Mobile livestock production and market access solutions
Innovation Type:
Water-Food
Product Segment:
Water – Capture/Storage
Country of Incorporation:
South Africa
Country of Implementation:
Botswana
Kenya
Lesotho
Namibia
South Africa
Contact Name:
Sarah Frazee
Contact Email:
Website:
Challenges
Nearly 90% of South Africa’s water for agriculture comes from surface catchment areas that are vulnerable to alien plant spread and bush encroachment, often triggered by communal livestock. Degradation of rangelands across Africa is destroying water catchment functions and driving poverty for livestock farmers. Restoring catchments infested by non-native species is a national priority in South Africa for efficient water management.
Solutions
Trained cattle herders and communal herding techniques minimize the negative impacts of and alien plant invasions to wetlands and riparian zones. Conservation South Africa uses an innovative business model, Meat Naturally Pty, to implement communal grazing systems that result in improved water and food availability. The business model is based on training herders and supporting market access in a way that improves livestock condition, croplands, rangeland ecosystems, and, by working at scale, ensures sustainability in formal private sector markets.
