Cape Town is set to host one of Africa’s most important gatherings for the organic and natural products industry as the Organic & Natural Products Expo Africa returns to the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 17 to 19 April 2026.

Now backed by Standard Bank Business and Commercial as headline sponsor, the event continues to strengthen its role as a key meeting place for businesses across the continent’s growing green economy.

Now in its third year in the city, the expo brings together producers, buyers and decision makers from across Africa. It reflects a wider shift towards healthier and more sustainable living, as both consumers and industries rethink how products are made and sourced. The addition of the Sustainable Hospitality Expo has further widened its reach, creating new links between organic brands and the hospitality sector. This growing connection highlights how sustainability is becoming a business priority rather than just a trend.

South Africa’s organic market is already valued at billions of rand, while demand for wellness products continues to rise steadily. At the same time, the hospitality sector is under pressure to adopt greener solutions, from guest amenities to energy and water use. The expo sits at the centre of these changes, giving exhibitors direct access to buyers who shape these markets. Over three days, brands can engage with retailers, distributors, and procurement leaders from hotels, lodges and short stay accommodation.

For many small businesses across Africa, the expo offers more than just visibility. It creates a practical route to growth. “The Organic & Natural Products Expo Africa is a commercial catalyst for the entire African natural products value chain,” says Warren Hickinbotham, co-founder of the expo.

“The majority of exhibitors are small and emerging businesses, from start-up skincare and haircare brands to family-run food producers and innovators in household and agricultural products. Recognising that these enterprises often struggle to reach buyers on their own, the expo has been built to lower barriers to entry and amplify their reach.”

Support from financial institutions and government programmes ensures that smaller brands can take part with reduced costs, helping them present themselves professionally and compete on a larger stage.

“This gives smaller brands a professional presence on the show floor, complete with exhibition infrastructure and support services. For many, the expo becomes the point at which a kitchen-table business turns into a fully-fledged commercial operation,” Hickinbotham explains.

“Beyond the three days at CTICC, every exhibitor is profiled on the Organic & Natural Products Portal for 12 months at no additional cost. This digital listing allows buyers who met a brand at the show - or heard about it afterwards - to locate, contact and trade with them long after the doors close, turning a single exhibition into a year-long sales and lead-generation opportunity.”

With strong interest already building, the 2026 edition is expected to further connect African businesses with real commercial opportunities and long term growth.

South Africa has stepped up its response to Foot and mouth disease with the arrival of one million high potency vaccines at OR Tambo International Airport.

The shipment was received under the supervision of John Steenhuisen, Agriculture Minister marking a significant boost to the national vaccination drive already under way in affected regions.

The vaccines were supplied by Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina and form part of a broader supply programme. Further consignments are expected in the coming weeks from BVI in Botswana and Dollvet in Turkey. By the end of March, more than five million doses from these three international suppliers are set to arrive in the country.

At home, the Agricultural Research Council has committed to producing 20 000 vaccines per week, with plans to increase output to 200 000 per week in 2027. The expanded supply will allow authorities to move beyond targeted outbreak response and work towards wider suppression of the virus in high risk areas.

Steenhuisen said, “Vaccination has already begun in affected areas, but supply has limited the speed and coverage. With this arrival, we can now accelerate protection across priority provinces and stabilise the livestock sector.”

Outbreaks have been reported in every province, prompting quarantine measures, movement restrictions and ongoing surveillance. A risk based vaccination strategy will focus first on outbreak centres in KwaZulu Natal and parts of Gauteng, Free State and North West, before extending to other high risk and border regions.

The initial one million doses will be shared across all provinces, with KwaZulu Natal and Free State receiving the largest allocations. However, the minister warned that vaccines alone will not end the crisis.

“Quarantine rules, movement permits and biosecurity measures exist to protect every farmer in the country. Those who deliberately move animals illegally, conceal infections, or ignore restrictions threaten the recovery of the entire sector. Where there is wilful non compliance, we will work with law enforcement authorities and the full might of the law will be applied,” Steenhuisen added.

He will visit Mooi River in KwaZulu Natal on 27 February to vaccinate dairy cattle alongside veterinarians and farmers. “The dairy industry has been among the hardest hit with significant production losses, disrupted markets and immense strain on farming families. That visit marks the practical beginning of recovery at farm level. Each vaccinated herd means stability returning to a business, wages returning to workers and milk returning to shelves.”

“We are moving step by step from crisis management to control,” Minister Steenhuisen concluded. “Vaccines are arriving, the system is scaling up, and compliance will be enforced. Working together, we will stabilise the sector and rebuild confidence in South Africa’s animal health system.”

Nigeria is stepping up efforts to attract international investment into its agricultural sector, with a strong focus on building a resilient and sustainable food system.

This call was made during the Nigeria United Kingdom Investment Forum held in London, where the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, outlined the country’s vast potential and urgent needs.

He explained that agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s economy, employing close to 70 percent of the workforce and contributing more than 24 percent to national GDP. With its diverse climate and fertile land, the country is well positioned to produce key crops such as rice, maize, cassava, cocoa and sorghum at a competitive level for both local and global markets.

Despite these strengths, climate change continues to pose serious risks. Changing rainfall patterns, drought, flooding and desertification are already affecting productivity and threatening food security. This has made the shift to climate resilient farming practices a national priority.

The Minister noted that one of the biggest challenges facing the sector is limited access to finance. While some credit schemes exist, they fall far short of what is needed to support farmers and scale innovation.

“While public financing remains essential, unlocking the scale of investment required will depend on stronger participation from private capital and development finance partners.

“Access to finance is a major constraint for farmers across Nigeria, significantly limiting the productivity across the sector. Despite the prevalence of credit schemes across the country, total credit accessible by farmers is still significantly limited, reaching 3.4trillion as at April 2025. Whilst this value may look significant, it is less than 4% of the contribution of agriculture to the country’s GDP.” Kyari said.

In response, the government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced reforms and programmes to improve productivity and resilience. These include solar powered irrigation systems, improved seed varieties, mechanisation support and better storage infrastructure.

Nigeria is also strengthening key institutions to reduce investment risks and improve confidence among global partners. The Minister encouraged UK investors to explore opportunities across the value chain, from irrigation and logistics to processing and storage.

He concluded by stressing that Nigeria has both the capacity and determination to transform its agricultural sector, while contributing to global food security in the face of climate challenges.

New Holland has given its T7 Standard Wheelbase tractor range a thorough rethink, and the result is a machine that feels genuinely fresh from the ground up.

Covering the 180 to 225hp bracket, the updated lineup brings a sharper look, smarter technology and some meaningful mechanical changes that will matter to anyone spending long days behind the wheel.

"We've completely reimagined the key design features of the T7 Standard Wheelbase tractor range," says New Holland Standard Wheelbase Global Product Manager, Manfred Pfleger. "Significant upgrades include a new cab design, a new operator interface and armrest, and a more compact front end, core for a tractor range that competes in an important sector of the market with a broad customer base. The redesigned suspension delivers greater comfort and control, and complements the light weight, high-capacity design of this range to boost productivity and performance."

One of the standout changes is the new front axle, offered in standard or heavy duty form, with dual accumulators delivering a noticeably smoother ride. Combined with a redesigned bonnet and a new axle support, the turning circle has been slashed by 17%, dropping from 14.3 metres down to 11.4 metres. That kind of improvement makes headland manoeuvring far less of a chore.

Under the new sloping bonnet sits a Stage V FPT NEF 6.7 litre engine, now reaching peak power at just 1,500rpm to keep fuel consumption and noise in check. Service intervals stretch to 750 hours, and diesel capacity has grown to 350 litres. The T7.225 with Dynamic Command transmission recently posted best-in-class fuel efficiency at the German DLG test centre, consuming just 243g/kWh.

Inside the cab, the new SideWinder armrest puts everything within easy reach, with the option to specify the IntelliView 12 touchscreen, electronic remote valves and a refined CommandGrip multifunction handle. Cab space has grown, climate control is improved and storage has been expanded throughout.

All models come with connectivity included as standard, supporting remote dealer monitoring and data driven efficiency. The range also debuts New Holland's striking new Dynamic Blue colour scheme, which will roll out across future models.