The Junior Agricultural Writers awards in South Africa marked a significant milestone with the 5th Junior Agri Writers Awards, held at Hollard’s prestigious head office in Parktown, Johannesburg. Sponsored by Hollard Insure, this esteemed event showcased the vibrant voices of South Africa’s young writers under 28, whose insights are poised to shape the future of farming and agriculture across the continent.
Since its inception in 2020, the Junior Agri Writers Awards, in partnership with Hollard, Farming Portal, and Agri News Net, has provided a dynamic platform for over 100 emerging writers to share innovative ideas on sustainable agriculture, food security, and agribusiness. “This award is more than a competition; it’s a call to hear the fresh perspectives of our youth,” said Johann Pretorius CEO of the CRA GROUP. “Their work is consistently exceptional, blending technical depth with practical solutions that commercial farmers, unions, and policymakers must heed.”
“We urgently need input from young farmers to ground these ideas in practical reality. Their on-the-ground experiences, combined with the visionary proposals from our writers, can drive meaningful change.” The awards emphasize originality, diversity, and actionable solutions, urging the agricultural sector to implement suggestions like improved access to technology, fairer market systems, and youth-focused training programs.
South Africa’s youth are ready to transform farming, agriculture, and food security with fresh ideas and entrepreneurial spirit, and it’s time we take notice. At CRA Media Group, through platforms like Farming Portal and Agri News Net, we’re committed to amplifying these young voices—innovators who seek to build, not break, and who bring constructive solutions without destructive demands.
This year’s winning entries tackled critical issues, from precision agriculture for smallholder farmers to youth-led urban farming initiatives and climate-resilient crop strategies. Published on Farming Portal (www.farmingportal.co.za) these articles—alongside contributions from past years—offer a treasure trove of ideas to address South Africa and Africa’s pressing agricultural challenges, including food insecurity, rural upliftment, and productivity gaps that demand substantial investment and innovation.
Hollard Insure, a steadfast partner since the awards’ launch, has been instrumental in elevating this initiative into a prestigious honor. “Supporting these young writers is about building a resilient, inclusive agricultural future,” said Andries Wiese, Hollard’s National Business Development Manager. “We’re proud to stand with the next generation of agri-leaders.” Contributions from Andries and Sara have further strengthened the program, ensuring these young talents receive the recognition and support they deserve.
South Africa and Africa face immense agricultural hurdles—rising input costs, climate challenges, and the need for sustainable growth. The Junior Agri Writers Awards serve as a clarion call to listen to the youth, whose published works on Farming Portal challenge stakeholders to act. From adopting tech-driven farming to empowering family farms, their ideas are a blueprint for progress.
Farming Portal remain committed to creating professional opportunities that add value to agriculture, fostering a space where young writers and farmers can share their minds and spark transformation. Visit www.farmingportal.co.za (Your trusted source for timely, reliable farming and agriculture news, connecting farmers and innovators) to read the winning articles, engage with their ideas, and support the voices shaping tomorrow’s harvest.
At CRA MEDIA we believe in letting our young stars shine. Rather than seeking acclaim for ourselves, we humbly champions these emerging talents, providing a trusted, professional platform to share bold ideas on sustainable farming, food security, and agribusiness. Our role is to uplift, not to shine,” said Johann Pretorius“ These young writers are the future, and we’re proud to give them a professional stage like Farming portal to create their legacy.” With Hollard’s unwavering support since 2020, we’ve empowered over 100 young voices to tackle Africa’s agricultural challenges, fostering innovation through a credible media platform. Join us in celebrating their vision and supporting their journey to transform farming.
At the CRA Media Group, we're constantly innovating, scouting for fresh projects to infuse real value into farming and agriculture. Our mission? To empower South Africa's agricultural backbone with timely, trustworthy insights through platforms like Farming Portal and Agri News Net. South Africa and Africa grapple with massive challenges – from climate shocks to resource gaps – that demand bold investments and upliftment to build productive farming families. It coming- a brand new AWARD.
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