McCain Foods has unveiled plans for a Farm of the Future in South Africa, on which it will grow 125 hectares of potatoes per year for use across the country. The farm will focus on enhancing productivity, while testing cutting-edge technology to improve soil health and reduce water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and agro-chemical impacts across the country. Biodiversity also will be introduced and preserved.
The farm presents the potential to grow multiple crops per year and innovate with irrigation technology in a water-scarce region, as well as dealing with the challenges arising from the presence of soil-borne pests and diseases. The learnings at the site will potentially be transferred to other parts of the world, including China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia. All of the potatoes grown on Farm of the Future Africa will be made into French fries and other frozen potato products for consumers across Africa.
