Review of Agricultural Events for the Week of September 28 to October 2

The South African Future of Food Conference is fast approaching, scheduled to take place at The Centurion Hotel in Gauteng on Wednesday, September 30th. Influential figures from across the agricultural and food value chain will gather at this event.

There is currently an opportunity to purchase a limited number of last-minute tickets for the day dedicated to shifting the discussion from food system challenges to people, business, investment, and the ideas shaping the future.

The conference program will bring together farmers, financiers, retailers, food companies, development specialists, entrepreneurs, sustainability leaders, and policymakers for a series of high-level discussions on the direction of South Africa's food system development.

The conference will commence with a keynote address by Ishmael Sungu, CEO of the South African Federation of Agricultural Unions. Attention will then turn to one of the sector's most critical questions: how to finance the future of food systems?

This panel discussion will feature figures such as Leona Archari (Executive Committee Head at AGDA), Robert Macila (Head of Agricultural Banking and Monitoring at Land Bank), Cuthbert Kambandje (Agri-food Systems, Investment, and Policy Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN), Deon Shepers (Lecturer in Agricultural Economics at the University of Pretoria), Quinton Naidu (Head of Socio-Economic Development at Kagiso Trust), and Diala Tilo (Executive Director of Kgodiso Development Fund).

Next, the conversation will shift from capital to markets, discussing how food and beverages move from producer to retail shelf, including commercial solutions that determine access to major markets.

Participants in this discussion will include Karin Kleinbuys (Executive Manager for Inclusion and Development at South Africa Wine) and Gary Jackson (CEO and Founder of Jackson’s Real Food Market).

Later, the focus will move to sustainable development, consumer demand, and responsible consumption. Jaco Oosthuizen (CEO of RSA Group) and Rod Bell, CEO of CropLife South Africa, will speak on these matters.

Following this, there will be a series of dynamic presentations from entrepreneurs who are taking agricultural products beyond the farm and creating high-value food brands. Among them are Sipive Sithole from African Marmalade, Keitho Monyadi from Botlhale Ba Rra-mmutla Farms, Mahalia Kotjane from Three Quarters Wine, and Apive Nksusani-Mavela from Tolokazi.

The program will also address regenerative agriculture with Professor Koksheka Sevchurana, as well as responsible pesticide management in the changing food system, featuring Kwed Singh Jama, Head of Management at CropLife South Africa.

For Ivor Price, co-founder and Managing Director of Food For Mzansi, the significance of the event lies in its ability to bring together various parts of the food system in one place. He emphasized: 'The future of food cannot be shaped by one isolated part of the value chain. Farmers, financiers, retailers, food companies, entrepreneurs, and consumers are all connected, and the decisions made today will determine what appears on South African tables tomorrow. This conference aims to bring these people together, have complex conversations, and most importantly, find practical ways to move the food system forward.'

As the event date approaches rapidly, this is the last chance to join the discussion in person. A limited number of final tickets is now available via the specified link.

A series of agricultural events is scheduled in South Africa during the week of September 14 to 18. The organization Food For Mzansi, in collaboration with Overberg Suid-Kaap, will host farmer days aimed at enhancing their qualifications. These events will take place on September 22 at Bredasdorp Park and on September 23 in Oudtshoorn.

On Monday, September 14, the Conference on the Future of South African Food will be held, organized by Food For Mzansi. This is the first event of its kind in the country, uniting the entire agro-industrial chain—from the field to the boardroom, from research laboratories to the retail shelf. Key sector leaders' presentations and panel discussions shaping national food policy and innovation will be featured at the conference. However, according to the information, the date for this conference is listed as September 30 at The Centurion Hotel.

On Tuesday, September 15, the Food For Mzansi Farmer Day will take place in the Western Cape. Farmers in this region have been long awaiting this event. The next provincial farmer day from Food For Mzansi is set for Friday, October 30, at Pine Haven Farms in Stellenbosch. There, farmer Sydney Klassen will host participants, offering a packed day with practical advice, networking opportunities, demonstrations, and introductions to agricultural innovations.

Wednesday, September 16, marks the announcement of the 31st Commonwealth Agriculture Conference, which will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 1 to 5, 2026, organized by Agri-Expo. Agricultural innovators and leaders from Commonwealth countries will gather to determine the future of sustainable agriculture. A Pre-Conference Tour is also available from October 29 to 31, 2026, providing an opportunity to experience South Africa's agricultural excellence before the main conference.

On Thursday, September 17, the Hatari Dormer Production Cattle Auction is planned. It will take place on September 19, 2026, starting at 11:00 at Content Farm in Bain's Valley, Bloemfontein, and also online via Swiftvee. The auction will feature 200 SP Dormer rams, 100 SP Dormer ewes, 200 commercial Dormer ewes, 15 SP Suffolk rams, and 15 SP Suffolk ewes. For further information, please contact Marius Eksteen at 082 561 2917.

The week concludes on Friday, September 18, with the Green Day for Agriculture in the Free State. The Vrystaat Landbou 2026 Golf Day event aims to promote greater security in the Free State countryside and stimulate positive changes in rural communities. It will take place on September 18 in Ladysmith, Free State.