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In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie speak with Nitasha Baijnath-Pillay, Resource & Sustainability Manager at Hortgro, about the complex challenges and opportunities facing South Africa’s deciduous fruit sector.

Nitasha shares insights from her 20+ years in environmental and resource management, now applied directly in agriculture. She discusses how climate change, plastic alternatives, carbon credits, ESG compliance, and smart agriculture are shaping the future of fruit farming.

From soil health to packaging innovations, and from EU regulations to carbon tax, this conversation dives deep into what it means to build a resilient, sustainable industry.

Key Takeaways:

•Why plastics aren’t the enemy—but poor management is

•How global regulations like the EU’s Farm-to-Fork strategy impact South African farmers

•The role of carbon footprinting, credits, and taxes in agriculture’s future

•Smart agriculture tools: climate apps, soil health practices, and precision farming

•ESG compliance as the gateway to market access in 86 countries

Whether you’re a grower, exporter, policymaker, or consumer, this episode reveals the realities and innovations shaping fruit farming in a climate-conscious world.

Connect with Nitasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitasha-baijnath-pillay-a17690154/

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