meet market needs effectively.
Grain SA is committed to a transformed, inclusive food system. We create opportunities for communities and support emerging farmers’ commercialisation. We provide targeted poverty relief and aid to resource-poor farmers, fostering community development. Through technology transfer, we invest in human capital to build a skilled workforce.
Farming for the future promotes sustainability and creates an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) legacy. We build trust and environmental stewardship to secure our social license. A tailored ESG roadmap guides sustainable practices, while we advocate for climate policies that support ESG goals. We promote sustainable production and research to combat climate change and improve soil and plant health.
Grain SA focuses on driving scientific progress in the grain industry through research innovation and capacity development, including climate change adaptation, crop improvement, plant health, biosecurity, and data analytics.
We nurture producers at every stage – from emerging to commercial – by encouraging technology adoption and through offering training, mentorship, study groups, and platforms like NAMPO and NAMPO Tech. SA Graan/Grain (Grain SA’s monthly magazine) remains a trusted resource, offering up-to-date insights and practical advice.
Advocacy, partnerships, and communication with our members and the industry are central to our mission. By collaborating with government, civil society, and the agricultural value chain, we shape policies that advance the grain industry.
We offer comprehensive support on production, pricing, sustainability, and market access under grain information, economics and member support, ensuring our producers have the necessary tools and insights.
Finally, enabling services and organisational development promote an inclusive membership, a healthy work environment, financial stability, process accuracy, and governance excellence to ensure the resilience of the organisation.
Grain SA focuses on critical innovation pathways to ensure long-term competitiveness and resilience in the grain industry. Human capital development through training and capacity-building is a priority to create a skilled workforce for agricultural innovation. We cultivate the talent needed for technological and operational advances in agriculture.
By investing in scientific capacity and regulatory systems, we keep South Africa competitive in genetic development and breeding technologies. Our data strategy improves policy analysis, streamlines regulations, and enhances decision making, boosting efficiency in the grain industry. Grain SA is committed to building a thriving future for South Africa’s grain producers and by extension, the country’s socio-economic growth. Our investments in human capital, regulatory strength and data-focused policies will keep our members competitive, resilient, and sustainable for generations to come.
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our shared vision. Together, we will continue driving excellence in the grain industry and ensuring that South Africa remains a vibrant, food-secure nation.
