3 minute read
INNOVATION: ENTREPRENEURS
INNOVATION
IN FOOD SAFETY
BILLY BOKAKO, senior manager, Green Economy at The Innovation Hub, writes that we must look to local scientists and entrepreneurs to provide solutions to South Africa’s food security challenges
ROC Water Technologies and BN Aqua Solutions create clean drinking water from mine water.
Recent statistics from a Global Citizen article on increased food insecurity in South Africa suggest that eleven per cent of South Africans or 1.7 million households (Statistics SA) are affected by severe hunger. Not all homes have access to adequate food supply to keep their families well fed.
Furthermore, the food security problem is intensified by water scarcity in our country. The supply of clean water for drinking, bathing and agricultural processes presents a challenge for which solutions must urgently be found. We must begin to leverage all the solutions we can to start effectively addressing these challenges. I believe local scientists and entrepreneurs hold the key to developing a South African-focused solution to our food security issues.
THE IMPACT OF WATER POLLUTION ON FOOD SECURITY
Unfortunately, water pollution negatively impacts food security when water used for agricultural processes is not clean or is considered unsafe for consumption. Unclean water affects the end food product, deeming it unsafe to eat.
As more people move into cities and towns, several factors cause water pollution, such as the physical disturbance of land due to the construction of houses, industries, roads, and chemical pollution from industries and mines. This, in turn, creates water scarcity due to the lack of sufficient water needed to grow and process food, create energy, and serve communities with a continually increasing population.
PREVENTING WATER SCARCITY THROUGH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
New innovative solutions to our country’s water scarcity and food security problems are needed. Several entrepreneurs have come up with solutions. By providing clean drinking water for use in agricultural processes, they are positively contributing to ensuring future food security for all South African citizens.
ROC Water Technologies has designed a reverse osmosis/cooling process for the treatment of acid mine water to recover drinking water and saleable products in various stages. In addition, pigment, aluminium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate and elemental sulphur can be extracted from the mine water to be used in various other innovative processes.
BN Aqua Solutions takes acidic mine water from underground and treats the contaminated water using an otherwise “waste” product – a byproduct of a metallurgical process that has been stockpiled without use. This innovation results in clean drinking water that can be used for agricultural operations and reduced waste material.
FOOD SECURITY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH INNOVATION
Other entrepreneurs incubated at the Innovation Hub are working on food security innovations.
Lefakong Farming is passionate about health and wellness and has invested in the quality assurance and true organic nature of moringa tree leaves. The company processes the leaves into tea, powder, and many other forms of natural health foods.
Lefakong Farming produces tea and other products from moringa.
Phumelele Solutions is a worm-farming business that transforms horticultural, fruit and vegetable waste into an organic liquid pesticide and fertiliser, called Zuka. Zuka is a two-in-one pesticide and fertiliser, giving farmers the benefit of both pesticide and fertiliser in a single application during irrigation. These two products are then harvested and sold to nurseries and home-based gardeners.
Innovation is the solution to South Africa’s water scarcity and food security issues. Entrepreneurs and scientists need to work together to assess our country’s unique situation regarding water pollution and food security as the two go hand in hand.
