Growing up on Mooigezicht Estates in the Western Cape’s Hex River Valley, Francois Rossouw Jnr, now 31, always knew he wanted to farm – just like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather before him.

During school holidays, he relished helping on the family’s table grape farm. After finishing high school, he prepared for his future by studying agricultural economics at Stellenbosch University, then spent eight months gaining international market exposure, visiting key table grape destinations in the EU, East Asia, and the UK.

He also spent three months in California, US, working at a leading cultivar development company, where he was introduced to the latest global trends in table grape breeding, before his dad, Francois Rossouw Snr – himself the Western Cape Farmer of the Year in 2014 – invited him to join Mooigezicht as a farm manager.

Environmentally responsible production

Mooigezicht is one of South Africa’s largest table grape producers, with 400ha under production. The business exports roughly two million 4,5kg cartons of table grapes annually and employs over 360 permanent workers, a number that grows to more than 2 000 during the peak harvest season.

Despite its size, Mooigezicht is guided by a long-term vision that places equal weight on economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

“We’re not farming to make a quick buck,” says Francois Jnr. “We’re farming for the future – our people, our land, and the generations to come.”

His mindset is reflected in the estate’s recent investments, including a 1,2MW solar power plant and 9km private network to supply five of Mooigezicht’s 12 production units with renewable energy.

The system’s production and stability will be monitored over the next year and, if all goes to plan, it will be expanded to supply electricity to worker houses on these farms, representing two-thirds of the 340 farmworker houses across Mooigezicht.

“Going solar was not just a business move; it was about becoming more self-reliant, reducing our carbon footprint, and easing pressure on the national grid. It also has the potential to lower electricity costs for families living in [the] houses, which is a big win for everyone,” explains Francois Jnr.

In addition, the business is replacing bakkies, where feasible, with electric motorbikes to reduce diesel consumption. This shift that will further reduce the Mooigezicht’s carbon footprint, especially once the bikes can be recharged with renewable energy.

Another step is to convert the entire tractor fleet to electric by 2050, with several Chinese models being trialled for this purpose.

Francois Jnr is equally passionate about soil health. Over the past few years, they’ve been planting cover crops between vineyard rows to suppress weeds, improve soil structure, buffer the soil against temperature extremes, build soil carbon levels, and create favourable habitats for beneficial insects and organisms.

Their choice of cover crops is guided by advice from Agricol, based on soil conditions and specific objectives.

“The cover crops are rolled flat in spring to minimise competition with the vines, and then reseeded around April each year,” says Francois Jnr.

New technology

He believes that one of the biggest advantages the new generation brings to family farms is a willingness to embrace technology.

“I love new technology and the efficiencies it can offer. The trick is to find solutions that genuinely add value to production, rather than chasing innovation for its own sake,” he says.

Mooigezicht has invested in a range of digital tools and solutions over the years to enhance decision-making and streamline farm operations. These include remotely managed precision irrigation systems, farm management software to monitor everything from labour performance to logistics, and digital platforms for real-time monitoring of weather, soil moisture, and pest pressure.

“Having access to accurate, real-time data means we can respond faster and manage inputs more efficiently,” explains Francois Jnr. “For example, we record everything from berry size to sugar content and colour at specific growth stages. This helps us make better-informed decisions about vineyard management and align our packhouse and marketing strategies with the anticipated crop load,” he explains.

However, he notes that one of the biggest challenges is that these technologies often operate on separate platforms: “We’re in discussions with one of our providers to develop a centralised platform that can pull all the data together and provide a holistic view of what’s happening on the farm.”

Such an integrated system will not only save time but also improve accuracy and coordination across teams.

“It will make it much easier to pick up trends, make quicker decisions, and ensure that everyone involved – from those working in the vineyard to the packhouse and market – is working from the same, up-to-date information,” he says.

People at the heart of the business

While Mooigezicht is well known for its scale, innovation, and quality, Francois Jnr believes the business’s true strength lies with its people.

“We wouldn’t be able to produce the excellent-quality table grapes South Africa is known for without our workers. That’s why we invest heavily in training and development, and why we have established two preschool facilities, along with a range of programmes supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual growth of children in our community,” he explains.

He adds that the table grape industry faces a growing shortage of young people entering the sector, which Mooigezicht hopes to address: “Our wish is to equip the children in our community with the skills and opportunities they need to one day become strong contributors to the farm – if they choose to work in agriculture.”

Francois Jnr’s advice to other young farmers is to stay optimistic: “Positivity makes it easier to see opportunities for growth, innovation, and making a meaningful impact in your community.

“Afterall, farming is ultimately about stewardship – of land, people, and possibility. If we invest in the right things now, we’ll build a future worth farming for.”

Email Francois Rossouw Jnr at [email protected].