Local farmers support well-known South African beverage brands

Rapeseed grown by local farmers and processed by Southern Oil (SOILL) plays an important role in strengthening grain systems, reducing carbon emissions, and producing nutritious feed. Through the B-well brand, this versatile, heart-healthy ingredient transforms local agricultural resources into everyday food products.

The future of food lies not only in inventing new products but also in more efficiently utilizing crops already grown and processed in South Africa, allowing greater value to be extracted from local agricultural resources. This is precisely what the story of rapeseed demonstrates.

Although rapeseed is often associated only with the name on a bottle of oil, it is part of a much broader value chain based on local production. B-well rapeseed oil is made from 100% South African, non-GMO rapeseed seed, which is grown by local farmers and processed in the city of Stellenbosch by Southern Oil (SOILL). This product connects farmers, processors, food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, spreading from farms in the Western Cape to kitchens across the country.

For grain farmers, rapeseed serves a significant function in the overall farming system. Instead of continuous planting of grain crops, farmers rotate the cultivation of rapeseed with crops such as wheat and barley. As a cover crop, rapeseed helps control certain weeds and plant diseases, while also improving the yield of subsequent wheat harvests, contributing to a more diverse and sustainable cultivation system. The application of conservation agriculture methods improves soil health and nutrient cycling, and crop rotation supports more efficient fertilizer use.

After harvesting, the rapeseed seeds are sorted, stored, and transported for processing. At the Southern Oil (SOILL) facility, the seeds are cleaned and crushed to separate the oil from the other material. Approximately 42%–44% of the seeds is extracted as oil. The remainder is processed into rapeseed meal—a protein-rich ingredient used as animal feed, including for dairy and poultry. Thus, one seed contributes to both food production and livestock farming.

These two products together form a closed local value chain. The oil goes into consumer products, while the protein-rich meal returns to agriculture through animal feed. The efficient use of both streams helps minimize waste and maintain the flow of value between local farming and food production. This is the meaning of sustainable sourcing in the story of B-well rapeseed.

This is not just a statement that the seed is local; it reflects a combination of interconnected practices and outcomes: the seeds are grown by recognized South African farmers; rapeseed is included in crop rotation systems that support the overall grain production system; the local supply chain ensures a shorter and traceable path from farm to processor; processing takes place in South Africa, reducing the need for international transport; and both main products from the seed are utilized productively, helping to minimize waste and maximize the crop's value.

It should also be emphasized the environmental benefit of local production. A shorter and traceable route contributes to reduced transportation-related emissions compared to oils imported into South Africa from abroad. Furthermore, local sourcing provides a clear logistical advantage by shortening the path from agricultural production to processing and market. Since the rapeseed seeds are grown and processed locally, the agricultural and industrial value remains in South Africa.

Morné Bothes, Commercial Director of SOILL, notes: 'Rapeseed shows what is possible when local agriculture and processing work as a single system: one crop can strengthen crop rotation, provide a local food ingredient, and return valuable protein to the agricultural value chain.'

The extracted oil is ultimately refined and used in cooking oils, mayonnaise, sauces, and dressings. Rapeseed oil is naturally cholesterol-free, very rich in plant omega-3s, and has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of approximately 2:1. The B-well brand, created by Southern Oil, brings this rapeseed story to South African kitchens. Through products like B-well rapeseed oil and rapeseed-based mayonnaise, the brand offers consumers practical ways to incorporate rapeseed into their usual daily meals.

B-well rapeseed oil is approved by the South African Heart and Stroke Foundation and has received the Cansa Smart Choice seal. The Cansa seal is awarded to products that meet its scientifically based nutritional criteria in a specific food category. These independent recognitions confirm the product's nutritional quality and help consumers identify it as a conscious choice for everyday cooking oil.

Rapeseed oil also has a neutral taste, allowing the flavor of the food to remain the main focus. Its versatility makes it suitable for frying, baking, roasting, marinating, and salad dressings. The South African Food Future conference brings together people who grow, produce, move, sell, regulate, and buy food. Rapeseed is part of this discussion because its journey connects every part of this system. From local seed in the Western Cape to food and animal feed, rapeseed demonstrates how South African agriculture and local processing can create more value from one crop—supporting farmers, feeding people, and returning protein to agriculture.

In Socorro, located in the interior of São Paulo, the tradition of cachaça production has over a century of history. This legacy began in family distilleries and continues today in rural properties that open their doors to welcome visitors interested in observing the beverage's manufacturing process.

Socorro's connection to sugarcane dates back to the 19th century. The region's characteristics, such as mountain climate and abundant water availability, were factors that drove both cultivation and the establishment of these family distilleries. Currently, the city is part of the Cachaça Route of the Water Circuit and Springs of the State of São Paulo, a circuit that groups producers and establishments dedicated to the artisanal production of the drink.

The local distilleries and cachaçarias offer the opportunity to learn about all phases of the production process. This cycle begins with the cutting and grinding of the cane, proceeds through fermentation, and culminates in distillation using copper stills. In some properties, the visit also includes the maturation phase in barrels made from various woods, such as oak, peanut, balsam, jequitibá, and amburana.

Among the establishments that receive the public, Alambique Pioneira stands out, which manufactures artisanal cachaças and liqueurs and has a tasting area. One of its notable products is the Dom João cachaça, which was aged in American oak barrels and received gold and silver awards in the last two years.

Another traditional spot is Empório Nono Alpi, created in honor of Giacomo Alpi, a descendant of Alambique Alpi, famous for producing the region's number 1 cachaça. This family has maintained the production of artisanal cachaças since 1941 and recently inaugurated a new cellar equipped with barrels of different wood types for aging.

At Cachaçaria Santo Mé, customers can taste over fifty varieties of cachaça. Meanwhile, Hotel Fazenda Campo dos Sonhos provides a guided tour detailing the entire process, from sugarcane planting to final bottling.

In addition to beverages, these locations also have shops that sell derivatives of sugarcane, such as rapadura. For those who wish to buy a bottle to take away, there are sales points distributed throughout the city, including Empório Quinhão, located in Jardim Moda Shopping, and Empório do Cristo, located at Mirante do Cristo.

The theme of cachaça complements other attractions in Socorro, which is recognized for its rural tourism routes, gastronomic options, and outdoor activities. Historically, National Cachaça Day refers to an event that occurred in 1661, when Brazilian producers revolted against restrictions imposed by the Portuguese Crown on the commercialization and production of the distilled spirit, a movement known as the Cachaça Revolt, which culminated in the official release of the beverage in Brazil by Queen Luísa de Gusmão, in Portugal.