Taking place from 9 to 12 September under the theme ‘Together We Grow’, this year’s expo will focus on collaboration, innovation, and practical solutions to strengthen South African agriculture’s competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
According to Dr Dirk Strydom, managing director of Nampo, the theme reflects the growing importance of partnerships across the agricultural value chain, bringing together producers, agribusinesses, researchers, service providers, financiers, policymakers, and rural communities to address shared opportunities and challenges.
More than 500 exhibitors will occupy 600 exhibition spaces across the 32ha Bredasdorp Park. Visitors can expect the latest advances in agricultural technology, mechanisation, livestock and crop production, water management, and business services, alongside a comprehensive programme of industry discussions, demonstrations, and networking opportunities.
Strydom said the event has evolved far beyond a regional agricultural exhibition.
“Nampo Cape has become one of the most important platforms for agriculture in the Cape provinces. Its growth reflects the strength, diversity, and resilience of agriculture in the Western Cape but also the need for producers to have a practical platform close to their own production environment,” he told Farmer’s Weekly.
Strydom explained that the Western Cape’s highly specialised agriculture sector (from livestock and winter grains to fruit and wine) has shaped Nampo Cape’s evolution.
“It is a place where producers view equipment, compare technology, speak to suppliers, engage with industry bodies, discuss policy issues, and make business decisions,” he said.
Record attendance expected
Nampo Cape attracted a record 49 326 visitors in 2025, and Strydom said he expects another strong turnout this year.
“Our planning is based on attendance in line with, and potentially above, the 2025 figure,” he said.
Although weather and current farming conditions could influence visitor numbers, he noted that the level of exhibitor interest and producer enquiries indicates strong momentum.
“The focus, however, is not only on numbers. We want the right producers, agribusinesses, researchers, policymakers, and service providers in the same space, having the conversations that can unlock value for agriculture.”
Smarter farming takes centre stage
According to Strydom, one of the strongest trends at this year’s expo will be the growing emphasis on integrated technology and data-driven farming.
“Producers are no longer only looking at bigger machines; they are looking at smarter systems,” he explained.
Precision agriculture, drones, satellite imagery, variable-rate application technology, smart irrigation, renewable energy, livestock monitoring systems, and digital decision-support platforms are becoming increasingly important as producers seek to improve efficiency while reducing costs, he said.
Strydom noted that farmers increasingly want complete farming solutions rather than individual products.
“The next step is integration. Farmers do not want five different systems that don’t speak to one another. They want practical technology that fits into their farming operations and improves decision-making without adding unnecessary complexity.”
Producers under pressure
Strydom said the ‘Together We Grow’ theme reflects the realities currently facing South African agriculture.
“Producers are under pressure from rising input costs, commodity price uncertainty, policy uncertainty, biosecurity risks, climate variability, and infrastructure constraints. In that environment, collaboration becomes essential.”
He added that for many producers, growth no longer necessarily means expanding their operations.
“Sometimes it means becoming more efficient, reducing risk, improving margins, and obtaining information to make better decisions.”
Wheat and biosecurity in the spotlight
Strydom said recent developments surrounding the wheat tariff have reinforced concerns among Grain SA members.
“The issue is not only about a tariff in isolation; it is about whether South Africa values domestic wheat production and understands the cost pressures producers face.
“When protection mechanisms lag behind market realities, producers carry the risk. That has direct implications for planting decisions, rural economies, and long-term food security.”
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has also influenced planning for the expo.
“Biosecurity has to come first,” Strydom said, noting that while restrictions have affected the movement of live animals, the livestock industry remains well represented through genetics, equipment, animal health products, feed, advisory services, and industry organisations.
“The impact of FMD has made biosecurity a much more central discussion. Producers are talking about disease control and about how biosecurity affects trade, confidence, farm management, and the broader livestock economy,” Strydom said.
More than advocacy
Strydom believes Nampo Cape has become one of Grain SA’s most effective platforms for supporting producers.
“Nampo Cape is advocacy, market access, knowledge transfer, innovation, and community-building in one platform,” he said.
Ultimately, he hopes producers leave the expo with more than just brochures or machinery quotations.
“A successful visit is about gaining insight, asking the right questions, making useful contacts, and identifying one or two changes that can improve the farming business.
“If producers leave with better information, stronger networks, and a clearer view of how to manage the challenges ahead, Nampo Cape has achieved its purpose,” he said.
