ABOUT EGA
EARN Grootvlei Agric (Pty) Ltd (EGA) is a purpose-built implementation company established to deliver high-impact agricultural training, enterprise development, and commercial farming within the Just Energy Transition context.
VISION
To become South Africa’s leading climate-smart agricultural innovation hub, restoring land, empowering people, and revitalising rural economies.
MISSION
To deliver integrated training, agripreneur development, commercial farming, and market access using climate-smart and regenerative agriculture models.
STRATEGIC ALIGMENT
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Eskom Repowering & Repurposing (R&R) Programme
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Just Energy Transition (JET)
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Local Economic Development
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Food Security & Climate Resilience
GCSHC
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre (GCSHC) is a catalytic initiative that repurposes 20 hectares of vacant land into a climate-smart agricultural hub integrating training, enterprise development, and commercial production.
PROJECT PURPOSE
To transform underutilised land into a sustainable agricultural economy that creates jobs, builds skills, strengthens food security, and supports South Africa’s energy transition.
Impact METRICS
Key facts that define the scale of the project
20 ha
Repurposed land
Vacant, underutilised land transformed into productive, climate-smart agricultural systems supporting livelihoods and food security.
240
Beneficiaries trained
Between (2025–2030)
Youth, women, and students equipped with practical, accredited skills aligned to future-fit agriculture.
300
Agripreneurs developed
From training to enterprise settlement, supported with land access, infrastructure, mentorship, and guaranteed markets.
+ 500
Direct & indirect jobs created
Sustainable employment across farming, agribusiness start-ups and long-term skilled employment in open-field and protected horticulture.
An integrated, end-to-end agricultural development model
Value Proposition
1
Climate-Smart Agriculture
We implement regenerative, resource-efficient production systems designed for climate resilience, reduced environmental impact, and long-term land restoration.
2
Skills Development
Practical, accredited training pathways that combine classroom learning, on-farm experience, and real commercial exposure — ensuring skills translate into income and employment.
3
Enterprise Creation
Agripreneurs are supported from training through incubation into commercially viable farming enterprises, reducing failure risk and accelerating sustainability.
4
Market Access
Through aggregation and structured offtake agreements, producers benefit from predictable pricing, reduced post-harvest losses, and access to premium markets.
5
Systems Impact
By integrating agriculture into the energy transition landscape, EGA contributes to inclusive growth, food security, and economic diversification in energy-affected regions.
Clear goals, focused impact
FIVE PILLARS OF IMPACT
Local Economy Stabilisation
The project anchors economic activity in communities affected by energy transition and industrial decline.
By repurposing land and investing in agriculture, GCSHC creates immediate employment while establishing long-term economic alternatives beyond fossil fuel dependency.
Impact:
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Job creation across production, logistics, and services
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Revitalisation of local value chains
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Increased household incomes and spending power
Enterprise Growth
Agripreneurs are not trained and released — they are supported end-to-end.
From ideation to settlement on land, enterprises receive infrastructure, mentorship, production support, and access to markets.
Impact:
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Reduced startup failure rates
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Scalable, bankable agricultural enterprises
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Sustainable rural entrepreneurship ecosystems
Skills Development
Over five years, 840 beneficiaries will be trained across multiple pathways — agripreneurs, graduates, specialists, and short-course participants.
Training is practical, accredited, and aligned to real operational needs.
Impact:
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Workforce readiness for modern agriculture
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Youth and graduate employment pipelines
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Skills aligned to climate-smart production systems
Community Resilience
Climate-smart food production strengthens local food security while reducing vulnerability to climate shocks.
The centre prioritises inclusive participation, with a strong focus on women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
Impact:
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Reliable local food supply
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Improved nutrition and household resilience
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Adaptive capacity to climate variability
Stakeholder Collaboration
GCSHC operates as a multi-stakeholder platform, bringing together public institutions, private sector partners, development agencies, and international collaborators.
Impact:
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Shared risk and investment
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Knowledge transfer and innovation
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Replicable models for national and regional scale-up
Practical skills for sustainable agribusiness growth
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
EGA delivers an integrated skills-to-enterprise pipeline designed to develop capable farmers, agricultural professionals, and specialists equipped for modern, climate-resilient agriculture.
IMPACT CLUSTER PARTNERS
A focused partnership delivering technology, governance and impact
The Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre (GCSHC) is implemented through a partnership between Dutch and South African organisations, combining international expertise with local execution capacity.
About
Our mission is to provide climate-smart technologies and services tailored specifically to African agricultural conditions, supporting adaptation to climate change and enhancing food
security.
Role in this project
Holland Greentech is developing and facilitating the trainings for the short courses in this project, ensuring the adaptation of cutting edge knowledge and technologies.
About
We offer a wide range of product groups, such as crop management, process automation, water treatment systems, drive systems, climate screens, consulting & grower services, labour & productivity and robotics.
Role in this project
Ridder’s team provides smart climate management and precise water treatment solutions at Grootvlei project and we also provide support on how to optimally work with these solutions.
About
With almost a century of experience internationally, we are recognized as South Africa’s market-leading commercial greenhouse engineers with the in-house knowledge and expertise to bring your vision to life in every crop and protected horticulture need.
Role in this project
Executed the design and development of a Multispan Double‑Autovent Greenhouse with fully integrated screen, irrigation, and climate control systems.
About
We bring African experience and Dutch technology together for food security in Africa
Role in this project
Seed2Feed plays a coordinating and quality-monitoring role in the project by overseeing CSR and training curricula, supporting partners in developing marketing tools, aligning the project with RVO policy goals, and ensuring the long-term implementation of the Impact Cluster and value chain development.
About
With a century of experience and a presence in over 80 countries, Control Union delivers trusted supply-chain expertise across multiple industries while upholding strong integrity, offering South Africa a comprehensive range of leading standards in food safety, ethics, organics, agriculture, animal welfare, and vegan certification.
Role in this project
To share our expertise and knowledge in sustainable agriculture, certification standards, auditing best practices, and quality management systems. We aim to empower producers, processors, and industry professionals through specialised trainings, interactive workshops, and comprehensive certification support.
Connecting partners, communities and opportunities
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PROJECT UPDATES
News & Media
Stay updated on project milestones, training intakes, agripreneur success stories, and key announcements from GCSHC.
For partnerships, training enquiries, or media requests, please contact EARN Grootvlei Agric.
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