Tiger Brands and Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of AgriSciences have entered into a three-year strategic partnership focused on strengthening the resilience, sustainability and safety of South Africa’s food and agricultural system.
The partnership brings together Stellenbosch University’s research expertise and Tiger Brands’ experience across the food value chain. The collaboration aims to translate research into practical solutions that can improve on-farm productivity and profitability, strengthen local agricultural value chains, enhance food safety capability and build greater resilience to climate and economic pressures.
Sustainable local sourcing is both a commercial and societal priority for Tiger Brands. More than 90% of the company’s revenue in 2025 was derived from food and beverage products, while 70% of its agricultural procurement spend during the same year was directed at local agricultural producers. Many of these locally sourced commodities are produced in regions facing acute water stress and growing climate vulnerability, increasing the need for Tiger Brands to become more actively involved in the agricultural industry.
“Building a more resilient food system requires us to think beyond today’s challenges and invest in the knowledge and partnerships that will secure future supply,” says Tjaart Kruger, CEO of Tiger Brands. “By combining SU’s research excellence with our experience across the food value chain, we have an opportunity to turn research into practical impact that strengthens productivity, competitiveness and access to quality, affordable food.”
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Research with a practical focus
Cross-disciplinary research under the partnership will focus on key commodities and regenerative agricultural systems across strategic staple, protein and processing crops, including wheat, oats, sorghum, tomatoes, groundnuts and beans.
The partnership builds on Tiger Brands’ existing and longstanding collaboration with Stellenbosch University through the Centre for Food Safety. Its investment will extend beyond individual research projects to contribute to postgraduate education and the development of emerging researchers. It will also create opportunities for knowledge exchange and professional development through lectures, short courses, conferences, seminars and technical collaboration in areas including food science and technology, microbiology, chemistry and good agricultural practices.
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Investing in people and knowledge
Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor, says the partnership demonstrates the value of long-term investment between universities and industry. “Tiger Brands’ support will enable us not only to advance important research, but also to invest in our students and emerging researchers, strengthen capacity, share knowledge more widely and support education across the food and agricultural sector,” he says. Prof Gunnar Sigge, Chair of the Department of Food Science, says Tiger Brands’ continued support contributes to the development and sustainability of South Africa’s food system. “We believe the confidence that Tiger Brands has in the Department and the Faculty of AgriSciences stems from many years of delivering industry-relevant research and solutions based on sound science,” says Sigge.
Prof Pieter Gouws, Director of the Centre for Food Safety in the Department of Food Science, says the collaboration provides an opportunity to connect scientific research more directly with real-world food-system challenges. “The initiative will achieve greater social impact to address South African challenges such as agriculture, food safety, food security and sustainability,” says Gouws.
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