South African News
SAB Celebrates Farmers Powering South Africa’s Beer Industry
The South African Breweries (SAB) has highlighted the vital role of local farmers in sustaining the country’s beer value chain, contributing over R2.2 billion to agricultural GDP and supporting more than 38,000 jobs. Since 2017, SAB has invested R650 million in agricultural development, ensuring its beers are brewed with locally sourced ingredients while empowering smallholder farmers through training, funding, and market access. At its “Cheers to Farmers” event in Rooiwal, SAB, alongside partners such as FarmSol and the National Agricultural Marketing Council, recognised farmer resilience and innovation as key to food security, economic growth, and rural sustainability.
Read full story: MOG
Date Published: September 24, 2025
Farmers Honour Heritage Through Land, Tradition and Indigenous Crops
On Heritage Day, farmers across South Africa reflected on the profound ties between their land, culture, and ancestry. From Free State to KwaZulu-Natal, many emphasised farming as a responsibility passed through generations, with deep roots in traditional knowledge and indigenous food systems. Fourth-generation farmer Wessels Wessels described farming as a legacy to be safeguarded, while others, like Mpumalanga’s Motshidisi Modise and KwaZulu-Natal’s Andile Mkhize, highlighted the cultural and spiritual dimensions of farming heritage. By cultivating traditional crops such as amadumbe and ubhatata, farmers see themselves as guardians of history, resilience, and identity for future generations.
Read full story: Food For Mzansi
Date Published: September 24, 2025
African News
Tanzania’s MazaoHub Secures $2m to Expand AI-Driven Climate-Smart Farming
Tanzanian agri-tech startup MazaoHub has raised US$2 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round to scale its AI-powered, climate-smart farming solutions across Africa. The funding - US$1.5 million in equity led by Catalyst Fund and US$500,000 in non-dilutive capital - will support production of affordable soil kits and sensors, expansion of Farmer Excellence Centres, and the rollout of its CropSupply.com platform. MazaoHub’s “Tech and Touch” model blends AI with local agronomy, helping smallholders boost yields, reduce fertiliser use by up to 30 per cent, adopt more organic practices, and cut emissions while building resilience to climate change.
Read full story: Disrupt Africa
Date Published: September 22, 2025
Global News
Scottish Firms Join Forces on Landmark Vertical Farming Project in Dubai
Scottish agritech company Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) has partnered with Aberdeen-based Modutec to deliver one of the world’s largest vertical farming projects in Dubai. The first phase will see 20 vertical farming towers constructed as part of a planned 200-tower “GigaFarm” in the UAE’s Food Tech Valley. Spanning 900,000 sq ft, the site is expected to produce over three million kilos of crops annually, replacing around 1% of the UAE’s fresh produce imports. The project will also incorporate waste-to-value and regenerative farming systems, supporting food security and sustainability in the face of climate challenges.
Read full story: The Scottish Farmer
Date Published: September 23, 2025
Experts Call on Indonesia’s Youth to Drive Agricultural Innovation and Food Security
Indonesia’s agricultural resilience is under threat from climate change, land conversion, and an ageing workforce, with experts warning that youth engagement is essential to safeguarding food security. At a forum hosted by Radio Republik Indonesia’s Voice of Indonesia on 22 September, officials and practitioners urged the creation of an “Agri Hustle Generation” to modernise farming through technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainable practices. Government initiatives such as the YESS and PWMP programmes aim to attract Gen Z into agriculture, offering mentoring, market access, and scholarships. Speakers stressed that Indonesia’s food future relies on young farmers embracing innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
Read full story: Voice of Indonesia
Date Published: September 23, 2025
South American Startups Pioneer AI Tools to Replace Traditional Cattle Scales
Three agtech startups - Uruguay’s Ganader-IA and Brazil’s Olho do Dono and Gado Pesado - are developing artificial intelligence solutions to replace conventional cattle weighing, a process often stressful for animals and time-intensive for farmers. Ganader-IA uses drones and AI to estimate herd weights, already serving Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, with plans to expand into Brazil and Paraguay. Olho do Dono employs computer vision cameras, having already weighed 500,000 animals this year, while Gado Pesado provides affordable image-based weighing services, including to JBS suppliers. These innovations promise faster, less stressful monitoring, improved productivity, and greater accessibility for small farms.
Read full story: International Valor
Date Published: September 23, 2025
EU Farm Budget Reform Sparks Clash Over Who Deserves Support
The European Commission’s new long-term budget proposal has triggered fierce debate over how to distribute €294 billion in farm subsidies between 2028 and 2034. With a reduced budget - 15 percent lower than the previous period - farmers, green groups, and lobbies are preparing for tough negotiations. Key tensions pit small and young farmers against large landowners, with critics warning that climate and environmental measures will be sidelined. While the Commission suggests capping payments at €100,000 per farm, history shows such limits rarely survive political opposition. Young farmers and wine producers also fear being squeezed as funding priorities shift to member states.
Read full story: POLITICO Europe
Date Published: September 24, 2025
