Cultura Fresh, a prominent controlled-environment hydroponic producer of leafy greens based in Klapmuts, Western Cape, South Africa was selected from a pool of nearly 200 businesses to participate in the third phase of the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA), part of the UK Government’s £250M commitment to fostering a low carbon economy in Africa.
Ambitious Expansion Plans
In parallel to its selection for the CFA programme, Cultura Fresh is initiating a significant expansion programme with a new, tech-enabled greenhouse and a state-of-the-art high-care packhouse.
Cultura Fresh is the largest producer of leafy greens in the Western Cape for retail. This expansion unlocks additional growth and Cultura Fresh will soon produce ~10M heads of green vegetables annually for major supermarket and quick service restaurant (QSR) brands in Southern Africa.
“We see huge demand in the market for reliable, quality produce at scale. We supply this demand with organic inputs in a truly sustainable growing setup, with no long-term damage to the environment” shared Cultura Fresh executives, Theo Mokken and Kaylee Smit.
Low Carbon Economy and Food Security
The CFA programme selected Cultura Fresh for its exceptional environmental and social stewardship. Employing methods that consume 90% less water than traditional farming, the company ensures a consistent, year-round food supply, bolstering regional food security for the Cape and SA. Cultura Fresh investor and Secha Capital Operator-Investor, Cameron Ormesher added: “Cultura Fresh’s expansion is a positive step for food security in Southern Africa. At the same time, it builds on our high-quality employment opportunities in a key industry to South Africa’s social and economic future.”
Support and Collaboration
Selected alongside projects spanning energy, transportation, agriculture, forestry, circular economy, and water sectors, Cultura Fresh will benefit from tailored support provided by financial, technical, and social inclusion experts. This tailored assistance aims to enhance the company’s prospects for securing additional investment from both domestic and international sources.
British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson remarked, “South Africa is a real hotbed of ideas on how to tackle climate change in an innovative way. Once again the projects just selected are innovative, deliver for people and the planet and will help South Africa to meet its climate commitments.”
Pioneering Change
Cultura Fresh, along with nine other core cohort projects, will present their initiatives to European industry experts and investors at an event in July.
According to Shameela Soobramoney, CEO of the National Business Initiative (NBI):
“These companies represent the vanguard of progress, offering solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our country and the globe. If we don’t create the future we want, the one we get will be worth infinitely less.”
