A recent gathering at Nooitgedacht Wine Estate in Stellenbosch offered a bold vision for the future of agriculture—one powered by technology, strengthened by trust, and shaped through collaboration.
At the Cape Agritech Connect 2025 event, hosted by Stellenbosch Network in partnership with LaunchLab and Innovus, farmers, innovators, academics, and policymakers came together to explore how digital tools, artificial intelligence, and cooperative networks are transforming the Western Cape’s agricultural sector.
Technology as a Catalyst for Change
The event’s core message was unmistakable: for agriculture to remain competitive and resilient, adopting technology is not just important—it’s imperative. Daniel Maritz of FutureFit Agri Africa delivered a stark warning to attendees. “Technology is a big disruptor… If we stand still and don’t take notice, we’ll be left behind,” he said.
Maritz projected that AI alone is set to attract over $7 trillion in investment globally over the next five years. He noted that farms of the future will fall into two categories—those that continue with traditional practices and those that embrace smart, tech-enabled models. “It’s about producing smarter, not just more,” he stressed, highlighting the shift toward data-driven decision-making, automation, and integrated value chains.
Trust and Relationships in a Digital Landscape
While technology dominated the agenda, speakers were quick to caution that digital tools alone cannot solve agriculture’s challenges. Dr Tara Southey, CEO of TerraClim, emphasized the critical role of trust and collaboration. “The future of agriculture isn’t just about data and AI. It’s about trust, collaboration, and relationships,” she said.
Southey pointed out that although vast amounts of agricultural data exist, especially in open-source environments, many farmers remain hesitant to share their data due to concerns over privacy and misuse. She called for stronger partnerships built on transparency and mutual benefit. “The real challenge is not access, but how we build the right partnerships to put that data to work,” she explained.
A Regional Push for Inclusive Innovation
Highlighting local innovation efforts, Hanli Brink, Director of the Stellenbosch Network, introduced the Cape AgriFuture Cluster—an ambitious new initiative designed to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and government to accelerate innovation across the sector. The cluster aims to support commercialisation, strengthen food systems, and increase investment visibility for emerging agri-tech ventures.
Brink also announced that the cluster will host a dynamic calendar of events throughout the Western Cape, including AI-in-agriculture showcases, matchmaking sessions for agribusinesses, and co-design workshops that bring together farmers and technologists. These gatherings aim to fast-track innovation by encouraging direct collaboration and practical solution-building across the value chain.
Stellenbosch Deputy Mayor Mynard Slabbert echoed this momentum, reaffirming local government’s role in enabling agriculture-tech synergy. “Our responsibility is to regulate where needed and to create an environment where agriculture and technology can thrive,” he said.
Cape Agritech Connect 2025 made one thing clear: the future of farming will be built on smart technology, but it will only succeed through cooperation, trust, and visionary leadership.