#McCainFarmOfTheFutureAfrica #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainablePotatoFarming #SolarTechnology #Sustainability #SouthAfricanAgriculture
McCain Foods Limited, a leading frozen food manufacturer in South Africa, has officially opened its Farm of the Future Africa in Lichtenburg, North West, to revolutionize the potato farming industry. The project, part of McCain’s Farms of the Future initiative, is focused on implementing regenerative agriculture techniques in potato production, enhancing soil health and biodiversity, and reducing the use of synthetic inputs.
The R100 million investment in the Farm of the Future Africa project is aimed at promoting sustainable spud production, boosting productivity, and profitability while enhancing sustainability across the value chain. The initiative will act as a research hub for regenerative agriculture practices in South Africa, which contributes approximately R 6.6 billion to the country’s GDP.
According to Unathi Mhlatyana, Managing Director of McCain Foods South Africa, the project demonstrates McCain’s commitment to producing planet-friendly food and promoting sustainability across its value chain. “Farm of the Future Africa will test and feature innovative processes and technologies, specifically tailored for the Southern Hemisphere, in a collaborative hive that will bring together academics, industry and technology partners and farmers, working together to reimagine the way we grow a potato – approaches that are better for farms and the planet.”
In line with McCain’s Resource-Efficient Operations sustainability pillar, the farm uses solar energy to power the main office and various machine sheds, with further investigations into the use of solar technology to aid in field irrigation. McCain has committed to implementing regenerative agricultural practices across 100% of its potato acreage by 2030 as part of its sustainability goals.
The Farm of the Future Africa project is set to become an effective platform for recruiting and training talent in the agricultural sector, promoting local research and development and enhancing food certainty, direct and indirect employment, and the livelihoods of farmers. With the challenges facing the agricultural sector, McCain’s Farms of the Future initiative is a step towards enabling the industry to thrive while combating the effects of climate change.
