About Us

The Challenge

Agrifood technology innovation remains crucial to meet the challenges posed by strong population growth, rapid urbanisation and changing consumer preferences. It is projected that the African population will increase from 1.3 billion in 2020 to 2.5 billion by 2050, with the urban population expected to increase from 400 million to 1.2 billion during this period.

The challenge is even greater given that our continent is currently not food self-sufficient with an average of US$ 45 billion in food products being imported each year. Africa has the human capital and natural resource capacity to meet these challenges in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way if agrifood tech innovation and entrepreneurship are enabled.

Our Solution

AgVentures is Africa’s leading agrifood tech investor. We invest in privately-owned agrifood companies with the potential to transform the African agrifood sector due to their innovative technology and dynamic entrepreneurship. We are more than an investor – we become a partner and assist investee companies to build their businesses and expand across Africa. Our head office is in South Africa.

Management

Gerhard Visagie

Founder, CEO

 

Qualifications:
B.Compt (Hons), CA (SA)

Experience:

  • 11 years agrifood private equity experience.
  • Shareholder and director of Acorn Private Equity, a specialist agrifood private equity firm.
  • Executive of Acorn Agri & Food (previously Acorn Agri).
  • Co-founded Acorn Agri, a leading South African agrifood corporate.

Jan Greyling

Analyst

 

Qualifications:
PhD (Agricultural Economics)

Experience:

  • Lecturer at Department Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University.
  • Researcher at Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy.
  • Freelance journalist and columnist for Landbouweekblad on agrifood tech trends.

Non-Executive Directors

Andre Uys

Chairman

 

Qualifications:
B.Sc Agric (Hons), MBA

Experience:

  • 20 years agrifood managerial experience.
  • CEO of Acorn Agri & Food.
  • Serves on the board of various South African agrifood companies.

Pierre Malan

Non-Executive

 

Qualifications:
B.Compt (Hons) CA (SA)

Experience:

  • 20 years agrifood private equity experience.
  • Co-founder and CEO of Acorn Private Equity, a specialist agrifood private equity firm.
  • Co-founded Acorn Agri, a leading South African agrifood corporate.
  • Serves on the board of various South African agrifood companies.

Cobus Visser

Non-Executive

 

Qualifications:
LLB

Experience:

  • Managing director of Bremer Investments, an investment holding company.
  • Chairman of Acorn Agri & Food.
  • Director of Heelbo Boerdery, a commercial farming operation primarily focused on cattle breeding.
  • Serves on the board of various South African agrifood companies.

Anchor Shareholder

Acorn Agri & Food is a leading South African, vertically integrated agriculture and food group with a hundred-year legacy. The Group is publicly traded with a market capitalisation of several billion Rands and over 3 000 employees.

Acorn Agri & Food is AgVentures’ anchor shareholder. This strategic partnership provides AgVentures with substantial capital and access to comprehensive agrifood expertise and networks, which assists in our efforts to evaluate and scale high-potential agrifood technologies.

Strategic Partners

AgVentures is connected to a wide array of strategic partners that provide valuable insights and resources to help us achieve our core purpose of transforming the African agrifood sector through innovative and disruptive agrifood technologies.

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