German water technology companies explore market opportunities in the South African agro-processing sector

From 4-8 March 2024, the Competence Centre Climate and Environment hosted a German business delegation of eight companies in Johannesburg with the topic water and wastewater management in the South African agro-processing sector. This project was implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Ger. BMWK). The funding forms part of the Environmental Technologies Export Initiative and is carried out within the framework of the Foreign Market Entry Programme for small and medium-sized German enterprises (SMEs).

The objective of this 5-day event was to transfer knowledge and technology on current water management practices and to explore business opportunities for the participating German companies.

Download the target market analysis here

Download the delegation brochure here.

No Water, No Production!
Addressing water and wastewater management around and in South African agro-processing

Just short of 90 participants engaged with each other at the conference on 5 March 2024 with the topic “Technological Solutions Technological Solutions for Water and Wastewater Management in the Agro-processing Sector”. Representatives of German companies, as well as the South African agro-processing, engineering and water technology sectors networked and exchanged knowledge at the conference.

With his inspiring and emotive keynote address, Andrew Barker set the tone for the engagement of the participants at the conference. He spoke about the importance of catchment management and conservation, the reliance of industry on clean and sufficient volumes of water for production and the need for water stewardship. He encouraged all participants to be a steward for our water resources and supporting ecosystems. He emphasised that industries can be part of the change by engaging with their management and staff, as well as surrounding communities and individuals. He also spoke about our failing water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure, which is impacting industrial production.

Furthermore, South African experts in the field engaged with each other and the audience during two panel discussions. Dr. Gerhard Neethling from the Red Meat Abattoir Association spoke about the water and wastewater challenges that the red meat abattoir industry faces in South Africa. He explained that red meat abattoirs are high volume water users and that the low hanging fruit in reducing water consumption lies in the reuse of treated wastewater in processes, that do not require drinking water quality. He also explained that some regulations imposed on the industry make it harder to reuse water. Carl Haycock from Talbot spoke about how the agro-processing sector could become more water resilient by measuring, monitoring, and analysing water consumption with the goal to reduce water consumption. His key message was that you cannot manage what you don’t measure! He also stressed that changing water use behaviour and implementing simple measures within a company can save up to 40% of water. Once water use within a company has been optimally reduced, a company can consider backup storage, and use of alternative water sources (including wastewater reuse) to become more resilient against water supply issues. He also spoke about the kind of technologies that are commonly used to treat effluent in the different subsectors of the agro-processing industry.

Mike Smith from Talbot and Oliver Petersen from The Water Fund discussed what factors make a water project bankable and what kind of information is required from industry to develop a feasible water project. Both speakers emphasised that financing water projects is not straightforward. There is a dire need for funding mechanisms of water projects, which are not large enough to qualify for commercial or corporate investment vehicles. Talbot and Thesele Group illustrated that together they can offer their industrial clients a solution to their water issues.

The German companies presented their diverse solutions for water and wastewater management in the agro-processing sector in South Africa. Their solutions range from individual components (screening, aeration, sensors, intelligent systems) to turnkey aerobic and anaerobic water and wastewater treatment solutions and integrated disinfection systems.

At the conference, as well as on the 6^th and 7^th March, the German companies engaged with potential business partners and clients in individual B2B Meetings in and around Johannesburg.

The business delegation was organised in cooperation with the German Water Partnership e.V. (GWP) and with German support from the VDMA and in collaboration locally with the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA), the South African Association for Food Science and Technology, and the Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA).

The presentations given during the conference are available for download below.