Marinda Louw Coetzee
Marinda is a photographer and journalist who started her career with a BSc. (Agric) Degree in Food Science from the Stellenbosch University.
She has vast experience in the table grape and food industry, started the first commercial organic compost site in South Africa, worked as a winemaker in Germany and South Africa before starting her journalistic career with Media24 as a Community Journalist before moving on to YOU/Huisgenoot.
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Elsenburg: The training ground of South African agriculture
Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute is the oldest agricultural college in South Africa, with a history spanning 128 years.
Cedara: 120 years of training South Africa’s future farmers
Cedara College of Agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal, a training institute and research station, was established in 1905 on 1 542ha of land bought by the then-Natal government.
GastroTour promotes food and wine training
Agritourism, particularly the fast-growing field of food and wine tourism, came under the spotlight during the two-day GastroTour gathering held from 17 to 19 November in the Western Cape.
Tompi Seleka agri college: training farmers and supporting communities
In Limpopo, about 30km from the mining town of Marble Hall and surrounded by citrus orchards, fertile farmland, and maize plantings, lies the Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture, South Africa’s northernmost agricultural training institution.
Cherry season is here: big harvest expected in Western Cape
The 2025/26 cherry harvest has begun in the Western Cape, South Africa's largest cherry-growing region. This season sees several new cultivars reaching local markets for the first time.
Windaba helping to shape South Africa’s wind energy future
The 14th Windaba conference and exhibition was held at Cape Town International Convention Centre from 21 to 23 October, bringing together investors, government departments, service providers, and social activists, with exhibitors including engineering and installation companies, environmental organisations, and more.
Study Animal Health at TARDI
Set in the hills of rural Eastern Cape, Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute focuses on animal health training. Located some 42km north-west of Mthatha, its work benefits the surrounding municipality, which is home to around 194 000 people.
Grain storage in South Africa
Earlier this year, Dr Charl van der Merwe became manager of the Agbiz Grain desk. With nearly 30 years’ experience in grain handling, procurement, market analysis, and strategic development, he drives policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and industry representation.
Privatisation of SA ports will promote productivity
A South African study has found that ports in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, and even the tiny nation Togo in West Africa have transformed from slow, congested, government-managed ports into globally competitive systems after privatisation.
Orizon helps farmers make the move to regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture offers a strategic alternative to input-heavy conventional farming. It is a biologically driven, systems-based approach that rebuilds soil health and functioning to support long-term productivity, profitability, and environmental resilience, while reducing farmers’ dependence on external inputs.
Apples celebrate 363 years in South Africa
On 17 April, exactly 363 years ago, the first apples were harvested at the Cape of Good Hope when Dutch Governor Jan van Riebeeck picked two apples, known as Wijnappels, from a young tree in the Company Gardens in Cape Town.
The dos and don’ts of drought feeding
South African farmers are no strangers to droughts, but livestock producers often fail to plan ahead for them, leading to high costs from animal loss and feeding. Prof HO de Waal, affiliated professor in the University of the Free State’s Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee about implementing effective drought feeding strategies for ruminants.
South African company champions sustainable palm oil production
Palm oil has been heavily criticised due to the unsustainable practices used in its cultivation. But this is beginning to change, says Jannie Myburgh, senior manager of trading oils procurement at SD Guthrie International SA. He spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee.
Avocado production: Western Cape vs the northern provinces
Avocado production in South Africa has traditionally been linked to the hot and humid northern provinces. Recently, though, Western Cape plantings have grown. Louis Vorster, who has extensive experience in avocado production, spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee about the differences in production between these regions.
Cape Chamber’s impact on Western Cape agriculture
Focusing on economic growth, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry facilitates networking and co-operation between the public and private sectors, including those in agriculture. CEO John Lawson spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee about how the chamber assists in shaping agriculture in the Western Cape.
Factors hindering urban food production discussed at Food Indaba
The sixth annual Food Indaba, held in Cape Town from 22 July to 4 August, focused on understanding the city's food systems, from farming and processing to distribution and waste management. The event featured workshops, tours, art exhibitions, and discussions on urban agriculture and food access.
Smallholders can help to regenerate farming
Small-scale farmers can play an important role in developing sustainable food systems that ensure both food security and the health of the planet. Marinda Louw Coetzee reports on how these producers can and should implement regenerative agricultural practices on their farms.
Growing hemp: SA takes a step closer to commercial cultivation
Natie Ferreira, director of a new cannabis research centre at the Agricultural Research Council’s Bien Donné site near Paarl, was recently issued with a permit to cultivate 8ha of hemp for the purposes of study and development. He and researcher Moses Mlangeni spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee about the planned research at the centre, and how it will help to boost the commercial cultivation of hemp in South Africa.
Truffles: black gold for South African farmers
Growing black winter truffles can be a highly lucrative undertaking for farmers looking to diversify their enterprises. Volker and Paul Miros, who run Woodford Truffles SA, spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee about the expert knowledge and capital required to do so.
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