Dr Dirk Strydom, managing director of Nampo, said this year’s event demonstrated how rapidly agriculture is adapting through innovation, technology, and practical problem-solving, reflecting the theme, ‘Resilience through Innovation’.
Despite heavy rainfall before the event, organisers successfully staged the show after extensive preparation and operational planning.
“The lead-up to Nampo this year was exceptional. A week before the show, sections of the terrain were still heavily waterlogged following significant rainfall, yet the team worked around the clock to ensure the park was ready for exhibitors and visitors,” Strydom told Farmer’s Weekly.
The wet conditions also created major traffic pressure after more than 30km of gravel access roads became impassable, forcing most traffic onto the R30 corridor.
Traffic congestion was further intensified on 13 May when Toyota South Africa Motors held its Toyota Hilux Guinness World Record attempts at Nampo Park. The event attracted 1 545 Toyota Hilux bakkies and temporarily placed additional pressure on traffic flow in and around Bothaville.
While the additional traffic caused frustration for some visitors, organisers said the world-record attempt also highlighted Nampo’s growing appeal beyond traditional agriculture and demonstrated its ability to host large-scale national events alongside the show.
“We sincerely appreciate the patience and support shown by the public. Our teams worked closely with traffic authorities to stabilise the situation as quickly as possible. We are also proud that Nampo could host such a unique world-record attempt alongside the Harvest Day,” Strydom said.
The Hilux activation added further public visibility to the show and contributed to the festival-like atmosphere around Nampo Park during the week, underlining the growing crossover between agriculture, mobility, technology, and lifestyle brands.
Cost pressures and biosecurity in focus
A major focus throughout the week was the growing pressure on producer profitability amid rising input costs, low commodity prices, logistics failures, and policy uncertainty.
At the same time, exhibitors placed growing emphasis on tools and systems designed to help farmers operate more efficiently, from advanced machinery to data-driven farming solutions and sustainability-focused innovations.
“Across the park, you could see exhibitors focusing on technologies, equipment, precision systems, and production methods aimed at helping farmers improve efficiency and remain sustainable in difficult conditions. That spirit of resilience was visible throughout Nampo,” Strydom said.
Biosecurity also emerged as one of the defining features of Nampo 2026 as organisers responded to the impact of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on the livestock industry. Despite strict disease-control measures, exhibitors adapted through alternative exhibition methods, educational demonstrations, and technology-driven displays to keep the livestock component relevant and informative.
Nampo implemented extensive biosecurity protocols throughout the event. Permanent biosecurity dams were installed, requiring every vehicle entering or leaving the showgrounds to pass through them.
Pedestrians were also instructed to walk through disinfectant powder to reduce the risk of contamination via footwear.
The measures highlighted the growing importance of biosecurity management in South African agriculture and how future agricultural exhibitions may need to balance industry engagement with strict disease-prevention protocols.
Skills development and industry dialogue
Strydom also pointed to Nampo’s growing emphasis on agricultural skills development through Grain SA’s Nampo-Tech initiative, which brought together government, training institutions, and agribusinesses to discuss shortages of skilled agricultural technicians and technology specialists.
“Nampo-Tech reflects the future direction of agriculture. Innovation alone is not enough; we need skilled people who can apply, maintain, and grow these technologies within the agricultural economy,” he said.
The event also served as a platform for broader strategic discussions around export competitiveness, infrastructure constraints, biofuel, financing pressure, and expanding the domestic agricultural value chain.
Positive feedback from exhibitors confirmed strong business engagement across the value chain, with many companies reporting quality interactions and significant commercial interest throughout the week.
Richard Krige, chairperson of Grain SA, said the quality of engagement at Nampo reinforced the importance of the event for both agriculture and agribusiness.
“Nampo remains one of the most important platforms for agricultural business and engagement anywhere in the world. The quality of discussions, innovation, and networking seen this week reinforces the resilience and long-term potential of South African agriculture,” he said.
Grain SA now turns its attention to Nampo Cape, which will take place from 9 to 12 September in Bredasdorp, Western Cape.
