Community leaders, researchers, and other civil society stakeholders play key roles in supporting sustainable urban food systems. This is strengthened by exchanging insights and building networks across conventional boundaries. This approach was highlighted at the Innovation in Agriculture & Energy Opportunity Zone (IAEOZ) Summit 2024, where discussions focused on strategies for empowering farmers worldwide. Among the contributors was SA Urban Food & Farming Trust (SAUFFT) CEO Kurt Ackermann, who facilitated the sharing of perspectives with international and local delegates on the evolving landscape of South Africa’s urban food systems.
Kurt led a session on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Adapting to Climate Change, alongside key SAUFFT partners, including Tinashe Kanosvamhira (UWC), Tasneem Jhetam (Oribi), and Thembeka Nonkonyana (Langa Agrihub Steering Committee Chairperson). Together, they brought a strong civil society voice to the discussion, sharing innovative approaches to building agricultural resilience in the face of climate extremes such as droughts and floods. The session underscored the importance of adaptation strategies tailored to small-scale urban and peri-urban farmers, drawing from experiences within Cape Town’s vibrant agricultural communities.
The discussions at the IAEOZ Summit 2024 provided crucial insights into climate-smart agriculture and its role in strengthening the resilience of small-scale urban farmers.
According to Tinashe, one of the key takeaways was the emphasis on context-specific adaptation strategies moving beyond generic climate resilience frameworks to solutions that are locally informed and farmer-driven.
“The summit underscored the need for research that directly benefits urban farmers, particularly in areas such as resource-efficient irrigation, organic waste repurposing, and climate-resilient crop varieties. As a result, we are exploring how these innovations can be integrated into urban policy and planning to create more sustainable food systems,” noted Tinashe.
Moreover, a significant research gap lies in scaling up these initiatives while maintaining their affordability and accessibility. While we see promising small-scale projects, many remain disconnected from formal support structures. “Bridging this gap requires stronger collaborations between policymakers, researchers, and farmers to co-develop solutions that are both scientifically sound and practically viable,” Tinashe added.
The 2024 Summit brought together an exceptional delegation of leaders from various sectors, including business, commerce, technology, policy-making, and SMME (Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise) entrepreneurs in agriculture and energy. The summit provided an important space for delegates to explore how initiatives and programs located in Opportunity Zones could serve as anchor institutions to drive the reinvention of agribusiness education, innovation, and commercialisation.
By participating in this global forum, SAUFFT and its partners not only shared their expertise but also expanded their networks, engaging with thought leaders and potential collaborators in agriculture and energy. The insights exchanged at the summit will contribute to a growing body of knowledge that strengthens local initiatives, from the Langa Agrihub to Oribi’s entrepreneurship programs and UWC’s research-driven solutions.
SA Urban Food & Farming Trust 