Press release
Tiger Brands and Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of AgriSciences entered a three-year, strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the resilience, sustainability and safety of South Africa’s food and agricultural system.
Bringing together SU’s research expertise and Tiger Brands’ extensive experience across the food value chain, the partnership will support research, postgraduate development, knowledge exchange and practical innovation in three priority areas: agronomy, agricultural economics and food safety.
The collaboration aims to translate research into practical solutions that can improve on-farm productivity and profitability, strengthen local agricultural value chains, enhance food-safety capability and help build greater resilience to climate and economic pressures.
Above: Prof. Kennedy Dzama, Dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences; Prof. Deresh Ramjugernath, Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor; Tjaart Kruger, CEO Tiger Brands; Praveen Balgobind, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Tiger Brands
Sustainable local sourcing represents both a commercial and societal priority for Tiger Brands. The company derived more than 90% of its revenue in 2025 from food and beverage products with 70% of agricultural procurement spend during the same year directed at local agricultural producers. Many of these locally sourced commodities are farmed in regions facing acute water stress and growing climate vulnerability, increasing the need for the business to become more actively involved in the agricultural industry.
“Building a more resilient food system requires us to think beyond today’s challenges and invest in the knowledge and partnerships that will secure future supply. By combining SU’s research excellence with our experience across the food value chain, we have an opportunity to turn research into practical impact that strengthens productivity, competitiveness, and access to quality, affordable food,” says Tjaart Kruger, CEO Tiger Brands.
Cross-disciplinary research will focus on key commodities and regenerative agricultural systems across strategic staple, protein and processing crops, including wheat, oats, sorghum, tomatoes, groundnuts and beans.
The initiative will also strengthen collaboration between researchers, producers and industry and build the research, innovation and outreach capacity needed to support the future of South African agriculture.
The partnership builds on Tiger Brands’ existing and longstanding collaboration with SU through the Centre for Food Safety. Importantly, the investment extends beyond individual research projects. It will contribute to postgraduate education and the development of emerging researchers, while creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and professional development through lectures, short courses, conferences, seminars and technical collaboration in areas including food science and technology, microbiology, chemistry and good agricultural practices.
“This partnership demonstrates the kind of long-term investment that universities and industry can make together in service of society,” says Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor. “Tiger Brands’ support will enable us not only to advance important research, but also to invest in our students and emerging researchers, strengthen capacity, share knowledge more widely and support education across the food and agricultural sector. It is through partnerships like this that we can encourage people, and build the capabilities needed to contribute meaningfully to sustainable agriculture, food safety and food security in South Africa.”
“We are grateful to Tiger Brands for their continued support in shaping the future and sustainability of the South African food system,” says Prof Gunnar Sigge, Chair of the Department of Food Science. “We believe the confidence that Tiger Brands has in the Department and the Faculty of AgriSciences stems from many years of delivering industry relevant research and solutions based on sound science. This partnership not only contributes to the food system in South Africa as a whole but enhances the development and skills of our graduates entering the workforce.”
Prof Pieter Gouws, Director of the Centre for Food Safety in the Department of Food Science, says the collaboration provides an important opportunity to connect scientific research more directly with real-world food-system challenges.
“The initiative will achieve greater social impact to address South African challenges such as agriculture, food safety, food security and sustainability. The initiative will also build capacity in research and postgraduate development ultimately leading to developing future scientific and agricultural leadership. It will shape a food system that is more resilient, sustainable and trusted for generations to come,” adds Gouws.
Kruger says collaboration between universities, industry and the agricultural sector is increasingly important as South Africa responds to climate change, pressure on natural resources and the need to maintain affordable and secure food supplies.
“No organisation can solve the challenges of climate-change and supply chain competitiveness on its own. Partnerships bring together academic knowledge, commercial insight, agricultural expertise and practical experience. By working together, we can find practical solutions, rooted in scientific rigour, that strengthen South Africa’s food system for a more affordable and food-secure future,” says Kruger.
