South Africa Agribusiness Newest Agri-tech trends

Science and Technology are fast emerging in the Agribusiness sector. Here are some of the top trends to watch in South Africa.

•    Artificial Intelligence technology related to farm monitoring and pest management solutions. Farmers are reaping the benefits of AI-enabled early detection of pests and diseases using drone imagery services.  Anything that can optimize and protect yields is a priority for farmers. A company working with this technology guarantees multispectral and thermal imagery to deliver data at a level unseen to the naked eye. Precision farming is the new buzzword!

•    Virtual marketplaces are available for farmers and there are many platforms newly created. The most common of these platforms directly connect sellers of farm products to buyers of fresh produce and offer secure transactions. Buyers place orders and the transactions are handled by a third-party provider, making it more secure. This eradicates the need for intermediaries and offers transparent pricing. South Africa also has a massive informal market and there are innovative platforms that connect small-scale farmers to informal traders, small businesses or street vendors in areas with high commuter traffic. This improves market access for the smaller sellers and growers.

•    Crowd farming, shouldn’t that be crowdfunding I hear you say… it’s the same idea but related to farming, an innovative method of agriculture. Investments can include equities, real estate, and debt. It enables more investors to get involved for smaller amounts of money. This type of investment offers greater transparency, increased access to capital, and lower costs than the traditional financial service routes. This has been seen in everything from cattle to mussel farms.

•    A movement towards more sustainable farming such as indoor vertical growing facilities and hydroponic systems offering controlled environments. This uses considerably less land, water, and manpower.

•    Apps sharing equipment/machinery and vehicles are on the increase. There is growth in the sharing economy which is opening up a new way of doing business. Apps sharing equipment and tractors have been very successful.

These are but a few new trends that South African farmers are experiencing. What does your U.S. company offer… are you in possession of something new and trendy in the Agri-Tech space? The U.S. is a leader in AI, information technology, and agribusiness, and its companies are widely regarded for their innovative products, services, and training, making them competitive in the South African market.

Please reach out and share your innovations with the U.S. Commercial Services South Africa who can find local representatives for your product. 
For more information contact: 

Kirsten Bell, Commercial Specialist Kirsten.Bell@trade.gov 
U.S. Consulate Durban, South Africa