During a recent visit to Marlow Agricultural High School in Cradock, in the Eastern Cape, it became clear that Limagrain’s involvement goes far beyond simply having products on a shelf. For the past five years, Limagrain has been working closely with the school to expose learners to practical agricultural knowledge that cannot always be learned in a classroom.
According to Zannel Keogh, Head of Agriculture at Marlow, Limagrain has made a meaningful difference in the way the school approaches agricultural education.
“We have come a long way with Limagrain, and it is special for us to know that they are investing in our school,” she says. “They bring knowledge about maize and lucerne seed, but more than that, they give our children insight into the world beyond.”
This collaboration offers learners something invaluable: exposure to expertise from within the industry. Where teachers cannot always be specialists in every agricultural field, Limagrain fills that gap with practical experience and professional guidance.
For the boys of Marlow, this means that agriculture does not remain just a subject; it becomes a tangible part of their future.
“The children don’t just learn from books,” Keogh explains. “They see the people from Limagrain on the farm, at sports events, school functions and auctions. From a young age, they build relationships with people in the industry. This gives them confidence that there is someone they can reach out to when they one day enter agriculture themselves.”
It is precisely this human approach that makes Limagrain’s involvement so unique. At a time when many corporate investments are focused purely on profit, Limagrain chooses to invest in people, in young people with potential, passion and a love for the land.
Fanie Yssel, Limagrain’s Technical Manager for Agronomy, embodies the kind of involvement that is becoming increasingly rare today, an expert who not only provides technical support but also shares his knowledge to uplift others. This not only creates better producers for tomorrow, but also stronger agricultural communities.
For a school like Marlow, which has been preparing young men for agriculture for nearly 95 years, such partnerships are critically important. With new expansions on the farm and a renewed focus on practical training, the school believes its relationship with Limagrain will continue to grow.
“We rely on companies like Limagrain,” says Keogh. “We need people from outside who are willing to invest in our children and in the future of agriculture.”
And perhaps that is the essence of Limagrain’s story in South Africa: they don’t just sell seed, they help cultivate the next generation of farmers.
In a country where food security and sustainable agriculture are becoming increasingly important, Limagrain shows that real growth begins when a company decides to invest not only in crops, but in people.
