Nampo Cape will host a focused seminar on protected agriculture, also known as controlled environmental agriculture, at Bredasdorp Park on Friday, 11 September 2026 as part of the Nampo Cape 2026 programme.
According to Grain SA, the seminar will explore how tunnel production, hydroponics, climate control and precision water management can strengthen the Western Cape vegetable industry in the face of climate pressures, water scarcity and increasing market expectations.
“Nampo Cape 2026 will take place from 9 to 12 September 2026 at Bredasdorp Park, one of the Western Cape’s leading agricultural trading platforms. The seminar positions controlled environmental agriculture as a practical and commercially relevant answer to the growing need for consistent quality, improved resource efficiency and reliable, annual supply to fresh produce markets.
“Seminar theme and programme focus under the theme ‘Protected agriculture as the future of the Western Cape vegetable industry’. The two-hour programme will bring together technical, economic and market-related perspectives,” Nampo Cape said in a statement.
Presentations will cover climate resilience, protected production infrastructure, retail and market requirements, socio-economic opportunities, and the macroeconomic case for investing in technology-driven food security. Economist Dawie Roodt is expected to present the final perspective on the economic future of technology-assisted agricultural production.
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The seminar will also highlight the role Nampo Cape can play as more than just an annual exhibition. The organisation stated that by creating a dedicated platform for controlled environmental agriculture and hydroponic innovation, Bredasdorp Park has the opportunity to become a permanent demonstration and knowledge transfer hub where producers can connect with the latest tunnelling technology, automation systems, water-saving solutions and production models suitable for Cape conditions.
Industry value and benefits for producers
“Protected agriculture provides producers with a practical way to reduce production risk, use water more efficiently and deliver consistent, premium-quality crops to the market.
“This seminar aims to provide producers, investors and industry stakeholders with a clear understanding of the practical and economic value of controlled environmental agriculture, while further strengthening Nampo Cape’s role as a platform for agricultural innovation in the Western Cape.”
The seminar is aimed at vegetable producers, emerging farmers, agribusinesses, technology providers, retailers, policymakers, investors and other stakeholders involved in food security, water management and sustainable agricultural development.
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