Lucentlands Podcast | Harvesting Agriculture Knowledge

• Culdevco: Breeding Better Fruit for South Africa | Ep. 114

  This podcast is proudly sponsored by Agrarius. Find out more: ⁠https://www.agrarius.co.za/?ref=recR9vP8u5CYfEOek&utm_source=lucentlands&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=LucentLandsPromo⁠Visit our agricultural stock site: https://lucentlands.smugmug.com/In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with Mishkaat “Mish” Anderson, General Manager of Culdevco, South Africa’s cultivar management company responsible for commercialising varieties bred by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC).Celebrating 20 years in the industry, Culdevco has shaped the deciduous fruit landscape—bringing to market some of the country’s most successful stone fruit, pome fruit, table grape and raisin varieties. From global success stories like Ruby Sun, Ruby Star, African Delight, and Cheeky Pear, to the exciting new K-Blush early pear, Culdevco’s breeding and commercialisation pipeline is deeply rooted in local adaptation, long-term sustainability, and grower value.Key Takeaways•South Africa’s leading plum cultivars (Ruby Sun, Ruby Star, African Delight) are ARC-bred and Culdevco-commercialised•The new K-Blush pear is showing exceptional promise as an ultra-early variety•Low-chill apples are transforming fruit production in warm regions of Africa•Raisin breeding is entering a new era with strong emerging selections•Canning peaches, despite industry challenges, remain a key SA strength•Locally adapted breeding is essential for long-term competitiveness•Culdevco’s 20-year journey emphasises sustainability, clean plant material, and grower support•Empowerment initiatives through Cultipower are strengthening industry transformationConnect with us:Website: https://lucentlands.co.za/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucentlandsmedia/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucentlandsmediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucentlandsmedia/Support this podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lucentlands?new=1

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• Transforming Global Sustainability in Agriculture | Ep. 113

  This podcast is proudly sponsored by Agrarius. Find out more: ⁠https://www.agrarius.co.za/?ref=recR9vP8u5CYfEOek&utm_source=lucentlands&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=LucentLandsPromo⁠Visit our agricultural stock site: https://lucentlands.smugmug.com/In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with David Farrell, Founder and CEO of Blue North Sustainability, to explore one of the most important conversations happening in global agriculture today: the shift toward sustainability, mindset change, carbon measurement, and the future of tools like Sherpa and Carbon Heroes.David shares the remarkable journey that led from his early days as an extension officer in the subtrop industry, to building an export business, to becoming a pioneer in sustainability frameworks that now influence agriculture worldwide. His work helped lay the foundations for major industry initiatives like CSER and Confronting Climate Change, and today Blue North operates across South Africa, Europe, South America, and beyond.This episode goes deep into what sustainability really means for farmers, exporters, buyers, and retail supply chains — beyond compliance, beyond auditing, and into the heart of business resilience and system thinking. David explains why mindsets must shift, how transparency creates opportunity, and why regenerative approaches are resonating with a new generation of agri-professionals.We also unpack the origin and purpose of Carbon Heroes, the evolution of Blue North’s sustainability management platform Sherpa, the role of data and AI in future food systems, and what David would change globally if he had unlimited funding for planetary health.Whether you're a grower, agribusiness leader, exporter, retailer, or simply someone who cares about the future of food — this is a powerful, perspective-shifting conversation.Key Takeaways•The real purpose of sustainability: understanding business within a social and environmental system.•Why farmers initially resisted audits — and what helped shift mindsets.•The origin stories behind CSER and Confronting Climate Change.•How Carbon Heroes helps growers communicate positive sustainability actions credibly.•What Sherpa does and why it’s becoming a global sustainability management tool.•The challenges of carbon credits — and why Blue North takes a cautious stance.•How AI will accelerate sustainability insights and decision-making.•Why global agriculture needs a “paradigm shift” in worldview.•What David would do with unlimited funding to improve planetary health.More about Blue North: https://bluenorth.co.za/Connect with us:Website: https://lucentlands.co.za/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucentlandsmedia/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucentlandsmediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucentlandsmedia/Support this podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lucentlands?new=1

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• The Future of Irrigation | Ep. 112

  This podcast is proudly sponsored by Agrarius. Find out more: ⁠https://www.agrarius.co.za/?ref=recR9vP8u5CYfEOek&utm_source=lucentlands&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=LucentLandsPromo⁠Visit our agricultural stock site: https://lucentlands.smugmug.com/In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with Michael Esmeraldo, Managing Director of Netafim Southern & East Africa, for a fascinating deep dive into the past, present, and future of irrigation across Africa.Michael shares his journey from agronomist to MD, explains Netafim’s global footprint and South African manufacturing capabilities, and unpacks the dramatic shifts happening in irrigation technology — from subsurface drip to cloud-based control systems, automation, and the growing role of AI.The conversation also dives into water scarcity, crop innovation, blueberry and citrus expansions, irrigation challenges in maize and sugarcane, as well as Africa’s development opportunities in countries like Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, and beyond.Michael also speaks passionately about South Africa’s resilience, the mindset shift after the Day Zero drought, and why he believes now is the most optimistic he’s felt about the country in a decade.Key Takeaways•South Africa is far ahead of the global average in drip irrigation adoption, but major opportunities still exist.•Subsurface irrigation is revolutionising crops like sugarcane and may expand to more crops over time.•New cultivars in blueberries and other fruit crops are reshaping global demand.•Cloud-based irrigation control is now a reality for farmers, enabling automation, better reporting and fewer errors.•AI-driven recommendations for irrigation and fertigation are close to becoming mainstream.•Recycling of irrigation plastics is a major future shift — and a business opportunity.•Africa holds enormous agricultural potential, but development and education must accelerate.•South African farmers remain among the most resilient and innovative in the world.Connect with us:Website: https://lucentlands.co.za/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucentlandsmedia/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucentlandsmediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucentlandsmedia/Support this podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lucentlands?new=1

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• Rethinking High-Value Crops | Ep. 111

  This podcast is proudly sponsored by Agrarius. Find out more: ⁠https://www.agrarius.co.za/?ref=recR9vP8u5CYfEOek&utm_source=lucentlands&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=LucentLandsPromo⁠Visit our agricultural stock site: https://lucentlands.smugmug.com/In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with Angus Davison, Founder and Chairman of Haygrove, a global leader in high-tech growing systems and berry, cherry, and horticultural farming.Angus shares the remarkable story of how Haygrove began as a single university thesis project in the UK and evolved into an international operation supplying polythene tunnels, net systems, and advanced growing solutions to more than 50 countries while farming 600+ hectares of berries and cherries across the UK, South Africa, Portugal, and China.From the origins of modern multi-bay tunnels to Haygrove’s bold expansion into key global regions, this conversation dives deep into the mindset, innovation, and long-term strategy that shaped one of the world’s most influential horticultural companies.Angus also unpacks the future of protected cropping — including rising opportunities in kiwis, cherries, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and even avocados — while reflecting on climate challenges, technological innovation, retailer pressures, global labor mobility, and why he believes Southern Africa is one of the best regions in the world for agricultural investment.This is a rich, inspiring conversation with one of the most respected thinkers in global fruit production.Key Takeaways:•Innovation often starts small — but grows through perseverance and learning•Protected cropping is the backbone of future horticulture•Southern Africa remains a uniquely strong investment opportunity•Empowering labor can transform entire communities•Berry and cherry demand will continue to grow for decades•Leadership requires curiosity, global perspective, and long-term thinkingConnect with us:Website: https://lucentlands.co.za/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucentlandsmedia/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucentlandsmediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucentlandsmedia/Support this podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lucentlands?new=1

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• Berry Genetics & Global Market Trends | Ep. 110

  This podcast is proudly sponsored by Agrarius. Find out more: ⁠https://www.agrarius.co.za/?ref=recR9vP8u5CYfEOek&utm_source=lucentlands&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=LucentLandsPromo⁠Visit our agricultural stock site: https://lucentlands.smugmug.com/In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with Hans Liekens, Global Head of Marketing & Innovation at Planasa, one of the world’s largest berry-breeding powerhouses. Recorded live at the IBO Summit, this conversation dives deep into the future of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, asparagus, avocados and even zero-chill cherries.Hans shares his journey from major FMCG companies like PepsiCo and Chiquita to leading innovation in global horticulture. The discussion covers the expanding role of genetics, new breeding programs, global retail trends, sustainability, organic production, and South Africa’s hidden competitive advantages in the global berry market.From carbon footprint calculations that favour South African exporters, to why flavour segmentation will become the “pink lady moment” for blueberries, Hans offers a rare insider’s perspective from someone who speaks directly with supermarket buyers worldwide.He also reveals exciting developments such as low-chill cherries, new raspberry and blackberry genetics coming to South Africa, and Planasa’s expanding global R&D network across seven regions.Whether you're in berry production, horticulture, agribusiness, retail sourcing, or simply passionate about the future of fresh produce, this episode offers a wealth of insight into how global trends are reshaping the industry.Key Takeaways•Planasa’s expansion from asparagus and strawberries into all four major berries — blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries — plus avocados and zero-chill cherries.•South Africa’s unique advantages: sustainability, shipping carbon footprint, flavour profile, season length, and potential for organic production.•Why supermarkets increasingly want one-stop suppliers and how this benefits Southern African growers.•The massive gap and opportunity in organic blueberries for Europe and the UK.•Why flavour segmentation in blueberries will follow the same trajectory as tomatoes and Pink Lady apples.•How supermarkets’ sourcing models, climate constraints, and consumer expectations shape global breeding pipelines.•The importance of the IBO Summit for global collaboration, networking, and industry alignment.Connect with us:Website: https://lucentlands.co.za/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucentlandsmedia/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucentlandsmediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucentlandsmedia/Support this podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lucentlands?new=1

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