Brothers from Limpopo launch egg production business targeting the campus

A troubling paradox is observed in South Africa: one in five households is unsure where their next meal will come from, despite the country producing enough food for its entire population.

Statistics indicate that about three million children regularly go to bed hungry, and one in three deaths among children under five is linked to severe acute malnutrition. Concurrently, approximately 10.3 million tons of edible food—representing 34% of local production—are wasted annually, costing the economy around 61.5 billion rand, or 2.1% of GDP.

On World Food Security Day, observed on October 16th, Professor Jacob Wolschenk, an associate professor at the School of Business, Stellenbosch University, called for urgent and systematic intervention to combat both hunger and food waste. He believes these issues deserve the same attention as critical concerns such as energy supply, infrastructure, and crime.

The need to tighten food waste disposal regulations

Wolschenk emphasized that solving the food waste problem must not only reduce the volume of losses but also ensure that surplus nutritious food in one region reaches needy communities. He advocates for introducing strict standards, proposing to make discarding unsold edible products illegal instead of donating them.

More than a quarter of children in South Africa under the age of five suffer from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition, which negatively affects their physical and cognitive development. This limits their opportunities in school and future employment prospects.

The professor noted that child malnutrition perpetuates the cycle of poverty, leading to reduced labor productivity, decreased income, and increased healthcare costs. In his estimation, addressing child malnutrition could increase South Africa's GDP per capita by approximately 9%.

Food waste represents multifaceted losses: it is not just the loss of food itself, but also the water, energy, and resources used in its production. Furthermore, sending food waste to landfills contributes to about 7.6% of South Africa's total greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, the environmental consequences are enormous, as food losses and waste account for 8–10% of greenhouse gas emissions—five times more than the aviation sector.

Wolschenk also pointed out how external global factors, such as ongoing conflicts affecting grain transport and rising energy prices, threaten local agriculture. He warned that the current El Niño cycle, characterized by dry conditions and low rainfall, will exacerbate pressure on food production during the 2027/28 planting seasons.

The professor stated that issues affecting global food production and trade are interconnected with climate, energy, emissions, and water scarcity. He stressed that the focus is not only on the ability to produce food but also on how and where to farm to create a sustainable food system that ensures access to nutritious food for all South Africans.

Despite the urgency of this issue, a significant portion of food waste occurs during processing and packaging stages (49%), and another 18% is lost at the consumption stage. To effectively address these challenges, he believes South Africa needs an integrated strategy requiring cooperation between government departments overseeing agriculture, environment, health, and social welfare. Alongside this, both incentives for redistributing food surpluses and stricter food waste disposal rules are critically important.

The professor noted that the high cost of healthy food, which can account for nearly 70% of a nutritious diet, remains a barrier to access. Weak cold chain systems, unreliable energy sources, and inefficient distribution networks compound these problems, increasing costs at every stage of the food supply chain.

It is crucial that all stakeholders in this chain—government, private sector, and civil society—collaborate to ensure that food surpluses are stored, transported, and distributed rather than simply being thrown away. Professor Wolschenk stated that to achieve the goal set under the UN Sustainable Development Goal for sustainable consumption and production, South Africa must aim to halve food waste per capita by 2030.

For practical solutions to combat food waste, the professor proposed several strategies:

• At the farm level: Producers should align output volumes with market demand and seek sales channels for lower-quality produce.
• Food processing: Improving food safety standards and implementing innovative preservation methods can extend product shelf life.
• Retailers: Incentives for discounts on near-expiry items and establishing partnerships with non-profit organizations for food donations are necessary.
• Consumer behavior: Buyers should plan meals better, prefer local seasonal produce, and revive food preservation methods to minimize waste.

The professor concluded that poverty, inequality, hunger, food waste, climate change, and water scarcity cannot be solved in isolation. He added that every ton of edible food sent to landfills represents a significant loss of resources and emissions, coexisting with households going to bed hungry and those consuming nutrient-poor, energy-dense food. The effectiveness of South Africa's food system should be measured by how well it truly nourishes every citizen, especially amid a changing climate.

In South Africa, low-income households face food insecurity while simultaneously battling rising obesity and poor nutrition. This is because cheap, highly processed food is often more accessible than fresh, nutritious alternatives.

According to Riza Babule, a non-profit organization that works with low-income communities through agricultural, skills, and entrepreneurship development, the problem cannot be solved with simple recommendations on choosing healthier food.

Aleph Meulenberg, founder of Rhiza Holdings, noted: 'South Africa is not starving, but it is undernourished.' He added that despite numerous feeding programs, the food provided is often insufficiently nutritious. In his view, people cannot be blamed for choosing cheap food if it is all they can afford. To create healthier communities, healthy food must be made accessible.

This warning came amid the National Nutrition Week from October 9 to 15 under the slogan 'Creating a healthy food environment for better nutrition,' followed by World Food Security Day on October 16 with the theme 'Innovate today, feed tomorrow.'

For Rhiza, part of the solution lies not just in distributing food, but in helping communities grow, sell, and earn income from it. In areas where low incomes and unemployment hinder maintaining a healthy diet, the organization uses agriculture to increase access to fresh produce and create economic opportunities.

The organization's programs combine practical farming with the business acumen needed to turn food production into a source of income. These programs include school vegetable gardens and youth agri-entrepreneurship. Meulenberg reported that they have developed models allowing schools to establish their own vegetable plots.

Furthermore, an entrepreneurship program was created where youth are trained in business related to organic and healthier foods so they can offer communities options that were previously unavailable at a similar price. This work includes Tutuwa Farm in Diepsloot, where participants are trained in crop production and introduced to commercial farming, as well as Amatuba Farm in Orange Farm, where seedlings and vegetables, including spinach, onions, broccoli, beetroot, and eggplant, are grown.

The ultimate goal is to move people beyond simply growing food and guide them toward establishing viable agricultural enterprises. Meulenberg emphasized that 'growing food is only one part of the process.' He added that people need to understand the market, the consumer, pricing, and how to ensure business sustainability.

This approach forms the basis of Rhiza's agri-entrepreneurship model, which combines agricultural skills with entrepreneurship, employment opportunities, and practical experience. According to Meulenberg, if people can produce food and earn income from it, two problems are solved at once: food and economic security, which should not be viewed separately.

School vegetable gardens aim to provide fresh produce while teaching children the process of growing food. Meulenberg noted that the benefits of better nutrition can extend far beyond the dinner table. He stated that improved nutrition can lead to reduced growth stunting, better physical and brain development, and ultimately—better educational and health outcomes.

Rhiza sees a close link between agriculture, nutrition, and innovation. Meulenberg clarified that innovation does not necessarily mean complex technology; it can be finding better ways to use land, engaging youth in agriculture, establishing links between producers and markets, and producing food closer to consumers.

He noted that the main task is to ensure that healthy food is accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it. 'Food should nourish people, but it can also create opportunities. If we can make these two things work together, agriculture can become part of the solution to hunger, malnutrition, and unemployment.'

Meulenberg concluded that no single organization or sector can create a healthy food environment alone. He called for joint efforts from government, farmers, businesses, schools, and communities. 'We need to produce better food, make it accessible and affordable, and create opportunities for people to participate in the food economy. If we work together, we can build a food system that not only feeds people but also gives them the opportunity to live healthier and more secure lives.'

For young people considering a career in agriculture, the question of choosing an educational institution is giving way to the search for practical experience, industry exposure, and acquiring skills needed by the sector. Agri Skills Transfer believes the answer lies at the intersection of theory and practice.

Ahead of the 2027 intake, the institution is expanding its programs, infrastructure, and partnerships with industry. The goal of this expansion is to graduate specialists who understand farming as a production system and as a business.

Laurika du Bois, Marketing and Communications Manager at Agri Skills Transfer, notes that the future of agriculture belongs to those who can combine knowledge with practical ability and understand the real aspects of production.

The institution is located in Groenkloof, Pretoria, and offers National Diploma programs in Animal Husbandry and Crop Production. Practical training takes place at the Kallinan Farm Training Centre, where students personally observe how production decisions are made on an active farm.

A significant change before the start of the 2027 academic year is the construction of a new building with residential facilities. It is intended to improve the educational environment for students who require accommodation during their studies.

Furthermore, the institution is adding a QCTO Higher Professional Qualification certificate in mixed crop and animal production at NQF Level 5. This program considers the specificities of South African agriculture, where successful farmers increasingly need to understand crop and livestock production, resource management, and the interrelation of various enterprises.

A new course in wildlife and game management is opening, providing an additional pathway for students interested in the country's growing farming and wildlife sectors.

Starting in 2027, second-year National Diploma students will be guaranteed employment through agreements and contracts with host farms. The objective is to place students where they can gain meaningful experience related to their studies, while developing practical competence, professional networks, and a clearer understanding of employer and commercial farm requirements.

In Kallinan, students study crop cultivation from preparation and planting to harvest development, including maize and open-field crops. Regarding animal husbandry, Agri Skills Transfer collaborates with industry partners such as Dan Bred in swine production and Design Biologix in beef and dairy. The institution is also establishing contacts with organizations like PICRSA and Bierman Poultry. Through these partnerships, students see the application of technology, genetics, production systems, and specialized knowledge outside the classroom.

The institution describes its offering for 2027 as comprehensive practical agricultural training, rather than just qualification attainment. Every student receives a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit, including a branded jacket and trousers, protective footwear, boots, a field hat, safety glasses, gloves, and respirators. Students also receive an official branded field shirt for participation in Nampo and other industry events, three branded work shirts, and a box of essential farming tools for practical training.

All learning materials are included in the package, and guest lecturers bring additional industry knowledge into the classroom. The package also includes short courses valued over 40,000 Rand, as well as the new wildlife and game management course.

Students living in the dormitory benefit from hostel-style accommodation with an en-suite bathroom, mini-kitchen, Wi-Fi, laundry, and seven-day-a-week meals. Additionally, students will participate in trips to Nampo and other industry events, allowing them to connect with leading agricultural companies, technologies, equipment, and best practices.

Agri Skills Transfer asserts that South Africa needs a new generation of agricultural specialists who understand production, technology, business, and the changing demands of the sector. The 2027 offering is built on this principle: studying theory, gaining practical experience, networking with the industry, and building confidence to shape the future of agriculture.

The institution's message to youth is that agriculture offers far more opportunities than many realize, and that qualifications can transform into careers, businesses, and futures. Agri Skills Transfer states: 'The classroom is just the beginning: the farm is the laboratory, the industry is the teacher, and the future is the destination.'