Keri Harvey

Today, there are about a dozen abalone farms along the coastline between Port Nolloth and East London. One of the first to be established was Jacobsbaai Sea Products in the West Coast hamlet of Jacobsbaai. In the 24 years since it started farming abalone, the farm has produced an ever-greater number of these delicacies, and now exports millions annually.

The Bateleurs, a non-profit company, provides a flight support programme for conservation and the environment. In operation for 20 years, this unique organisation has a membership of about 220 pilots and has conducted numerous conservation missions across Africa.

The Khomani San of the Kalahari are revered for their intimate knowledge of bush lore. Now they’re practising these skills commercially and offering hunting packages on the vast tracts of land they own around the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. In so doing, they are creating sustainable livelihoods for their community, too.

Craft gin has quickly become one of the most popular drinks in South Africa, and producers are struggling to keep up with local demand. Keri Harvey spoke to craft gin pioneer, Roger Jorgensen, about the gin revolution.

In the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve in southern Mozambique, the local community are included in conservation efforts: they closely monitor turtles and fish catches, and ensure that poaching is kept to a minimum. It’s a conservation success story, supported by the Peace Parks Foundation and implemented Africa-style.

EcoTraining, a South Africa-based company, has helped more than 11 000 people from around the world qualify as nature guides, and its graduates are sought after by the ecotourism industry. Its courses are run in Africa, Asia and Australia, India and Nepal.

Bartholomeus Klip in the Swartland region in the Western Cape has been owned by the Parker family since 1935, and is a successful, diversified enterprise. Livestock, crops and game are farmed on a large scale, with most of the land allocated to conservation.

Until recently, it was believed that the last quagga died in Amsterdam Zoo in 1883. Today, however, this iconic animal is alive and back in the Western Cape. How was it possible to revive an animal from extinction? Keri Harvey speaks to the Quagga Project’s Craig Lardner.

Dairy farming is difficult, with high overheads and tight margins. Dairyman JK Basson believes that focusing on detail and personal supervision is key to survival in this demanding industry.

Hopefield entrepreneur, Francois Turner, hasn’t ploughed his potato lands since 2007. He explained to Keri Harvey how the no-till method of farming potatoes works and why he believes it’s the way forward for potato farmers.