The highly anticipated Potatoes SA Congress and Seed Potato Growers’ Forum will kick off on 22 and 23 July 2026 at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, Gauteng. Co-hosted by Potatoes SA and the Potato Certification Service (PCS), this flagship event serves as a crucial strategic compass for the local agricultural community under the core mandate: “Informed and in Control.”
Heavyweight Sessions & Actionable Insights
The intensive two-day program targets the sector’s most urgent modern challenges, bringing together key industry figures, scientists, and panel leads to chart a sustainable path forward.
Production & Climate-Smart Farming: High-impact panels featuring experts like Prof. Guy Midgley and Prof. Maryke Labuschagne will explore drought-tolerant breeding technologies, climate adaptation, and advanced soil and water management.
Plant Health & Disease Management: Led by industry specialists including Jakkie Mellet and Stefan Steenekamp, sessions will tackle life beyond “hard chemicals,” focusing on precision fertilizer application, real-time weather decision tools, and nutrient-driven disease reduction.
Logistics & Value Chain Optimization: With insights from supply chain experts like Stephen Fick and Pieter Van Zyl, sessions will address rising fuel costs, packhouse efficiency, and key strategies to streamline transport and aggregation points.
Consumer Dynamics & Tech Adoption: Dynamic discussions led by Mzimasi Jalisa, Dr. Carmen Muller, and Loffie Brandt will dive into consumer change management, AI-driven precision tools, and “farming the digital twin” using sensors and weather stations.
ESG & Policy Priorities: Key debate will centre on policy inputs for the Plant Health Bill, gene editing regulations, and aligning the sector with global People–Profit–Planet (PPP) sustainability targets looking toward 2050.
Celebrating Industry Excellence
Beyond the technical agenda, delegates will gather for two premier social milestones on the agricultural calendar:
- Day 1 –Â Seed Potato Grower of the Year: A formal evening celebrating excellence and biosecurity standards among seed producers.
- Day – 2 Syngenta National Potato Farmer of the Year Gala Dinner: A prestigious black-tie event recognizing outstanding leadership, resilience, and growth across South Africa’s commercial potato value chain.
As South Africa’s agricultural sector navigates volatile climate patterns, shifting input costs, and evolving consumer habits, unity across the value chain has never been more vital. Over the next two days, the 2026 Congress stands ready to deliver the actionable foresight, policy direction, and technical breakthroughs needed to keep South African growers resilient, competitive, and firmly in control of their future.