With a national footprint, Agrimark works closely with producers across various subsectors, which has allowed it to observe an increase in regenerative farming methods across different production crops.
“ We’ re seeing major investment in these practices among wine, citrus and table grape producers, as well as in apple and pear production, because export markets are demanding it. It’ s less advanced in the grain sector, but we’ re starting to see more interest as producers explore ways to improve soil health over the long term. The challenge lies in applying regenerative practices at scale, while still ensuring consistent yields. It’ s a learning process, and different sectors are at different stages of that journey.”
He says that an interesting trend fuelling the uptick is a mindset shift amongst younger-generation farmers.
“ There’ s definitely a long-term view emerging – especialy around soil health and resilience,” he adds.“ And with better soil health, you often see the potential for better yields and cost efficiencies too.”
Arno Abeln, Managing Director of Agrimark, believes regenerative farming is key to keeping South African farmers globally competitive.