The final day of the Africa Agri Tech Conference and Expo at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria focused on AgBusiness, where business leaders were urged to abandon yesterday’s solutions and embrace future-forward strategies.

Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, opened the day with a call for bridging the technological gap between commercial and small-scale farmers. “If Gauteng wants to shift the needle to become an agricultural powerhouse, we must address the divide between commercial farmers who are tech-savvy and small-scale farmers who are seemingly oblivious to the technology that can help them progress. This requires a twofold approach: equipping farmers with knowledge and ensuring technology is accessible and affordable.”

Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa.

Arno Hanekom, Digital Strategist at Datacentrix.

The affordability of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture was addressed by Arno Hanekom, Digital Strategist at Datacentrix, who emphasised that effective AI solutions were low-risk, cost-effective, and highly beneficial. “Datacentrix overcomes hesitancy to adopt AI by solving real farm challenges. We provide tailored AI solutions so that farmers can address challenges within their unique climate. We take raw farm data and turn it into structured datasets, providing practical insights and a plan for improving efficiencies and production,” he said.

With technology driving agricultural transformation, the question of how to fund these innovations was tackled by Mark Brooks, Venture Partner at LongLeaf Studios and Entrepreneur in Residence at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. He noted that traditional venture capital models were ill-suited to agriculture due to the sector’s longer timeframes and high variability. “Venture capital was created to fund Silicon Valley-type companies, but these models don’t work in agriculture. We need new financing models that are evergreen and capable of funding a sector that performs differently from mainstream technology companies. Without this, we won’t see the innovation needed to enhance food productivity.”

Gideon Rossouw, Executive for Web3 Enablement at Nedbank.

The role of blockchain in agriculture was explored by Gideon Rossouw, Executive for Web3 Enablement at Nedbank. While Africa transacts R150 trillion annually, only R400 billion of this is in crypto assets. “The technology created by crypto assets can secure transactions and make the financial sector safer,” he explained. He highlighted blockchain’s ability to ensure accurate, dispute-free records, increasing trust in financial transactions. He however cautioned that regulatory frameworks must evolve alongside technological advancements to balance innovation with financial compliance.

Renowned futures strategist John Sanei.

Renowned futures strategist John Sanei addressed the discomfort brought about by rapid technological advancements, urging organisations and individuals to stop trying to resist change. “We get stuck solving tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s solutions without even realising it,” he said.

He outlined the three phases of transformation: mourning the past, navigating initial confusion, and embracing new opportunities. “For the next five to ten years, we’ll be in the first two phases. If we don’t think differently and more positively about change, we will never move to phase three.” Sanei emphasised that adaptability was key: “Adaptability Quotient (AQ) is the intelligence of the future. How quickly you recover from discomfort determines your ability to adapt.”

He encouraged organisations to separate their strategies into ‘today’ and ‘tomorrow’ teams, ensuring they balance current operations with future innovation.

A panel discussion examined South Africa’s position in an increasingly protectionist global economy. Political analyst Crystal Orderson highlighted Africa’s untapped potential, noting that the continent imports US$100 billion in food annually. “There is a big opportunity here for South African farmers. We need to start recognising our power as a trading partner,” she said.

However, Agbiz Chief Economist Wandile Sihlobo pointed out that South Africa’s primary agricultural exports – wine, beef, and fruit – were high-value products that many African countries cannot yet afford. He stressed the need for stronger economic growth across the continent to support increased trade.

Sihlobo also noted that only 6% of South Africa’s agricultural exports go to the Americas, with just 4% reaching the US. “This small portion is however vital as it absorbs commodities reliant on this specific market,” he said.

Political-economic analyst JP Landman urged the government to negotiate more free trade agreements, particularly with India, which has some of the highest tariffs globally. “World power has shifted from the West towards the East,” he stated, emphasising the need for South Africa to adapt its trade strategies accordingly, and not place an over-emphasis on US markets.

Political-economic analyst JP Landman.

Professor Nick Binedell, Founder of the GIBS Business School, called for greater national unity and responsibility in shaping South Africa’s future. He urged the private sector to regain confidence in the future and invest accordingly. “We are not investing enough because we don’t have faith in the future. But South Africa has many positives: our courts function, we have a free media, we’ve built global brands, and we are well-insured. The glass is half full, and we need to make it fuller.”

He concluded by calling on all South Africans to take an active role in the country’s progress. “Nobody grants South Africa the right to prosper. Who will drive future prosperity? We all will. We must become engaged citizens, take on the interests of as many people as we can, and fix our systems and institutions. We need to hold our leaders to account and step up to create the South Africa we all deserve.”

AgBusiness Day at the Africa Agri Tech Conference and Expo reinforced the urgent need for technological innovation, adaptive strategies, and collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. With forward-thinking leaders at the helm, South Africa’s agriculture industry is poised to embrace the future with resilience and purpose.