On the first day of the conference, Dr Cobus Oberholster, managing director at BKB Financial, will deliver the keynote address in which he will reveal the results of research that has identified the mega-trends with the potential to define agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa by 2055.
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Setting the scene for Dr Oberholster is renowned futurist, Craig Wing of FutureWorld, who specialises in scenario planning in the entrepreneurial space.
Wing will present his unique insights into how technology will shape the future of farming and agribusiness in Africa.
First-day panel discussions will cover various topics, including preparing African farmers for the next drought; invigorating Africa’s agriculture value chain; and how to navigate the bureaucratic and regulatory network when doing business in Africa.
Some of the panellists to delve into these matters include:
- Antonie Delport, CEO of Syngenta Southern Africa,
- Antois van der Westhuizen, managing director of Sub Sahara Africa – John Deere Financial,
- Dr Dawie Maree, head of Information and Marketing for Agriculture at FNB Business,
- Maniki Rakgalakane, managing director of the Land Bank Insurance Company,
- Ezra Steenkamp, deputy director of the Trade Research Directorate: International Trade at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
- Dr Langa Simela, business development manager at ABSA,
- Lindie Stroebel, general manager at Produce Marketing Association Southern Africa,
- Cecilia Khupe, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership’s Programs director, and
- Nick Goble, business manager at PANNAR SEED.
On the second, Pravin Gordhan, former national Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament, will be delivering the keynote address.
Gordhan will discuss Africa`s readiness to trade and compete with the rest of the world.
The second day will feature a panel discussion on how Africa can scale-up investment in agriculture and agricultural production to provide food for the continent’s rapidly growing population.
Panellists will include, amongst others, Nigel Gwynneth Evans, chief director for African Integration and Industrial Development and the Department of Trade and Industry, Dr John Purchase, CEO of the South African Agricultural Business Chamber, Dr Klaus Eckstein, Bayer’s CEO and head of crop science in Southern Africa, and Dr Theo de Jager, who will be representing the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions.
Register now for the conference, or contact Marianna du Plessis at [email protected].
