As part of its 2025 CSI and sustainability initiatives, Grindrod's ships agency division, SGM, has partnered with Urban Farm Africa to support two female-owned businesses in KwaZulu-Natal - Elamandabezitha (Pty) Ltd and Thembakuthixo Enterprise - by providing them with innovative Hydro Coop farming systems.
These solar-powered units combine hydroponic vegetable cultivation with poultry and egg production, using 90% less water and withstanding harsh weather. Their modular design suits communities of varying sizes and enables mobility, promoting food security and entrepreneurship.
The division's global SHEQ Manager, Jarryd Willis, provided insight into how this project came to fruition: "The collaboration with Urban Farm had been two years in the making. SGM initially investigated it from a sustainability perspective. Still, once we delved into the organisation's processes, we realised it ticked so many boxes for us, most importantly alleviating food scarcity, as the chickens and vegetables grown can be used to feed the local community. There is also an entrepreneurial aspect, whereby the chickens, eggs and vegetables can be sold - this ticks the box of job creation. And lastly, there is an educational factor as well, because Urban Farm does a series of training modules to the recipients, which helps them understand broiler farming, hydroponics and teaches them skills such as sales, marketing and business management to ensure their business is a success."
After setup and initial training, the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude in a heartfelt video thanking SGM for selecting them. Urban Farm will provide ongoing mentorship, in-person project management and support, and SGM will monitor progress with all parties involved.
SGM looks forward to seeing how these businesses flourish, as it speaks directly to our value of CARE for the communities in which we operate.
About Urban Farm Africa
Led by their passionate Founder, Louis Pulzone, Urban Farm has partnered with the world's leading organisations to develop climate-smart farming systems that address food insecurity, economic disparity, and climate change head-on. Since its inception, they have delivered impactful, sustainable projects across South Africa and expanded internationally into Botswana, Namibia, Australia, and Serbia.