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in Farmer's Inside Track

Canola industry blooming with opportunities

Want to stay ahead in farming? Learn about the surge of investment and opportunities in South Africa's canola industry with Zander Spammer's valuable insights. Discover why integrating canola into crop rotations could be a game-changer for your farm's profitability

by Octavia Avesca Spandiel
17th March 2024
Zander Spammer, agricultural resource manager at Southern Oil. Photo: Food For Mzansi

Zander Spammer, agricultural resource manager at Southern Oil. Photo: Food For Mzansi

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The canola industry is experiencing a surge of optimism and investment, presenting numerous opportunities for farmers in South Africa. For farmers seeking strategic opportunities, this sector presents numerous avenues for growth and profitability, says Zander Spammer, agricultural resource manager at Southern Oil.

In an episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, Spammer shared valuable insights for farmers on trends, promising opportunities, and the compelling reasons to consider incorporating canola into their crop rotation systems.

Spammer emphasised the growing investment and focus on canola, highlighting a significant development.

High market demand for canola

“Australia’s research and development companies just released R200 million of funds into canola cultivars. Since we import all our canola cultivars from Australia, this will significantly improve the cultivars available to South African farmers,” he explained.

This investment paves the way for better yields, a crucial factor in attracting farmers to this promising crop. Spammer further assures farmers that the market is primed for canola.

“The demand is there, and our farmers are some of the best in the world, if not the best. They’ve readily adopted technology, particularly precision farming techniques like targeted spraying and fertilisation, which play a pivotal role in their success.”

This combination of market readiness and technological adoption positions South African farmers to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the thriving canola industry.

Beyond the golden fields of the Western Cape, the future of canola in South Africa appears bright.

In this episode, he also discusses:

  • Technological advancements in the canola industry;
  • Challenges faced in the canola industry; and
  • Advice to farmers who are interested in farming with canola.

 Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track. 

Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).

Option 2: Click here to listen on any Apple device. 

Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.

ALSO READ: Chicken farming for beginners: Your poultry path starts here

Sign up for Farmer’s Inside Track: Join our exclusive platform for new entrants into farming and agri-business, with newsletters and podcasts.  

Octavia Avesca Spandiel

Raised by a close-knitted family who loves her deeply, Octavia believes in the philosophy of ‘I am because you are'. This former news and content editor for radio is now living her best life in the agricultural sector as a commercial journalist at Food For Mzansi. Her soft spot for poetry and passion for life, writing and traveling inspires her to write compelling stories. Apart from being an excellent writer, Octavia has an educational background in youth work and loves working with people. 

Tags: canola farmingCanola oilCommercialising farmerCrop farmersSouthern Oil (SOILL)Teach me
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