Buyiswa Twala

What does your company do?

Agrigreat Soiltech increases food security in South Africa by manufacturing organic composts and fertilisers that reverse the effects of soil degradation. We use biology and physics to formulate the nutrients in BioWaste to match the nutrients needed by specific crop types, through an advanced fermentation process, where the waste undergoes a controlled process of desiccation and mechanical fragmentation, followed by packaging for distribution. We are diverting waste from landfill& decreasing carbon emissions using waste conversion. We currently have a waste conversion site in the township of Alexandra that converts 3tons of organic waste. *Estimate Positive Impact* We created Agribins which are bins are specifically made to accommodate organic waste from retail stores. This changes the way that waste is handled in retail stores and communities opening a pathway for sustainable waste management and promoting a circular economy.

What is your biggest success?

Getting to exhibit my innovation at the bevisioneers global summit in Germany fully funded and becoming a global brand. Successfully opening the Agrigreat waste conversion site which converts 5 tons of organic waste a month. Being the first South African business to become a top 10 finalist for the international Restor life award: for responsible business leadership. Also successfully converting 5 farms from using harmful synthetic fertiliser to using our organic fertiliser& having our agribins successfully taken up by a major South African retail store such as food lovers market. Lastly partnering with Indian company Oyu Green in bringing carbon credit funding to South African farmers.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Access to market and getting customer conversion to a more sustainable idea. as our innovation was new and it was a new concept it was bringing forth the idea to the importance of decrease in carbon emission seeing that South Africa is not as updated as the rest of the world and having to bring about the change in convince companies and farmers of the change was a difficult part of our journey but we never give up and hence we have overcome and reach the success that we have