Indeed , when Andre started his journey with Westfalia Fruit over 22 years ago , the company was unrecognisable in terms of its tech .
“ Spreadsheets were almost the only thing that we had in those days . Even email was new ,” he notes .
Yet thanks to Andre ’ s work , today Westfalia employs a comprehensive technological approach that he describes as being present all the way from ‘ Farm to Fork ’.
These optimisations brought about via technology are important , particularly where fruit is being grown .
In 2024 , a prolonged dry spell in southern Africa scorched crops and threatened food security for millions of people . This put increasing pressure on farmers to be able to treat their
crops when even drinking water was in short supply .
Through the use of sensors in orchards , Westfalia has allowed for precise monitoring of growing conditions , leading to optimised irrigation and fertilisation practices .
“ We can now track the amount of moisture in the orchards , and can use low flow drip irrigation , where we actually drop the water straight into the root structure of the tree ,” Andre says . “ This way we use substantially less water , a 40 to 50 % reduction .”
This precision irrigation system not only conserves water but also optimises plant health , leading to improved yields and fruit quality .
But it is not only harvesting and growing they have to contend with , it ’ s distribution
334 September 2024