Breakfast meeting for urban farmers
Agritourism adds extra value to the world hence the need to prioritise eco-friendly farming methods.
FIFTY people from different agriculture trades attended the business networking breakfast hosted by South of Joburg Business and Tourism (SOJO) at Gold Reef City on June 27.
The meeting aimed at engaging and linking urban farmers, entrepreneurs, academics, civil servants and other stakeholders in responding to the food resilience strategy in Johannesburg.
Guest speaker Dr Naudé Malan, a senior lecturer in development studies at the University of Johannesburg, introduced several ways to build sustainable businesses.
“Imagining a business in a different way for the concerns of the future, agricultural science may tell you how to be a good farmer but we are facing serious problems as our strategies are pushing our climate into a tipping point where we may sell profits but in future, it is very unsustainable,” he said.
Malan said by bringing in stakeholders who have an interest in change, linkages can be built between emergent businesses and established ones.
He also hosts the iZindaba Zokudla Farmers School and Innovation Lab where stakeholders and emerging farmers can meet to develop innovative and sustainable farming systems.
SOJO CEO Nicky Vakaloudis said the meeting was successful in networking urban farmers and urban agriculture in Johannesburg.
“Businesses learned more on how they can work together, how to adapt ideas to empower the poor community, considering food is a scarce commodity that is needed for basic survival,” she said.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, SOJO has successfully hosted three other breakfast meetings all aimed at making businesses in Johannesburg conducive for all parties involved.
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