In a country grappling with rising food insecurity, sustainable solutions must go beyond temporary relief – they must equip communities with the tools to feed themselves. That’s exactly what the EduPlant School Gardening and Nutrition Programme, South Africa’s largest and longest-running school gardening and nutrition initiative, has been doing for more than three decades.
By Maphuti Mongatane, Business Development Manager at African Farming
Run by Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and proudly supported by Tiger Brands, EduPlant is transforming school grounds into productive food gardens and schools into hubs of nutrition, learning, environmental awareness and community upliftment.
A Practical Solution To A National Crisis
Tackling household food insecurity in a meaningful and lasting way begins with practical knowledge and hands-on skills. EduPlant empowers schools to grow thriving food gardens by providing both theoretical training and the gardening resources needed to succeed. These gardens do more than feed learners.
They:
- sustain each school’s daily nutrition programme;
- support surrounding households with fresh produce;
- enable income generation through surplus sales; and
- create learning opportunities rooted in sustainability and resilience.
Since Tiger Brands joined as the programme sponsor in 2019, EduPlant has supported the establishment of food gardens in more than 1 200 schools. This work complements the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) and aligns with Tiger Brands’ broader food security initiatives, including the Tiger Brands Foundation and in-school breakfast programmes across key communities.
Also read: How Tiger Brands is helping to localise production
Where Impact Grows: Philip Kushlick School, Soweto
EduPlant’s transformative impact was recently showcased during a visit to Philip Kushlick School in Diepkloof, Soweto, a school for learners with special needs that is situated within Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Here, gardening is not just an activity, it’s woven into the very fabric of the school’s learning and therapy model. The garden:
- enhances tactile sensitivity through structured sand, water and plant exercises;
- supports fine motor and memory development with post-gardening clay modelling;
- reinforces the school’s agroecology prevocational subject;
- offers nutritious vegetables that supplement school meals; and
- builds a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship, water saving and litter-free practices.
“The implementation of the EduPlant Programme at Philip Kushlick School is a powerful example of how a school food garden can go beyond education to directly improve the lives and future prospects of its students and the broader community,” says Chris Wild, Executive Director of FTFA.
The school’s food garden was even selected as a finalist in the 2020 EduPlant competition, demonstrating how inclusion and hands-on learning go hand in hand.
Also read: Food garden project aims for sustainability at 150 schools
Learning By Doing: A Living Classroom
EduPlant is designed as an extension of the classroom. FTFA facilitators provide workshops on:
- permaculture principles and ethics;
- garden design and layout;
- soil testing and conditioning; and
- seedbed preparation and planting cycles.
Educators and learners receive not only knowledge but also the tools to implement it, from spades and rakes to seeds, seedlings and compost. The programme is accredited by the South African Council for Educators (SACE), meaning teachers also benefit from professional development that enhances how they deliver learning content.
“Working in a school garden provides a nurturing, hands-on environment that helps under-resourced children find a sense of purpose and peace, cultivating not just plants but also resilience and confidence,” says Wild.
Tiger Brands: Nourishing The Nation With Purpose
At the heart of EduPlant’s reach and impact is Tiger Brands, South Africa’s leading food company, which has brought its purpose, namely “to nourish and nurture more lives every day”, to life in the most meaningful way.
“As a leading force in South Africa’s food sector, we carry a profound responsibility to stand alongside vulnerable communities who face the daily struggle of food insecurity. Good nutrition is not a privilege but the foundation for dignity, growth and opportunity,” says Maanda Milubi, Director: Enterprise and Supplier Development and Transformation at Tiger Brands. “Through the EduPlant Programme, with its focus on building self-sustaining communities, we are not only addressing immediate hunger but also helping to restore hope and resilience for the future.”
Through strategic investment, Tiger Brands is helping thousands of learners, educators and families grow knowledge, independence and nutritious food from the soil up.
Gardens That Grow Beyond The School Fence
One of EduPlant’s most powerful elements is its multiplier effect. Learners are encouraged to share what they’ve learnt by starting gardens at home, many with their families’ full involvement. At Philip Kushlick, parents of senior learners are now applying the same skills to establish household gardens that support daily meals and family wellbeing. This is not just about school infrastructure, it’s about community transformation.
From Seeds To Self-reliance
EduPlant is proof that when corporate purpose meets grassroots implementation, real change takes root. With Tiger Brands as a committed partner and FTFA at the helm, schools across the country are growing much more than crops, they’re growing confident children, informed educators, resilient families and hopeful communities. And that’s a harvest worth celebrating.
At African Farming, these are the types of initiatives we stand behind and actively advocate for. We believe in practical solutions that build resilience, dignity and independence, especially for children, families and rural communities. Programmes like EduPlant, supported by Tiger Brands and implemented by FTFA, align perfectly with our mission to promote sustainable farming, empower the next generation and champion food security at grassroots level. We don’t just tell the stories, we walk alongside those who are creating them.
