PROJECT OVERVIEW
A flagship model for skills, employment and sustainable agriculture
The Grootvlei Horticulture Expertise Facility (GHEF) is a flagship Impact Cluster Project developed by EARN Grootvlei Agric (EGA), an initiative of EARN Group, as part of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition.
Implemented on former Eskom land in the Grootvlei region, the project responds directly to the socio-economic impact of the coal phase-out by facilitating skills development, employment pathways and local entrepreneurship through modern, protected horticulture.
Financed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and supported by Dutch and South African partners, GHEF combines Dutch high-tech horticultural solutions with local implementation to demonstrate a scalable and replicable model for sustainable economic development.
Clear goals, focused impact
Project Highlights
1
Goal
Creating alternative livelihoods in agriculture for communities affected by the Grootvlei coal transition.
2
Focus
Training youth and community members in modern, protected horticulture aligned with commercial production.
3
Beneficiaries
Local residents, women, youth, former Eskom employees and horticultural professionals.
4
Impact Approach
Skills development, entrepreneurship and market integration.
Turning transition challenges into economic opportunity
WHY GHEF EXISTS
ESG Advisory Services
The decommissioning of coal-fired power infrastructure creates both environmental progress and social risk. GHEF was designed to ensure that the energy transition delivers inclusive economic outcomes for the communities most affected.
By repositioning agriculture as a high-tech, skills-driven sector, the project provides an alternative to declining industries while supporting long-term regional development. GHEF is not a pilot in isolation, but a scalable proof of concept for Just Transition implementation.
Project Name
& location
OUR PROJECTS
DELIVERING SUCCESSFUL ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS
Where training, technology and production meet
THE GHEF IMPACT CLUSTER
At the core of the project is a 0.5-hectare commercial Horticulture Expertise Facility, showcasing Dutch-based sustainable horticultural technologies.
1
Noa Partush
The facility functions as both a training environment and a commercial operation, ensuring that learning is grounded in real-world production. Through demonstration and applied practice, participants develop technical and entrepreneurial skills aligned with market demand.
2
Leah Ven
This Impact Cluster forms the foundation of a regional horticultural value chain and a local market for advanced agricultural technologies.
3
Dafi Giladul
PROJECT UPDATES
Tracking progress, milestones and impact
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