In a country where millions of people go to bed hungry, Oribi, an NPO, has taken up the task to improve South Africa’s food security.

In April, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization registered a third consecutive record food price index, with prices 34% higher than a year previously.

“These rising food prices are in face of an ailing economy, with increasing poverty, high unemployment rates and increasing inequalities. Despite the Constitution stating everyone’s right to sufficient food, 25% of households have inadequate access to food, and 27% of children under five are negatively impacted by this in terms of their growth of development, as found by the WWF,“ Oribi said in a media statement.

The organisation’s goal is to activate a whole food system through the work of local entrepreneurs by helping them to become strong leaders in order to connect with the South African food ecosystem.

Oribi’s latest project, the #FoodSystem Programme, is now looking for entrepreneurs to apply to this food incubation programme.

“One of the country’s first socially innovative food incubation programmes, aims to unleash the potential of entrepreneurs to tackle South Africa’s hunger crisis. To date, 75 entrepreneurs have participated in Oribi’s incubation programmes,” Oribi said in a media statement.

This isn’t only for farmers, but entrepreneurs who work on the full food value chain, therefore some of them grow food, deliver food, sell food or even create food related tech products.

Nthakoana Maema, head of Oribi, says the NPO’s goal is to strengthen the entrepreneurial mindset and confidence of 50 food system innovators, especially women and young people from rural and urban townships.

“Our ultimate mission is to help launch innovative social enterprises that enable food security in South Africa and build trust in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem to unlock collective growth.”

The focus of the programme is on entrepreneurship skills training, mentorship, fostering operational partnerships and provides financial support of up to R100 000 in grants to selected participants at the end of the incubation programme.

According to Oribi, entrepreneurs from all over South Africa, including rural and urban areas in all provinces, have been participating in this programme.

An example of one of the programme’s success stories is Living Soil, a training academy that teaches women the agroecological principals of farming.

“Through their farming school, they also create employment and internship opportunities on how to run a farm. We are extremely excited to see them being successful and currently collaborating with Woolworths to build farming schools in other parts of the country.”

Candidates in the programme will work hard to compete in different phases. In the third and final phase, the top 10 innovators will have the opportunity to pitch for funding and receive a grant of up to R100 000 to launch their new ventures, with sustained support.

“Food is a vital part of our day-to-day lives. For anyone privileged enough to not experience hunger, it is easy to take for granted concerns about food security and our food system. It is tempting to look the other way when it doesn’t affect us directly. Yet South Africa’s current hunger crisis and food security concerns are very real and are increasing,” says Lucas Tsatsi, Oribi’s operating officer.

“The inadequacy and fragility of our broken food system becomes more apparent as our food crisis worsens, which is why we believe now is a great time to launch our #FoodSystem incubation programme. Our intention is to connect the dots within our existing food system by creating opportunities for local food entrepreneurs to build a supportive ecosystem and network.”

Oribi is calling on all small to medium sized food businesses and entrepreneurs to apply. Entries are now open to join the programme and close 18th July 2022. To apply, visit www.oribi.org.za.