“I’ve learned to be more assertive and that I really need to stick to my goals.”

The story of Renshia Manuel , owner of Growbox Nursery, in her own words

I grew up in Eerste River and, after high school, I studied motor mechanics for two years. (My mom was a single working parent and her car wasn’t very reliable so I thought this would a great way to help her.) After getting married, I moved to Hanover Park and worked as a librarian at a primary school for some years. Unfortunately, the school experienced financial problems and could no longer afford me.

Being unemployed, I was struggling to feed my four children and the only solution was to grow vegetables in my own garden. I then had the idea of starting a wholesale plant nursery within Hanover Park. At this point I entered Cape Town’s youth entrepreneurship challenge #YouthStartCT which offered weekly workshops. I started in the top 100 and made it all the way to third place, and received a prize of R5 000. I used this money to register my company and sort out all the tax and government requirements. I registered as a vendor with the City of Cape Town and the Department of Agriculture and bought my first stock, including pots and compost, to start my company Growbox in my back yard.

Growbox is primarily a social enterprise; we grow seedlings for farms, NGOs and the government. We also supply people who have limited space the opportunity to grow vegetables in our wooden Growbox. Our Growboxes are customised to meet our clients’ needs and come with the growth medium, as well as seedlings. We also offer corporate-sponsored food-gardening workshops in disadvantaged communities, and teach households how to grow food in limited spaces.

What sets us apart as a company is that we offer the complete package. It’s a hassle-free vegetable box. Our customers tell us what vegetable or herb plants they want and what size the box must be, then we deliver the fully-stocked box. This eliminates the need for customers to run around finding plants and compost. Our holistic programme starts households on the path to food growing, and teaches people how to grow vegetables sustainably and how to use food waste.

I believe that entrepreneurs need steadfastness, perseverance and the ability to work hard. Without these qualities, you won’t be able to overcome the inevitable setbacks and failures. For me, the biggest challenge when I started out was the lack of technical know-how. I thought it would be easy but it turns out that Google can’t teach you everything. I gained most of my technical knowledge through trial and error. (It would have been very helpful if I’d had a go-to person to give me advice.) Access to finance was also a challenge. I was very fortunate to receive funding from Netafim who also gave me support and linked me to farmers for technical support and mentorship.

In 2017 I entered ENGEN Pitch & Polish with the goal of boosting my confidence. Public speaking is one of my worst fears and is an area my mentor has encouraged me to work on. The programme was a great help in my pitching confidence and also taught me how to take rejection really well. Having to keep a straight face in front of an intimidating panel of judges taught me a lot. I’ve learned to be more assertive and that I really need to stick to my goals. (I applied much of what I learned when I did a funding proposal to Netafim.)

Since the competition, business has been going well. People tell me I have good problems because I have a high demand for my seedlings but don’t have the capacity to meet the demand. I’m very happy to say that on Mandela Day, we are moving into great new premises which will allow us to expand and meet the increased demand.

To the Pitch & Polish sponsors, Nedbank and Engen Petroleum, I would like to say thank you, thank you and thank you!

Scientists to embark on landmark study to assess extent to which rooibos could boost athletes’ performance

Press release

One of the hottest topics in sport and exercise science is the role that natural herbs can play in enhancing athletic performance. Already known for its many health benefits, home-grown Rooibos, will be put through its paces over the next few months when a team of scientists from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the Prime Human Performance Institute in Durban will test the extent to which the tea could aid sportsmen and women.

In a previous study led by Prof Jeanine Marnewick at CPUT’s Oxidative Stress Research Centre, researchers found that Rooibos plays a preventative role in exercise-induced oxidative stress. In other words, Rooibos’ abundance of antioxidants works in unison to resist cell damage which often occurs during high-intensity bursts of exercise.

Prof Simeon Davies who heads up CPUT’s Sports Management Department explains that these studies have demonstrated that during repeated exhaustive exercise bouts Rooibos can reduce physical fatigue allowing for improved performance – both crucial factors in sport.

“In gist, oxidative stress can be defined as an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favour of oxidants – also known as free radicals. Since oxidants are unstable molecules, they can cause damage to vital cell components, such as genetic material, lipids and proteins. Free radicals are derived from organisms and cells inside the body and the outside environment, such as cigarette smoke, heavy metals, pesticides and certain medication, but can also occur as a result of strenuous exercise when our bodies use oxygen to produce energy.

“To prevent free radical damage, the body has a natural defence system of antioxidants that can combat the damage caused by oxidants, but it’s often not sufficient under certain conditions such as strenuous physical activity.

“The initial oxidative stress study already showed that drinking Rooibos in a concentrated form – equivalent to six cups a day – boosted performance during repeated arm flexion/extension work by around 5%, which may have interesting implications for usage in elite sports where every percentage point counts during competition, but may also allow for improved training that could in itself elevate competition times,” says Prof Davies.

To build on these findings, a further and more comprehensive study will be done in a simulated and controlled hypoxic (low oxygen) environment simulating high altitude (3 500m). The study will involve 50 relatively fit individuals between the ages of 18 and 60. On test day, each participant will consume a specially prepared tonic consisting of water and concentrated Rooibos or a placebo. Physical performance will be measured on calibrated Wattbikes, while oxidative stress and other related stress markers will be measured via blood samples to evaluate the efficacy of Rooibos during strenuous exercise.

The hypoxic element to the study aims to further investigate Rooibos’ ability to combat high altitude sickness (HAS). This is because exercising at high altitude induces a high degree of oxidative stress, which is often associated with HAS. In a pilot study, led by Prof Davies in 2015, eight climbers supplemented with Rooibos (in a concentrated pill form) while summiting Mount Aconcagua, which at 6 962m is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere.

Many mountaineers who ascend to such high altitudes often need to take prescription medication to prevent HAS, but preliminary findings from the Aconcagua expedition found Rooibos to be an effective supplement that appeared to mitigate the effects of HAS.

Prof Davies says if Rooibos proves successful in the studies that are to follow, it could become a staple food supplement for elite athletes the world-over.

“As a scientist, I continue to be surprised by Rooibos’ health benefits. Of particular interest to the scientific community, is the flavonoid, Aspalathin, which is unique to Rooibos and is what gives it its powerful antioxidant punch. Aspalathin is known to reduce excessive fat production, balance blood sugar, improve glucose absorption in the muscle and increase insulin secretion in the pancreas,” he says.

The study, which will take place at the Prime Human Performance Institute at Moses Mabhida Stadium will lend scientific credibility to the value that Rooibos supplementation can have on naturally improving athletic performance – something which many adaptogens (plant species that encourage the body to adapt to physical and mental stress) lack.

 “It’s exciting to think that a South African indigenous plant such as Rooibos may become athletes’ next must-have supplement,” says Prof Davies. “In the not so distant future, concentrated Rooibos may also become available to consumers in tablet or tonic form to naturally elevate antioxidant levels in the body to help reduce one’s risk of other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”

“For updates on the research project, follow Prof Davies and his team on the SA Rooibos Council’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rooiboscouncil/ or visit www.sarooibos.co.za for more info about the health benefits of Rooibos.

Rooibos and honeybush tea are both chapters in the Agri Handbook.

Paying attention to agro-processing

For those who might have missed it, the Department of Trade and Industry’s 2018/19-2020/21 Industrial Action Policy Programme (IPAP) were announced at the end of last month.

Some of the IPAP interventions have been met with remarkable success. In the leather and footwear sub-sector, for example, exports of leather and footwear have grown by 167%, from R 1.98 billion to R5.29 billion, with a peak employment figure of 21,190 in the sector, “clawing back jobs to a level last seen in 2007” (IPAP, 2018). Accordingly, we pay attention to where the dti’s interventions are being directed.

Agro-processing, in one form or another, usually features. Rightly so. The value chain currently employs around 283,000 people, contributing 20.3% to manufacturing GDP and 2.7% to total GDP (IPAP, 2018). The country is a net exporter of agro-processed products and so by strengthening this sector, we can work on our trade deficit.

The latest IPAP diagnoses investment needs, contrainsts and opportunities. Key Action Programmes in agro-processing are planned in the following sectors:

1. Indigenous plants, identified as having “enormous wealth of agro-biodiversity and have the potential to contribute to improved incomes, job creation and local economic development”.
2. To identify the potential of underutilised agro-processing facilities and turn them around as viable, sustainable, job-creating agribusinesses.
3. Facilitate the development and competitiveness of the Halal industry.
4. To work with stakeholders and investors to unlock constraints in the poultry value chain that currently inhibit new investments, deeper localisation and inclusive growth.
5. Agro-Processing Export Development. This targets Rooibos and fruit export development, and sugar industry development.

The IPAP can be located on the dti's website, www.thedti.gov.za.

In the Agri Handbook, find the following chapters of relevance: agro-processing, indigenous medicinal plants, poultry, rooibos, fruit and sugarcane.