Biowatch SA

21/08/2026

Today at the Agroecology Farmer Fair, participants explored four practical demonstrations, from examining microbes under the microscope and making earthworm compost, to learning about salt blocks for animals and making recycled-bottle planters.

From microbes to compost: participants got a closer look at the living world in our soil and explored how earthworm compost can turn organic matter into something valuable for the soil.

The recycled-bottle planters showed how everyday materials can be repurposed for growing food.

It was a reminder that agroecology is not only about putting what we learn into practice, but also about sharing knowledge and building the movement towards food sovereignty.

20/08/2026

We kicked off Day 2 of the 2026 Biowatch Agroecology Farmer Fair with a morning of practical knowledge, from animal health and using herbs for seasoning to understanding the living soil beneath our feet.

Gugu Mbatha of Mdukatshani shared practical guidance on animal health and disease prevention. Farmers explored the importance of caring for pregnant and young animals, keeping kraals clean, vaccinating to prevent disease and recognising the early signs that an animal may be unwell.

Mam Sthandiwe Dlamini brought agroecology into the kitchen, showing how locally grown herbs and ingredients can add both flavour and nutritional value to our meals and how the diversity we grow can contribute to healthier diets.

Nathalie Teixeira of Convert the Dirt explained the importance of living soil, highlighting the connection between soil diversity, healthy plants and nutritious food, reminding us that healthy, diverse soils are the foundation of healthy food.

It’s been a busy morning with plenty of practical knowledge being shared along the way, and the day is far from over!

19/08/2026

At the Biowatch Agroecology Farmer Fair, seeds, stories, and shared knowledge came together at the farmer seed exchange.

Smallholder agroecology farmers from across different areas gathered to exchange seed and fresh produce, while also sharing the knowledge, experiences, and stories woven into each seed.

More than just an exchange, the gathering created a vibrant space for farmers to connect, learn from one another, and celebrate the knowledge they carry. These connections help strengthen relationships, preserve valuable farming wisdom, and nurture the farmer-led seed systems that keep communities growing, resilient and thriving.

Follow for highlights from Day 2.

19/08/2026

2026 Biowatch Agroecology Farmer Fair – more highlights from Day 1.

This morning, Amadiba youth leaders Andisiwe Nzama, Akhona Danca and Nonhlanha Mthwa introduced us to the Wild Coast community’s indigenous food recipe book “Roots of Resilience”. They also showed a short documentary about how the recipe book was developed by the community, which has just won a Constitutional Court victory to stop oil giant Shell from disrupting their coastal livelihoods and cultural and spiritual practices by conducting seismic blasting for oil and gas.

Indigenous food systems offer a wealth of knowledge about nutrition, sustainability and resilience. “Roots of Resilience” encourages young people to stay connected with traditional ingredients, as well as traditional food knowledge and practices. You can download a free copy here:
https://bio-economy.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Roots-of-Resilience-recipe-booklet-Final.pdf

After the screening, Chef Lunga Keswa, a South African chef known for crafting wholesome, farm-to-table culinary experiences using fresh, locally grown ingredients, demonstrated how to cook legumes, and she treated everyone to a delicious taste of double bean paste, red lablab samp, black lablab spicy bean curry, and jack bean and sorghum salad.

After lunch, farmers from different areas will introduce their unique seed and produce, and prepare for the seed exchange.

19/08/2026

This morning, at the Agroecology Farmer Fair, the informative and impactful presentations got us thinking about some big questions: What shapes the food we eat and how much we pay for it? Why is agroecology important, and how can it contribute to better nutrition?

Mvu Ngcoya of Bonakude, a community agroecology farm in Richmond, explored why agroecology matters, reminding us that it is about more than food production, it promotes freedom, dignity and stronger, more resilient communities.

Mervyn Abrahams of PEJDG, the NGO that produces the Household Affordability Index, turned our attention to the soaring food prices and the need to transform our food system. He highlighted how agroecology and growing food closer to our tables can help create more sustainable and accessible food systems.

Keiron Audain highlighted that nutrients start in living soil, connecting healthy soil practices and seed diversity to the nutritional value of crops such as sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet and cowpeas, reminding us that healthy soils are the foundation of healthy diets.

Follow along for more highlights from Day 1 of the 2026 Agroecology Farmer Fair!

19/08/2026

The 2026 Biowatch Agroecology Farmer Fair is officially underway!
Gathering in Botha’s Hill, Durban, are Biowatch-supported farmers from KwaZulu-Natal, members of the KZN Agroecology Platform, as well as Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) and Agroecology Action Collective partners.
Day 1 of this year’s 2-day celebration will embrace learning, experience sharing, and a vibrant farmer seed and produce exchange.
This morning’s programme will explore why agroecology matters, the changing food system and food prices, and the links between agroecology and nutrition. We’ll then learn more about how traditional food systems nourish communities and protect the environment, and we’ll have a cooking demonstration on how to cook legumes.
We’re looking forward to the many conversations, demonstrations, stories and learnings – and of course, to the farmers’ seed exchange this afternoon!
Follow along as we share highlights from the 2026 Agroecology Farmer Fair!

17/08/2026

Biowatch has been contributing a session to this programme focusing on agroecology for a just transition of the food system. Applications are now open for the next global youth cohort

The free and fully virtual FXB Climate Advocates program informs, empowers, and mobilizes youth to implement climate solutions.​​

14/08/2026

On Wednesday, participants from Biowatch’s community-based agroecology training in Umgababa came together to reflect on what they have learnt and put into practice. The trainings were hosted and co-facilitated by Biowatch-supported agroecology demonstrator Nonhlanhla Mkhize of Amaselwa Holdings.

Participants shared the experiences, challenges and changes they have seen since applying the agroecological practices they learned during the training. Some reflected on how learning about agroecology has changed the way they think about and work with their fields. For one participant, the change has gone beyond farming: “Agroecology has changed my life,” she shared.

These reflections show that Biowatch’s community-based agroecology trainings are about more than introducing new farming practices. They create space for participants to observe the changes in their soil and their fields, experiment with different approaches, reflect on what works and what doesn’t, and experience first-hand how agroecology benefits people, their families and their communities.

09/08/2026

Women’s Day 2026: Empowered women empower the nation. Agroecology for women's empowerment, gender equality and social justice.

This Women’s Day marks the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March, where more than 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings to protest the extension of Pass Laws and the Urban Areas Act, demanding that their voices be heard. While some legacies are remembered through history books, others live on in deep and powerful ways.

The contributions of women are many and varied. They are found in the work they do, the communities they build, and the knowledge they carry forward. While some forms of knowledge are formally recorded, others are passed on through shared wisdom, stories, practices, and everyday acts of care.

Across generations, women have carried knowledge that is built through experience and observation. Knowledge is held in seed saved for the seasons ahead and generations to come, in stories that celebrate and nurture indigenous wisdom, and in practices that feed and nourish communities, heal the soil, safeguard biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and build resilience.

This Women’s Day, we recognise that the legacies women leave behind take many forms. Some are remembered through history, while others live on through knowledge, practices, and stories passed from one generation to the next, shaping the communities we are today and delivering a future grounded in biodiversity, agroecology, and social justice for all.

31/07/2026

This week, 20 selected participants attended AE Qhubeka, Biowatch’s 2nd-level practical agroecology course, structured to build on and deepen participants’ understanding and implementation of agroecology practices. The training was run by Biowatch’s Mtubatuba team with support from experienced agroecology demonstrators.

Throughout the 4-day training, participants explored topics including soil health, field crop management, seed systems, agroecological pest management, climate and weather, food security and nutrition, and integrating farmed animals into agroecological systems. Practical sessions included making biofertilisers such as apichi and supermagro, preparing disease-repellent teas, as well as learning techniques such as seed coating to improve seed establishment and resilience.

The training created a valuable space for agroecology farmers to learn from one another, exchange experiences, and strengthen practical agroecological knowledge that can be applied within their own communities.