Wageningen University & Research Centre in the Netherlands is working with South African IT consultancy Ikhaya, Dutch importer Smeding and buyer group Sligo on a new sustainable fruit trading system that has seen the first shipment of grapes arrive at Rotterdam this week.
The aim of the project, which has received some Dutch government funding, is to improve market accessibility for small and emerging fruit producers in South Africa, enabling them to access international markets more easily within the present commercial systems.
One container of South African white Thompson Seedless grapes has arrived with more expected to follow as part of the project next season Willie van den Broek, the project leader said: “We try to stimulate producers and customers to develop new, direct supply chains. Then it is clear who contributes what. This leads to a better consensus on price and quantity. It is all about transparency and trust with each party earning a percentage of the end price. That way if the price is not as great as expected, then proportionally everyone receives less, or if it is more, everyone receives more.”
Financial support from the Dutch ministry of economic affairs, agriculture and innovation through its sustainable development programme has bee vital in getting the public-private partnership off the ground.
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