The Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition, now in its third year, continues to highlight the remarkable achievements and aspirations of women who are making a difference in agriculture and rural communities across South Africa.
Once again truly inspiring entries from across the country were received, each reflecting a story of resilience, leadership, and innovation in the sector.
After a rigorous evaluation process, five finalists were invited to a prestigious gala event at Villa Arcadia on the Hollard campus in Parktown, Johannesburg.
During the event, the finalists had a final opportunity to share their views on a topic of their choice and explain its impact on their lives, agricultural careers, communities, and the environment. The panel discussion tested their ability to present structured, well-reasoned opinions, after which an independent panel of judges selected the winner.
Future Agri Perspectives with its competitions sponsors are proud to announce that the winner of the 2026 Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition is Carla Myburgh. Carla is an Agricultural Economist and Credit Liaison Officer at SENWES.
In a heartfelt acceptance speech, she inspired women across the sector to recognise their rightful place in agriculture and to believe in the difference they can make.
The two runners-up were:
· Frist runner-up (second place) – Christel Basson.
· Second runner-up (third place) – Petru Fourie.
The 5 finalists in the Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition were:
· Petru Fourie
· Grietha van Rensburg
· Boniswa Kuhle Dlamini
· Carla Myburgh
· Christel Basson
“After reviewing the entries, it is a pity that only five finalists could be selected. The topics of the entrants emphasised the meaningful role women play in the broader agricultural sector. It was clear that the possibilities are endless. The entries highlighted the sector’s vast possibilities and emphasised the meaningful role women play in agricultural sector. I feel that each of the woman showed courage to enter and is therefore already a winner. By participating she has contributed towards her own personal development. Congratulations to all of them,” Magda du Toit, one of the Directors Future Agri Perspectives said.
Du Toit urged women in the sector to continue championing diversity in agriculture, emphasising that every story shared, every barrier broken, and every innovation fostered contributes to a brighter, more inclusive agricultural sector for all.
The Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition seeks to create a platform for women in agriculture to discuss agricultural issues and ultimately influence public and industry discourse. It aims to encourage well-thought-out and accurate deliberation of topics relating to agriculture.
“By sharing their insights, the finalists in the 2025 competition shed new light on many aspects impacting on agriculture,” Andries Wiese, business development manager at Hollard and main sponsor of the competition pointed out.
“Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition recognises the leadership, innovation, and practical impact of women across agriculture and rural communities. Our commitment to this event is a commitment to recognising, uplifting, and connecting women in agriculture. By amplifying their voices and celebrating their achievements, we help build a more inclusive and sustainable future for agriculture. Meaningful change happens through genuine partnership and a deep understanding of the people who make the sector thrive. As a key sponsor, Hollard helps amplify the voices of women shaping the sector and is a catalyst for positive and enduring change,” Wiese added.
The agricultural landscape has become a field of abundant opportunities for women who are bold enough to seize those. According to Jaclin van Rooyen, Finance head Sub-Saharan Africa Syngenta Seeds, women wear many hats bringing responsibilities and more demands.
“We are mothers, wives and managers of our households, all while being dedicated corporate professionals. As a woman in agriculture, the Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition platform is deeply personal to me. When we choose to be in the corporate environment, we also choose to manage the delicate balance of all these roles to the absolute best of our ability every single day, even though it is not always easy. To all the finalists, thank you for the work you do every day to drive agriculture forward. Your achievements deserve to be celebrated, but more importantly, your journeys inspire others to believe that they, too, belong in the industry and can make a meaningful difference,” Van Rooyen noted.
A woman’s voice in agriculture represents resilience, leadership, innovation, and stewardship across generations stated Allen Chapingidza, Head of Sales Enablement at FNB Private.
"Our continued involvement in the Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition reflects our long-term commitment to empowering women in business and recognizing the vital role they play in shaping the future of agriculture. At FNB Private, we are passionate about helping agricultural families fund growth, sustain their legacy, implement succession planning, transfer generational wealth, and leverage smart financial solutions that support their businesses through every season. By investing in women who lead, influence and grow agricultural enterprises, we are helping to build stronger businesses, thriving communities and a more sustainable future for generations to come."
According to Johan Bezuidenhout, Group Manager Corporate Marketing and Communication at NWK, it is an honour to be able to acknowledge all the dynamic women involved in the agriculture sector. “We have to acknowledge all the finalists for their passion, energy, and drive. We also salute this year’s winner. Well done! To us Women’s Voices in Agriculture Competition is a partnership that not only works, but that adds value to the broader agriculture community. Partnerships are important to NWK, and we hope that through this partnership with Agri Future Perspectives and this competition, we can work together to achieve a common goal – a more inclusive agricultural sector.”
Representing Empire Fleet Kirsten Angiers stressed that the empowerment of women was extremely important to the company. ”Only if you empower all women, will society be able to function as an empowered unit. When a women is empowered, a legacy begins!”
Pioneers honoured
During the gala event women who played pioneering roles in agriculture were also honoured.
They were Dr Fhumulani Ratshitanga, CEO Fruit SA; Wiana Louw, General Manager of the Southern African Grain Laboratory NPC (SAGL); Dr Renée Prins, Founding Director CenGen Pty Ltd.; Rona Beukes, Senior Statistician: Crop Estimates and Agricultural Statistics in the Directorate: Statistics and Economic Analysis at the Department of Agriculture; and Annelise Crosby, Legal Specialist at Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz).
In 2024 Prof Estie van Marle-Köster, associate professor University of Pretoria; Dr Langa Simela, business development manager at ABSA; Mariana Purnell, former general manager Agbiz Grain; Dr Lukeshni Chetty, general manager SANSOR; and Prof Hettie Schönfeldt, University of Pretoria were honoured for the role they played throughout their career paving the way for the next generation of women in the agricultural sector.
In 2025 Dr Marinda Visser, Director: Strategic Projects and Partnerships in Agriculture, University of Pretoria Innovation Africa; Karen Nel, owner Design Biologix; Prof Driekie Fourie, Technical Product Lead Syngenta Seedcare; Prof Sonja Venter, Extraordinary Professor, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, were recognised for their contributions towards the sector over years.
Ends
Enquiries can be directed to: Marianna du Plessis: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More about the finalists
· CHRISTEL BASSON
Qualifications: MDP, UFS Business School. Also currently busy with my BML degree, also at UFS Business School.
Occupation: Marketer and Communications Manager at OVK
Reason for participation: I really do believe that women play a pivotal role in shaping the current structure of agriculture in South Africa, and that there are many more women like me. I believe that everyone plays a role in the bigger puzzle, and I would like to share my puzzle piece to motivate and inspire other women in agriculture.
· PETRU FOURIE
Qualifications: MSc in Agricultural Science
Occupation: Operations Manager, AFMA (Animal Feed Manufacturers Association)
Reason for participation: I believe we as women should be proud of the journeys that have shaped us and willing to share what we have learnt along the journey. This competition gives me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, to grow personally and create greater awareness of the animal feed industry and the agricultural industry that I have become increasingly passionate about.
· BONISWA KUHLE DLAMINI
Qualifications: Basic vegetable production
Occupation: Fresh produce farmer and owner of Nursery
Reason for participation: To expand my skills, knowledge, and mental capacity and to emphasize farmer development.
· CARLA MYBURGH
Qualifications: BCom in Agricultural Economics & Risk Management, Diploma in Environmental Science.
Occupation: Agricultural Economist and Credit Liaison Officer at SENWES.
Reason for participation: I believe that women has a unique voice that can make a meaningful difference in the agricultural sector and wish that women believes that agriculture is more than a profession, it is a passion and an opportunity to contribute to food security, economic growth, and the development of people. I see this competition as an opportunity to raise awareness of the vital role women play in agriculture and demonstrates their leadership, resilience, and innovation are not defined by gender.
· GRIETHA VAN RENSBURG
Qualifications: Practical farming experience
Occupation: Farmer in own right for 33 years and an agent for animal health. A mentor for livestock and sheep farmers, black and new entrant farmers, including farmers in Botswana.
Reason for participation: I wish to give women farmers hope and to motivate our youth to enter agriculture as a farming business, and to give women hope and to empower themselves by supporting their efforts to create a safe working environment for our youth and women to fulfil their role in agriculture.
More about the pioneering trailblazer women
· Rona Beukes
A senior statistician on crop estimates an agricultural statistics at the Department of Agriculture: Plant Production. Rona has more than 40 years’ of service in agricultural statistics and has been a valued contributor to South Africa’s crop estimation systems since the late 1990`s.
As a senior statistician in the Directorate: Statistics and Economics Analysts, she plays a pivotal role in the collection analysis and interpretation of crop production data for summer and winter crops. Her expertise and extensive experience have contributed to significantly to the occupancy and credibility of national crop estimates, helping the crop estimates committee consistently achieve industry-recognized accuracy standards.
Rona is highly regarded for her ability to analyse complex agricultural information, guide forecasting processes, and support informed decision-making within the agricultural sector. Rona provides in essential support to key agricultural committees through statistical analysis, forecasting, reporting, and stakeholder engagements.
Her commitment to excellence, professionalism and attention to detail have earned the respect of her colleagues and industry stakeholder alike, making Rona a trusted influential figure in South Africa`s crop estimation environment.
· Wiana Louw
With majors in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry, Wiana, fulfils the role of General Manager at the South African Grain Laboratory NPC since 2009. Wiana serve as a board member of 5 professional boards and amongst others of Grain Handling Organisation of South Africa – GOSA. She serves 37 years in Analytical Laboratory of which 26 years in Projects and General Laboratory Management.
Amongst many awards obtained, Wiana was nominated for the National Science and Technology Forum Management Award and known for her technical leadership and regulatory collaboration in the grain industry. Wiana provides strategic input and oversight in quarterly control systems for the grain and oilseed value chain. Her involvement in public-Private- partnerships has bridged gaps between industry and regulatory bodies to support regulatory authorities with the generation and interpretation of technical data needed to inform and implement updates to agricultural and food safety regulations and to ensure that science-based evidence brings regulatory change.
Her pioneering work in method development, residue analysis and laboratory accreditation has directly supported regulatory advancements and export readiness. Wianas` work embodies the value of excellence and making her a deserving candidate for this recognition.
· Fhumulani Ratshitanga
The CEO of Fruit SA who previously served as the Industry Affairs Manager and Project Officer & Marketing and Evaluation Officer at SACAU. (SA Confederation of Agricultural Unions). Fhumulani is a vegetable specialist an a Cum Laude in BCom Economics amongst her other degrees obtained and to highlight her career path, her participation in the Organic Agricultural Development training program at the Grolink AB Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (amongst many other associations and affiliations).
Her career of 21 years in agricultural sector includes a mix of various leadership roles and an active and very visible member on various boards to collaborate between government and the fruit industry to promote continued growth and competitiveness of the sector through gaining access to new markets. She deserves recognition for her increased efforts to support black people to enter into the fruit industry on an equitable basis. Fhumulani as a proudly South African Fruit Ambassador and represents the South African fruit industry regularly on local and international platforms and ensures that Fruit SA resources and projects are prosperity to attain desired outcomes.
· Dr Renée Prins
The founding director of CenGen Pty Ltd. with her research area in agricultural molecular genetics and a career dedicated to the agriculture sector and through her many achievement have fundamentally reshaped the landscape of plant genetics, crop improvement, and scientific innovation in South Africa.
In 2003, at a time when molecular genetics was still emerging within South Africa`s small grain industry, Dr Prins, accessed the equity in her personal home loan to establish CenGen, a private molecular genetics laboratory with the attention to create a scientific career for herself in an environment where no such opportunities existed, and to embedded DNA technology into agricultural research and breeding programmes.
CenGen is now grown into a national strategi scientific facility and internationally recognised molecular genetics genomics laboratory that competes on a global stage. Dr Prins this stands as a testament to what can be achieved through visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
· Annelize Crosby
With BLC, LLB and LLM degrees obtained, completed her articles, and was admitted as an attorney in 1993 whereafter she did her Masters` degree in Constitutional law, ended up teaching commercial law, the interpretation of laws and indigenous law at the University of Pretoria.
Her career change became when she applied for the legal advisor at the South African Agricultural Union. As the legal advisor for AgriSA and practiced as an attorney at a law firm whilst she worked on a contract basis for AgriSA on Legal and Policy Work and Parliamentary Liaison. Annelize has work in this specialised field for 25 Years, especially in the field of land matters where she later became the head of Land and Legal Affairs at Agri SA.
Since 2022 Annelize has been the Legal Specialist at Agricultural Business Chamber (AGBIZ) where she leads the Legal desk. Her knowledge and experience in aspects that impacts on agriculture has been invaluable to the agricultural sector. Annelize has participated in many conferences and workshops on legal and regulatory aspects that directly affect agriculture and our producers. She often use her knowledge and skills when she takes part in interviews and high level discussions on radio and national television and has participated on behalf of the industry in numerous NEDLAC and other legislative negotiation processes with great successes.
More about the organisers
Who is Future Agri Perspective?
Future Perspective is an initiative of like-minded individuals who are teaming together to present credible and scalable platforms for individuals in the agricultural value chain. These platforms facilitate a process for participants to present and voice insights and perspectives on relevant topics to stimulate debate and surface potential solutions, which might otherwise not have been tabled.
Our partners:
Hollard, Syngenta Seed, Empire Fleet solutions, NWK, FNB, Grain SA, Agbiz
Our supporting partners:
CRA Media and Farmer’s Weekly
