As South Africa faces growing climate pressures, small-scale farmers are standing at the centre of both the challenge and the solution. On Saturday, 15 November 2025, Food For Mzansi will host the second annual Summit on Climate Change and Agriculture at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus.
The one-day event will bring together academia, policymakers, agribusiness leaders, farmers and other experts to unpack how agriculture can adapt to increasingly extreme weather and rising production costs, while protecting the planet’s resources. Tickets cost R275 (incl. VAT) and are available at www.agriclimatesummit.co.za.
Siphiwe Sithole, founder of African Marmalade, will deliver this year’s keynote address. Her pioneering work is transforming indigenous African crops into a movement for climate resilience. From finger millet to African pumpkin, she is helping farmers cultivate crops that can thrive in tough conditions while reviving food heritage and nutrition across communities.
Another highlight will be Dr Naudé Malan, senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg and founder of iZindaba Zokudla, a groundbreaking initiative that supports urban farmers in Gauteng. Through innovation labs and seed libraries, the project equips township producers to grow sustainable, climate-smart crops and build their own food enterprises.
Experts on climate-smart farming
Emile Jordaan, general manager at Metos SA, will explore how weather-based decision-support tools are helping farmers plan more effectively and reduce risks linked to drought, pests, and disease. His talk will highlight how access to data can turn uncertainty into better on-farm decision-making.
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Sustainability scientist Dr Ndeke Musee, founder of Beyond Genβeta Solutions, will share insights from his Agricultural Planetary Boundaries Audit Framework, a model designed to ensure that agricultural production remains both productive and ecologically responsible.
The summit will also feature Dr Andrea Campher, senior manager for sustainability and agribusiness at Standard Bank, who will discuss the role of climate-smart agriculture in adapting to drought, managing emissions, and building resilient food systems.
Buhlebemvelo Dube, an agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, will unpack new research on how climate shocks, market concentration, and input costs are reshaping South Africa’s wheat sector and threatening long-term food security.
Food For Mzansi co-founder and editor-in-chief Ivor Price says the event could not come at a more urgent time.
He says, “Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is here, and small-scale farmers are among the most affected. Yet they are also among the most innovative and determined. This summit is about giving them a platform to share solutions and shape the future of African agriculture.”
The Summit on Climate Change and Agriculture promises a full day of dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration, designed to empower farmers and stakeholders to take practical steps toward climate resilience.
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