South Africa’s most urgent agricultural conversation is returning to Johannesburg this month – and this year, it’s bigger, bolder, and packed with powerhouse voices redefining the future of farming.
The second annual Summit on Climate Change & Agriculture, hosted by Food For Mzansi, takes place on Saturday, 15 November 2025, at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus. The one-day event will spotlight how farmers, researchers, and innovators are tackling the realities of climate change head-on – from seed to soil, and from lab to plate.
Leading the speaker line-up is Siphiwe Sithole, founder of African Marmalade, who’s turning indigenous African crops into a movement. From finger millet to African pumpkin, she’s championing climate-resilient farming and empowering smallholder producers to thrive where others fail.
Also taking the stage is Dr Naudé Malan, founder of Izindaba Zokudla, the groundbreaking urban agriculture project shaking up Soweto’s food systems. His work is proof that food sovereignty can be homegrown, innovative, and resilient in the face of climate disruption.
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The line-up also features, among others:
- Dr Andrea Campher, senior manager for sustainability and agribusiness at Standard Bank, who will unpack how climate-smart practices and carbon markets can strengthen food systems;
- Dr Ndeke Musee, founder of Beyond Genβeta Solutions, whose groundbreaking Agricultural Planetary Boundaries Audit Framework helps ensure farming stays within environmental limits;
- Emile Jordaan, general manager of Metos SA, who’s helping farmers turn unpredictable weather into actionable strategy through precision data; and
- Buhlebemvelo Dube, agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, who will share new insights on how climate shocks are reshaping South Africa’s wheat sector.
- Ernest Makua, livestock technical advisor at Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), who will share practical insights on strengthening South Africa’s red meat value chain through traceability, disease monitoring, and market access.
“The summit brings together brilliant minds, but more importantly, it connects small-scale farmers and agripreneurs with real-world solutions to the challenges of climate change,” says Ivor Price, co-founder of Food For Mzansi. “We’re not just talking about the climate crisis — we’re creating a space for collaboration, innovation, and action.”
Tickets are now on sale at www.agriclimatesummit.co.za for R275 (including VAT). With climate change threatening South Africa’s food security, this summit is a must for anyone passionate about building a resilient, sustainable future for agriculture.
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