On Thursday 8 July, the Jewish National Fund of South Africa hosted a webinar on Urban Farming as a solution to food and water security in South Africa.

Find a recording of the webinar here: https://youtu.be/Bb7PUQUhiIc

This fascinating webinar is just over an hour and a half:

Benji Shulman hosted the webinar and gave a brief introduction to the environmental work that the Jewish National Fund undertakes across South Africa.
For more info about the work of the JNF-SA contact b.schneider@jnfsa.co.za.

8mins16
“Circular Enterprises in Urban Agriculture”.
Dr Naude Malan looks at the tiny percentage that farmers make in the value chain of food production and ways in which this percentage can be increased.

25mins41
Siyabonga Ndlangmandla describes the work that he is doing in the Makers Valley, teaching residents about growing their own food. One of the challenges faced by low-income communities is the availability of space, especially when the potential value of building a back yard shack outweighs the value of a time and water-consuming vegetable garden with no guaranteed results or income.

35mins29
Dorit Chassid explains why the Dizengof Centre Shopping Mall requires a sustainability department. The opportunities to educate the community about the environment, grow food, compost food waste and minimize the shopping center’s carbon footprint are all achieved through the roof garden. Dorit also explains how their hydroponic farm on the rooftop failed due to bureaucratic regulations.

50mins10
Dr. Clive Greenstone’s presentation illustrates a number of advantages that a green roof brings not only to a building but the city as a whole. Dr. Greenstone looks at the necessity for variety in agriculture (food forests), the need to attract insects because “without pollinators we are doomed” and these include flies! The presentation also illustrates the variety in sizes and spaces that can be utilized to grow food and plants, not just large rooftop spaces.

1hour14mins24
Q&A