UFS AND TIGER BRANDS COLLABORATE TO ENHANCE SOUTH AFRICA'S AGRICULTURAL CHAIN
By: Neo Ntsele
The University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Tiger Brands have formed a three-year strategic alliance to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness of South Africa’s agricultural value chain.
This collaboration merges the University of the Free State’s research capabilities with Tiger Brands’ expertise in the food value chain to create practical, science-driven solutions that bolster local agricultural production.
“A robust agricultural sector is essential for South Africa to ensure food security, maintain global competitiveness, and provide consumers with quality, affordable food,” says Tjaart Kruger, CEO of Tiger Brands.
“Farmers require sustainable markets, while food manufacturers need a consistent, competitive local supply. Such partnerships enable us to blend academic insights with industry experience to tackle real and complex issues.”
From the University’s standpoint, the partnership offers a chance to apply academic research to practical challenges within the agricultural value chain.
“Universities play a crucial role in addressing the intricate challenges in agriculture, but research is most impactful when it addresses real-world issues and is translated into practical solutions. This partnership provides a platform to combine our researchers’ knowledge and expertise with Tiger Brands’ market, processing, and food value chain insights,” says Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at the University of the Free State.
Prof Paul Oberholster, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State, concurs. “By uniting our researchers, students, and industry partners around real-world challenges, we can enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience across key agricultural commodities,” he says.
More than 90% of Tiger Brands’ revenue comes from food and beverages, with 70% of its agricultural procurement spending in 2025 directed towards local producers. Strengthening local sourcing resilience and competitiveness is vital for both Tiger Brands’ business and the long-term security of its agricultural supply.
The strategic partnership focuses on key commodities such as sorghum, wheat, small white beans, groundnuts, and tomatoes.
The company sees significant potential to improve germination, yields, crop quality, and processing performance in these crops, while enhancing value-chain economics and sustainable agricultural practices in response to changing climate, water, pest, disease, and pathogen challenges.
“At the University of the Free State, our goal is to contribute not only to better research outcomes but also to a more productive, resilient, and inclusive agricultural sector. By bringing industry, researchers, students, and producers closer together, we can accelerate the transition from knowledge to implementation and create value throughout the agricultural value chain,” says Prof Reddy.
Kruger emphasises that the industry must look beyond immediate challenges and invest in long-term resilience and competitiveness.
“We cannot focus solely on the next planting season or production cycle. We need to plan for the challenges and opportunities of the next five, ten, or more years and start preparing today. Research can guide us on what to plant, where to plant it, and how to enhance productivity and resilience in ways that benefit farmers, manufacturers, and ultimately, consumers.”
“By bringing farmers, academia, and industry closer together, we can translate research into practice, support local production, and contribute to a more resilient food system,” says Kruger.
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