07:00 – 08:45 | Registration desk & FFM Exhibition Centre opens
Grab a coffee on arrival
08:30 – 08:45 | Please take your seats in the FFM Indaba Centre
08:45 – 09:00 | Opening proceedings
Hosts: Duncan Masiwa & Conce Moraba
09:00 – 09:10 | A word from Minister John Steenhuisen
09:15 – 09:30 | Keynote by MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa
The future of South African agriculture depends on bold, young farmers ready to lead, innovate, and transform the industry. In her keynote address, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, Gauteng’s MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, will outline her vision to break down barriers, unlock investment, and fast-track new-era farmers into commercial success.
09:35 – 10:00 | Young farmers’ roundtable:
Farming for the future
Young farmers are redefining the future of agriculture, but not without challenges. This roundtable tackles the real issues they face, from access to land and funding to innovation and sustainability. Join the conversation as the next generation of farmers shares their struggles, solutions, and vision for a thriving agricultural sector.
📌Facilitator: Lerato Botha (agronomist and Gauteng farmer)
📌With: Ipeleng Kwadi-Seboni (Chairperson of YARD North West); Kgomotso Ranchu (CEO of Agricast Advisory Services); Margret Molefe (Executive Deputy Chairperson: South African BRICS Youth Association)
10:05 – 10:45 | Panel discussion:
The executive forum: Meet the titans of agriculture
The executive forum brings together the titans of South Africa’s agricultural sector to offer invaluable insights and inspiration. These industry leaders will tackle pressing challenges, share innovative solutions, and empower the next generation of farmers to lead with confidence and resilience.
📌Facilitator: Duncan Masiwa
📌With: Ivor Karan (CEO and founder of Karan Beef); Themba Rikhotso (CEO of Land Bank); Dr Peter Evans (CEO of South African Pork Producers’ Organisation); Ayanda Nhlapo (Tactical Marketing Planner for Small Ag & High Value Crop at John Deere); Marthinus Stander (CEO of Rainbow Chicken Ltd); Dr Innocent Sirovha (CEO of AgriSETA); Pascal Siphugu (Managing Director of Land Bank Insurance Company)
10:50 – 11:10 | Mzansi Changemakers Awards
The Mzansi Changemakers Awards honour three trailblazers shaping South Africa’s agricultural future. Recognising visionaries and innovators, this prestigious award celebrates those driving sustainability and inclusivity in farming. Who will join the ranks of past awardees? Stay tuned to find out!
11:15 – 11:45 | Panel discussion
Follow the money: Funding and grants for young farmers
Unlock the secrets to securing funding and grants that can help take your farm to the next level. This session will guide you through available opportunities, how to apply, and tips for getting your application noticed.
📌Facilitator: Duncan Masiwa
📌With: Aron Kole (Managing Director of FarmSol); Nontsikelelo Makaula (NYDA); Tshego Selepe (Head: Agribusiness at Kgodiso Development Fund); Christopher Chaka (Gauteng provincial manager of Land Bank); Kolobe Ramoroka (Head, Agro-processing and Agriculture Strategic Business Unit at the IDC)
10:45 – 11:10 | Networking break:
Explore the FFM Exhibition Centre
11:45 – 11:55 | Please proceed to the breakaway venues
11:55 – 13:00 | Breakout sessions
Main Stage:
Climate-smart farming: Adapting to unpredictable weather
📌With: Mila Toth, data scientist at TerraClim
Discover how technology is helping young farmers tackle unpredictable weather with climate-smart solutions. Stay ahead with the latest tools and strategies.
Breakaway Room 1:
Farming smarter: Mechanisation with John Deere
📌With: Sibongiseni Ngqukumba and Vikar Sheopershad (John Deere)
Solution for farmers. Maximise yields, and farm with precision. This session explores the latest in precision agriculture – smart machinery, data-driven decision-making, and cutting-edge tech that’s transforming the sector.
Breakaway Room 2:
Mzansi’s trade expansion & opportunities for farmers
📌With: Maikutlo Matubatuba and Keotshepile Mokgothu, agricultural transformation specialists at the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB)
Ready to take your farm global? This session will show you how to get export ready and gain market access, grow your business, and tap into the future of agri-exports.
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch & networking
Explore a variety of food options at the stalls, offering something for every taste and budget while you network with fellow farmers.
14:05 – 14:30 | Fireside chat
From small farm to big business – how we did it
Join young farmers who turned their small farms into thriving businesses. In this candid chat, they’ll share their journey, lessons learned, and tips on scaling up in the agricultural sector.
📌Facilitator: Patricia Tembo
📌With: Dimpo Xaba (Gauteng crop and bee farmer ); Manqoba Ntuli (Mpumalanga soya, sugarbeans, and maize farmer); Kgaugelo Thosago (Limpopo crop and livestock farmer); Siphelele Vumisa (KwaZulu-Natal macadamia farmer)
14:35 – 15:00 | Keynote
Regenerative agriculture: Making sustainability profitable
Learn how regenerative farming practices not only improve the land but also boost your bottom line. This session will show you how to turn sustainability into a profitable, long-term business strategy.
📌With: Alex Platt (Business Development Manager at RegenZ)
15:05 – 15:50 | Panel discussion
Farming in the digital age: Agritech that works
The future of farming is digital. From market access to precision farming, technology is transforming agriculture, but which tools truly drive success? We explore the best apps and platforms helping young farmers boost yields, secure funding, and scale their businesses.
📌Facilitator: Duncan Masiwa
📌With: Ayanda Vana (COO of Khula!); Michael Bruderli (co-founder of sproot); Pieter de Jager (CEO of Agrimall Africa); Kobus Bredell, (TerraClim’s Innovation & Tech Lead)
15:55 – 16:00 | Wrap-up
Two-tone glow-up – dinner and DJ vibes
Dress to impress in two-tone and get ready for a night of great food, music, and vibes with a live DJ!
Tickets are available on Quicket for just R200, or you can grab them at the door. Your ticket includes one dinner. There will also be a cash bar.
07:00 – 08:45 | Registration desk & FFM Exhibition Centre opens
Grab a coffee on arrival
08:30 – 08:45 | Please take your seats in the FFM Indaba Centre
08:45 – 08:55 | Opening proceedings
Hosts: Duncan Masiwa & Conce Moraba
09:00 – 09:55 | Panel discussion
Can organised agriculture bridge the divide for new-era farmers?
Can organised agriculture rise to the challenge of advancing the cause of new-era farmers, who must navigate both the traditional agricultural landscape and the often fierce divisions within black farmer organisations? Industry experts will tackle the complex barriers – from access to land and financing to fractured representation – while igniting a bold debate on the decisive actions needed to unite the sector and empower the next generation of farmers.
📌Facilitator: Tiisetso Manoko
📌With: Leona Archary (CEO of Agricultural Development Agency); Johann Kotzé (CEO of AgriSA); Dr Tobias Doyer (CEO of Grain SA); Karidas Tshintsholo (co-founder and CEO of Khula!); Fanie Ferreira (CEO of Milk Producers’ Organisation); Ayanda Hleko, (AFASA Strategic Support)
10:00 – 10:30 | Panel discussion
The future of agripreneurship
Agripreneurs are transforming agriculture, generating jobs, and fueling community development. Join top agripreneurs as they share their strategies for creating a prosperous and sustainable future, not only for agriculture but for entire communities.
📌Facilitator: Keatlegile Mnguni (founder of Agrinouri)
📌With: Nigel Jacobs (co-founder of Jacobs Jam), Chantelle de Bruyn (founder of Buttercup Farmhouse); Loyiso Manga (founder of Ubuntu Extra Virgin Olive Oil), Olerile Lekgetho (founder of Founder of Amantsi Meat Butchery)
10:35 – 11:10 | Keynote
So, you think you’re ready to supply retailers?
Getting your farm’s produce onto retail shelves takes more than just a good harvest. This panel unpacks what buyers want in 2025, from sustainability and consumer trends to export opportunities, helping you position your farm for retail success.
📌With: Litha Kutta (Partnership Development and Programme Lead at Land Bank)
11:15 – 11:40 | Fireside chat
Women in agribusiness and farming
We celebrate the unstoppable women transforming agriculture – leading successful agribusinesses, driving innovation, and breaking down barriers in a once male-dominated industry. Their resilience, vision, and leadership are shaping the future of farming. This session highlights not only their inspiring journeys but also the groundbreaking projects and initiatives empowering women in agriculture, ensuring a more inclusive and thriving sector for generations to come.
📌Facilitator: Conce Moraba
📌With: Sophy Musabeni (crop farmer who farms in Gauteng and Limpopo); Wendy Papo (database and communications manager of Quote This Woman+); Nkosinathi Mahlangu (Youth Employment Portfolio Head at Momentum Metropolitan)
11:45 – 11:55 | Please proceed to the breakaway venues
12:00 – 13:00 | Breakout sessions
Main Stage:
Smart money: Managing farm finances for growth
📌With: Tebogo Mokgoadi at (Investment Manager at Masisizane) and Sifiso Khumalo (Marketing & Commercial Manager: SMEgo at Old Mutual)
Running a farm is one thing, growing a profitable agribusiness is another. From securing funding to managing cash flow and making smart investments, financial know-how is key to long-term success. This session unpacks the essentials of farm finance, helping young farmers navigate loans, budgeting, and sustainable growth strategies. Because in agriculture, every cent counts.
Breakaway Room 1:
Healthy herds, profitable farms: mastering primary animal health care
📌With: Kenneth Malatji and Gaolaolwe Ishmael Digame (both animal health technicians at Afrivet)
Whether you’re farming with cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, or pigs, this masterclass will equip you with practical knowledge to keep your livestock healthy and productive. Learn about disease prevention, vaccination strategies, parasite control, and early detection of health issues – key factors in reducing losses and boosting farm profitability.
Breakaway Room 2:
Cracking the cannabis code: Opportunities & realities for SA growers
📌With: Linda Siboto (Director and co-Founder of Cheeba Africa)
With South Africa’s evolving cannabis laws, many see indoor cultivation as an easy win. But the reality is more complex. This session unpacks the licensing framework, investment potential, and key challenges in medicinal cannabis farming – giving you the insights to thrive in this emerging sector.
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch & networking
Explore a variety of food options at the stalls, offering something for every taste and budget while you network with fellow farmers.
14:05 – 14:30 | Keynote
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi: What does the Expropriation Act mean for young farmers?
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, renowned legal scholar and author, will delve into the implications of the Expropriation Act, focusing on its impact on land ownership and agricultural development, particularly for young black farmers in South Africa. With his expertise in constitutional law and land reform, he will provide invaluable insights into how this legislation shapes land reform.
📌With: Tembeka Ngcukaitobi (lawyer, legal scholar and author)
14:35 – 15:00 | Panel discussion
Why agricultural education matters
From climate-smart practices to agribusiness management, continuous learning is no longer optional – it’s essential. But is South Africa’s agricultural education system keeping up? This panel unpacks the state of agricultural training, the gaps in skills development, and the urgent need for upskilling. How can young farmers access the education they need to succeed?
📌Facilitator: Duncan Masiwa
📌With: Dr Innocent Sirovha (CEO of AgriSETA); Shaun Welmans (COO of Agri Skills Transfer); Karmini Pillay-Rangan (Director of Pulse Afrika); Kingsley Nkwane (CEO of Buhle Farmers’ Academy )
15:05 – 15:30 | Panel discussion
Agriculture in action: Showcasing game-changing projects
Across South Africa, innovative agricultural projects are transforming communities, boosting food security, and proving what’s possible when vision meets execution. From groundbreaking municipal initiatives to cutting-edge private sector models, this panel highlights success stories that are worth replicating.
📌Facilitator: Conce Moraba
📌With: Sinovuyo Shoco (Economic Development Officer at Kouga Local Municipality); Luthando Brukwe (Head of Strategy and Special Projects at Mineworkers Development Agency); Sandra Ndlovu (Regional Communication Officer: Southern Africa Network at Fairtrade Africa); Lucas Tsatsi (Food Systems & Entrepreneur Growth Lead at ORIBI)
15:35 – 16:00 | Indaba wrap-up
Farmers unfiltered: The final word
In this open-floor session, no scripts, no filters – just raw, real talk from the people working the land every day. What inspired you? What still needs to be said? And what must change for agriculture to truly move forward? This is your moment to speak, share, and shape the future. The floor is yours.
