Urban farming has changed the agricultural landscape globally. The practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in and around urban areas is a major contributor to economic development in Mzansi.
In this episode, Tanya van Stade, founder of Seeds For Life, talks about their organic urban farming initiative and distribution rights on BioAge Certified Organic fertilisers in the Western Cape and Northern Cape.
Seeds For Life started during the Covid-19 pandemic with subsistence gardening. They started by drying their own seeds, planting and sharing their harvest with neighbours, friends and family.
“The cooperative came to life when we extended to a community vegetable garden. We grow and sell organic vegetables to our local community at affordable prices, which is much less than conventional produce,” Van Stade explains.
Importance of organic urban farming
According to Van Stade, what is of utmost importance to them as a cooperative is that they remain to thrive with sustainable development goals in mind. Their goal, she adds, is to address hunger in the country.
“Organic urban farming is [a] healthier option when you grow your own crops without the use of chemical fertilisers, in other words, conventional methods. Organic farming speaks to the sustainable development goals, especially goal No 2 which addresses zero hunger.”
Van Stade says they are proud to be affiliated with BioAge. In the podcast, she explains that the owner of BioAge, Reuben Rampersad, headhunted Seeds For Life to be one of the official distributors for his product range. “We obtained sole distribution rights in the Western Cape and the Northern Cape Province, including exports to African countries.”
In this episode, Van Stade also discusses:
- BioAge and the obtaining sole distribution rights; and
- Advice to farmers.
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