Programme Outline

WEDNESDAY, 03 JUNE 2026
16:00-18:30 REGISTRATION
Venue: Boardwalk Hotel foyer
18:30

WELCOME COCKTAIL

  • Opening and welcome
  • Introducing our students

Venue: Tsitsikamma B1
 
THURSDAY, 04 JUNE 2026
07:00-08:30 REGISTRATION
08:00-09:00 Agbiz members’ meeting
Sean Walsh
Agbiz chairperson
09:00-09:30 REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
Venue: Conference foyer
09:30-09:35 Call Congress to order
09:35-09:40 Opening prayer
09:40-09:55 Opening, welcome and recognition of our Congress sponsors
09:55-10:05 A word from the event sponsor
Antois van der Westhuizen
Managing Director, John Deere Financial
10:05-10:25 Positioning of the congress theme
Theo Boshoff
Agbiz CEO
  Session 1 – Setting the scene
10:25-10:55 Geopolitics, economics and SA’s position
10:55-11:25 A reflection on the evolving structure of the South African economy and demographics
Risenga Maluleke
Statistician-General: Statistics South Africa
11:25-12:25 Structural reforms and business-government partnership
Panel Discussion
12:25-12:30 A word from the hospitality sponsor
OBARO
12:30-13:30 NETWORKING LUNCH
Venue: Conference foyer
  Session 2: Factors that influence our competitiveness
13:30-13:35 Platinum Sponsor Video
13:35-14:05 Key interventions in the department to sustain SA agricultural growth
Mooketsa Ramasodi
Director-General: Department of Agriculture
14:05-14:35 Rural roads project, a joint initiative
Dr Hubert Joynt
Programme Manager: Infrastructure SA
14:35-15:05 Progress on improving efficiencies in rail and port logistics
Adv Michelle Phillips
Group Chief Executive: Transnet SOC
15:05-15:10 Platinum Sponsor Video
15:10-15:40 REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
Conference foyer
15:40-17:00  Breakaway Sessions
SESSION 1: ABSA Sponsor
The future of biosecurity in South Africa
Panel Discussion		 SESSION 2: BASA Sponsor
The catalytic role of finance
Panel Discussion		 SESSION 3: Netafim Sponsor (Student competition session)
Prof van Rooyen & Melissa v/d Merwe
Presentations from the students (all four teams to present)
18:30 GALA DINNER SPONSORED BY STANDARD BANK
Guest speakers – Minister of Agriculture and Grant Driver
 
FRIDAY, 05 JUNE 2026
  Session 3: Navigating an uncertain international environment (Trade, Economic Diplomacy & Geo Politics)
09:00-09:10 Opening and welcome
  Feedback to Congress on the previous day’s panel discussions
Available on APP
09:10-09:40 South Africa’s Economic Diplomacy in a Changing World
09:40-10:10 Priorities and diversification strategy
Ambassador Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter
Deputy Director-General: Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
10:10-11:10

Regulatory over-reach and the nanny-state phenomenon. How value chains react to changing trends in agricultural policy

Panel Discussion
11:40-11:45 A word from the hospitality sponsor
OBARO
11:45-12:00 Closing and thanks
Sean Walsh
Agbiz chairperson
12:00 LUNCH

With farming at their core, the VKB Group and its entities were established with the support of its farmer shareholders, laying the foundation for building the agribusiness of the future.

Apart from the various consumer brands, the VKB Group is also represented by its regional brands: VKB (Free State), GWK (Northern Cape) and NTK (Limpopo), with a footprint covering KwaZulu-Natal, Northwest, Gauteng and the Eastern and Western Cape. Their roots are firmly planted in agriculture, continuously growing and evolving throughout the decades. Starting with providing everything needed on the farm to produce food, they also operate in all areas of the food supply chain: processing, logistics, and national and global market channels.

They do this for sustainable agriculture, food security, and – most importantly – for the love of the land.

As a leading financial service provider to the agricultural industry across the entire value chain, FNB delivers bespoke financial solutions, including a comprehensive range of loans (from overdraft facilities to long-term financing), investment options, foreign exchange services, insurance products, and other related offerings.

For further details, please visit www.fnb.co.za or email agric@fnb.co.za. Your local relationship manager is also available to assist you, reaffirming our commitment that Help Changes Everything.

https://www.fnb.co.za/business-banking/industry-expertise/agriculture/index.html

Agrimark, a subsidiary of KAL Group, is an agri-lifestyle retailer with over 180 operating points across SA and Namibia. Through more than 80 Agrimark stores and specialised divisions – including Agrimark Grain, Mechanisation and Packaging – the business provides best-in-value products and services for farm, home and pet. As a Level 4 B-BBEE contributor, Agrimark is committed to community upliftment, food security, sustainability and delivering trusted solutions with the purpose of driving growth from farm to fork whilst leaving stakeholders better off.

www.agrimark.co.za

At Nedbank Commercial Banking, we walk the agricultural journey with our clients, through every season and cycle. Our value lies not only in the capital we provide but also in our commitment to understanding and supporting the agricultural value chain across South Africa. Our offering to the agricultural sector is solution driven, and is co-created with our clients, based on their needs, cash flow, and long-term growth aspirations.

Partner with the bank that understands your agribusiness and offers solutions that are built to grow with you. For more information, email agriculture@nedbank.co.za or visit nedbank.co.za/agriculture. Think bigger. Think Nedbank Commercial Banking.

Agriculture industry banking solutions | Nedbank

Die Senwes Groep speel ’n toonaangewende rol in Suid-Afrika se landbouwaardeketting en laat al meer as ’n eeu diep spore in die landbousektor. Met ’n vaste fondasie in die verlede en ’n helder blik op die toekoms, verbind Senwes mense, idees en geleenthede in landbou. Van insetverskaffing en graanopberging tot finansiering, versekering en marktoegang staan Senwes elke produsent by om volhoubaar te groei.

The Senwes Group plays a leading role in South Africa’s agricultural value chain and has been leaving firm footprints in the sector for more than a century. With deep roots in the past and a clear vision for the future, Senwes connects people, ideas, and opportunities across the agricultural landscape. From input supply and grain storage to finance, insurance, and market access, Senwes empowers producers to thrive in every area.

www.senwes.co.za

John Deere Financial enables their clients to access the best equipment and run their businesses efficiently.

Through personalised financing solutions and one-to-one support, clients get the John Deere equipment and tractors they need while benefiting from attractive interest rates and flexible options suited to the agricultural sector's unique demands. Furthermore, through strategic partnerships with dealer partners, they enhance service delivery, ensuring a seamless experience and minimal downtime for their clients.

With deep insight into the cyclical nature of agriculture, John Deere Financial Finance Specialists offer personalised solutions that address specific needs. Understanding their clients' distinct industry requirements, business ambitions, and cash flow challenges allows them to provide premium services that can enable increased profitability and growth.

John Deere Financial is committed to enabling their clients’ success by offering not just financial solutions, but strategic partnerships and insights that empower them to thrive in their endeavours.

Contact John Deere Financial | John Deere AFME

TWK exists to prosper and sustainably grow the forestry and agri-related economy of Southern Africa. We are rooted in community, and every action we take seeks to uplift the farmers, foresters, employees, partners and families who trust us. Through integrated, value-adding solutions across all our segments, we empower people to thrive – today and for generations to come. Our purpose is enduring: to create lasting value in the regions we serve by being a trusted partner at every point in the value chain. We exist to help people grow, together.

www.twkagri.com