Southern Africa Food Lab (SAFL) was established in 2009. Its aims to promote creative responses to the problem of hunger through multistakeholder dialogue and action. It is a collaborative effort between Stellenbosch University’s Food Security Initiative and the Seriti Institute, a registered NPO and public benefit entity.
The SAFL is sponsored by several large corporates, foundations, public entities and international development agencies, including Woolworths, Spar, DG Murray Trust, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Oxfam and Wesbank, among other entities.
Collaboration is fundamental to the SAFL’s mission. It brings together local communities, civil society, business leaders and government officials to foster a food system that is equitable and nutritious for all. Over the past decade, the SAFL has positioned its website as a vital repository for current news and research related to the South African food system. According to SAFL director Prof Scott Drimie, “the SAFL provides a platform for social dialogue that brings together different actors in the food security space”.
Effective communication facilitates greater impact
At the heart of the SAFL’s work is effective communication and dialogue. It facilitates discussions through learning journeys, workshops and dialogues. These spaces are designed to bridge social divides, bringing together scientific experts, laypeople, policymakers and social practitioners. By fostering open conversations, the SAFL aims to translate dialogue into tangible actions that promote just and sustainable food systems.
One of the key strategies employed by the laboratory is the development of local demonstration projects. These initiatives empower communities to create and maintain their food systems, showcasing innovative practices that can be scaled and replicated in other areas.
Collaborating for impact at scale
One example of how the SAFL is collaborating for impact is its partnership with the eThekwini Metro. Since 2019, the organisation has been working with the municipality to develop an agro-ecology hub as a proof of concept that can be replicated. The SAFL works with farmers, health officials and nutritionists to set up practical agricultural and nutritional linkages that aim to improve the diversity and quality of people’s diets.
Another example is the SAFL’s ongoing engagement in the Breede Valley in the Western Cape. It coordinates learning journeys for local government to actively engage the food system by providing support for local ECD centres. Beyond providing support regarding food gardens, the SAFL also helps them register as ECD centres and gain access to subsidies.
Read more about food security and agriculture:
- Read the Overview of CSI spend on food security and agriculture in 2024.
Source: The original version of this article was published in the Trialogue Business in Society Handbook 2024 (27th edition).
