Agroecology leads the way in South Africa

Slow Food welcomes the first South Africa Slow Food Farms

Slow Food is proud to introduce the first Slow Food Farms in South Africa, marking a significant milestone in the movement’s mission to promote good, clean, and fair food. Slow Food Farms, the latest ambitious initiative by Slow Food, aims to become the world’s largest network of farms dedicated to agroecology and sustainability.

“We are thrilled to welcome Natural Goodness Farm, The Seed Studio and Wickedfood Earth Farm as the first Slow Food Farms in South Africa,” says Edward Mukiibi, Slow Food President. “These farms exemplify the principles at the core of our program, with a strong focus on biodiversity and land conservation”.

Natural Goodness Farm is a farm located in the heart of Gauteng that promotes organic and sustainable agriculture. With a commitment to biodiversity and the use of ecological practices, the farm focuses on growing aromatic herbs and medicinal plants, supporting the balance between the environment and human well-being. Natural Goodness Farm is an example of how sustainable farming practices can benefit both the community and the environment. With an approach centered on respect for the land, they offer high-quality products that contribute to health and well-being.

The Seed Studio is located in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, with a farm size of 0.17 hectares. The farm practices crop farming and focuses on vegetable, fruit, grain, legume, nut, herb, medicinal plant, and wild plant cultivation. The farm specializes in seed production, including Ark of Taste varieties like rainbow maize and wild garlic. It implements the African version of the milpa system, incorporating indigenous cowpeas, squash, landrace corn, sorghum, and millet. It reproduces and uses its own seeds, including varieties of African landrace corn, cowpeas, beans, pumpkins, calabash, tomatoes, amaranth, and chili peppers. Seeds are saved and stored for future planting seasons, and the farm sources seeds from neighborhood seed savers and local heirloom seed companies. Additionally, The Seed Studio is part of a broader movement to restore indigenous biodiversity in the Delta Park area

Wickedfood Earth Farm, located in Gauteng, South Africa, spans 38 hectares and practises mixed farming. The farm cultivates a diverse range of crops, including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and herbs, and rears cattle, pigs, and sheep. Traditional agroecological methods are employed in harmony with nature. Mike and Cilla Crewe-Brown, the farm’s owner and project co-ordinators, prioritize seed sovereignty by reproducing all seeds on the farm, sourcing them from heirloom suppliers and local exchanges. The farm maintains soil health with composting, crop rotation, and minimal tillage, and water resources are managed using dryland farming and drip irrigation. Animals are reared in a bio-secure free-range environment, with a focus on indigenous breeds such as Pedi sheep and Kolbroek pigs. The farm’s philosophy emphasizes harmony with nature, avoiding pest control and chemical interventions. Wickedfood Earth Farm sells directly to consumers, operates an online shop, and hosts events including pop-up farm-to-fork lunches, free-range animal husbandry, charcuterie and gardening workshops, farm tours, and cooking classes.

What are Slow Food Farms?

Aligned with Slow Food’s philosophy that everyone deserves nourishing food that supports communities, honors the Earth, and strengthens local economies, Slow Food Farms represent the future of sustainable agriculture.

A Slow Food Farm is a plot of land cultivated for agricultural purposes according to the principles of agroecology, used for growing crops and/or for raising animals for human consumption. It may include a processing unit but cannot be solely for processing.

Industrial food systems, driven by efficiency and profit, have devastating impacts on our health, environment, society and economies. Corporate food production and distribution  are driving the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and the depletion of vital natural resources, all while deepening social inequalities and threatening our well-being. Slow Food launched the Slow Food Farms putting center-stage small-scale farmers and their communities, because they are the backbone of a sustainable food future for all .

Slow Food Farms are an integral part of the broader Slow Food movement. By integrating farms into resilient local food systems, Slow Food Farms not only enhance farmers’ livelihoods but also ensure fair compensation and long-term economic stability. By connecting the Slow Food Farms to a global community—including activists, chefs, consumers, food artisans, fishers, and fellow farmers— their voice is amplified..

The Slow Food Farms network continues to grow, uniting agroecological producers worldwide in the shared goal of protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. The launch of the first Slow Food Farms in South Africa is just the beginning of a broader effort to transform food systems for a more sustainable and equitable future.

For more information about Slow Food Farms and how to get involved, visit https://www.slowfood.com/slow-food-farms/ 

Natural Goodness Farm 

39 Farm Lane, Zwartkops, Muldersdrift, Krugersdorp

Gauteng

[email protected] 

The Seed Studio 

119 Third Street, Linden

Johannesburg

Phone: +0278 28595474 

Wickedfood Earth Farm 

BH 33, R560, Hekpoort, Mogalie City, 1790, Gauteng

[email protected]

Phone: +276 0761-0885

Website: https://wickedfoodearth.co.za/

Social Media: 

Facebook: Wickedfoodearth

Instagram: @Wickedfood Earth Farm