Webinar: Energy-Water-Agri Nexus: Dutch-South African Partnerships for Resilient Agri-Value Chains

South Africa’s agricultural sector is a critical economic driver, contributing 2.4% to GDP and directly employing millions across the value chain. Yet the sector faces deeply interlinked challenges: agriculture consumes 61% of the country’s freshwater resources and 2% of its total energy, while 10% of all solar energy generated in South Africa is already deployed in the sector. Post-harvest losses, regulatory complexity, and the continued exclusion of smallholder farmers remain stubborn barriers to equitable and sustainable growth. 

At the same time, South Africa’s Just Energy Transition charts an ambitious course to shift from coal dependency to 22% renewable energy by 2030, with solar and wind playing a central role not only in energy security but also in unlocking new possibilities for agricultural productivity and value chain resilience. 

The Netherlands, a global front-runner in sustainable agriculture, integrated water management, and renewable energy innovation, brings complementary expertise in precision farming, circular economy practices, water-efficient technology, and inclusive value chain development. This expertise directly aligns with South Africa’s priorities for climate-smart agriculture and food security. The partnership between the two countries is already bearing fruit: the Netherlands is South Africa’s largest EU investor (17.7% of FDI) and a major market for South African agricultural exports, with active collaboration underway in public-private partnerships, green hydrogen, and agri-voltaics. 

Join NABC and BusinessNL on the 18th of June from 10:00–11:30 for a webinar on the Energy-Water-Agri Nexus, exploring how the energy-water-agriculture nexus can unlock sustainable, resilient agri-value chains, and where Dutch companies and knowledge institutions can meaningfully engage.