SA Harvest started out small in 2019, with a single truck in a single city and only three employees, recalls Regional Manager Ali Conn. He adds that the organisation was formed in direct response to many issues that plague not only South Africa’s food system, but global systems worldwide.
“About 10 million tons of food go to waste in South Africa each year,” says Conn. “At the same time, we have millions of South Africans on the verge of starvation and even more who are food-insecure.”
This while South Africa produces more than enough food to feed all of its people. “Our food system is broken, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed. SA Harvest is taking responsibility for doing just that.”
Based on an Australian model called OzHarvest, which has delivered more than 120 million ‘rescued’ meals to date, SA Harvest was founded by social activist Alan Browde and is chaired by entrepreneur and philanthropist Gidon Novick, who founded Kulula.com and Discovery Vitality.
According to Conn, SA Harvest is an end-to-end food rescue solution service and deals with perishable and non-perishable foods. The organisation collects excess fresh food from a wide range of suppliers, including farmers, retailers, restaurants, airlines and events. “We work with fresh produce, frozen foods, dry goods and everything in between, as we have the resources and documentation required to work with all food types to ensure that we can rescue enough food with nutritional value to distribute,” notes Conn.
To ensure that it provides enough fresh food to its beneficiaries, SA Harvest relies heavily on South Africa’s agriculture sector.
Esta historia es de la edición December 18, 2020 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 18, 2020 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
