Driving Innovation and Sustainability in South Africa's Citrus Industry
Following the deregulation of agricultural markets in 1997, the South African Citrus Growers Association (CGA) was established. Over its 28 years of existence, CGA has grown the South African citrus industry from strength to strength with the help of organised agriculture and the government. Standard Bank recently participated as event partner in CGA’s fifth periodic Citrus Summit under the theme “Tough times don’t last, tough people do”.
During the summit, several matters impactful to the citrus economy were addressed. Discussion points included the cardinal importance of the agricultural industry and its sustainability in a changing environment, the citrus processing market, alternative markets, logistical impact on the citrus industry and the overall landscape of the global citrus production. As an event partner, we appreciated these insights and the summit at large as we are a proud supporter and key stakeholder in the citrus industry. The industry’s resilience was also discussed, seeing how it has persevered and remains the world’s second largest citrus exporter behind Spain and the largest Southern Hemisphere exporter. The summit was geared at collectively addressing challenges and finding opportunities for continued growth with a particular focus on export opportunities, logistical solutions, and financial innovations that can help citrus growers remain globally competitive.
Standard Bank’s partnership with CGA serves as reinforcement of its commitment to South Africa's agricultural sector and the growth and sustainability of the vital citrus industry. The partnership aligns our agricultural expertise with the citrus industry's growth potential, while simultaneously addressing critical food security challenges. "Our involvement with the CGA Summit represents more than just sponsorship – it's a strategic alignment with an industry that plays a crucial role in South Africa's economy and food systems," said Brendan Jacobs – Head of Agribusiness for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank South Africa.
Standard Bank's involvement included an opening address paying homage to the commendable strides achieved by the citrus industry, the critical work that the CGA leadership has done over the years under the leadership of outgoing CEO, Justin Chadwick and confirming their continued support to incoming CEO Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele and the world class citrus growers operating in South Africa. Furthermore, the impact of the OneFarm Share program was showcased. One Farm share is an integrated impact platform focused on reducing food waste on farms and fresh produce markets, accelerating smallholder farmer development, and addressing hunger for South Africa's most vulnerable communities.
Since its inception in 2021, OneFarm Share has assisted with the collection, transportation, and distribution of 315 tons (314 746kg) of mixed citrus valued at R1 257 579 which would otherwise have been destroyed. OneFarm Share has also contributed 27.8 million kilogrammes of fresh produce and provided 108.5+ million meals to 1.2 million people across 2,700 charities. The initiative has paid R74.4 million to smallholder farmers since inception and was awarded Winner of the BAI Global Innovation Awards in 2022 for Community Sustainability. Jacobs, speaking on the program’s impact, said: “Each meal represents hope, nourishment, and partnership. It is evident that when we work together, we can solve even the most pressing challenges.”