The primary objective of this project is to reduce food insecurity in local urban food systems by building an appreciation for, and understanding of, the role of informality in the local food system. This includes the role of small-scale growers and farmers. The project takes a whole-of-society approach to support on-the-ground efforts to create a more responsive and climate resilient local food system through the piloting of a collaborative governance model.

In addition, this project’s supporting objectives are to enhance collaborative food systems governance within the Western Cape through a governance model that the Western Cape Government can adopt to tackle questions of food and nutrition security throughout the province, and to support the aims of the Western Cape Nourish to Flourish (N2F) programme.

These are the following:

• Improve nutrition in children under 5 in the Western Cape.
• Use food access initiatives to drive community recovery.
• Integrate and improve data sources to enable transversal, evidence-led decision-making.
• Create shared learning across 3 municipalities that will enable the learning to scale up.
• Tessa Chittenden from EDP describes the project’s mission: ‘The Secret Sauce Project seeks to reduce food insecurity through cost-effective, scalable food production systems. Our first step is to map the food systems in these areas, identifying sources of fresh produce, informal traders, existing farmers, and organisations dedicated to food security.’

In Langa, the project is collaborating with the Langa Agrihub, a group of small-scale farmers, and the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Forum, which focuses on improving childhood nutrition. The workshops bring together local food systems participants – smallholder farms, community food gardens and informal vegetable traders – to explore collaboration and support from local government. WWF led a 5 -day agroecology training programme, empowering local farmers with sustainable farming practices for this group.

Building resilience through collaboration

Luyanda Njanjala, WWF’s smallholder farmer programme manager, emphasises the project’s goal: ‘We aim to increase resilience for smallholder farmers by fostering collaboration between state and non-state organisations and removing barriers within local food systems. Our work involves developing on-the-ground evidence to influence policy mechanisms that support local food security and nutrition.’

This project builds on WWF’s extensive work with smallholder farmers across South Africa. With over 5 000 farmers supported and more than 2 000 trained in agroecology practices, the project helps farmers grow food sustainably, using organic compost and harvested seeds without chemical fertilisers or GMOs.

Zukile Malusi from Isibane Development and Consulting, a dynamic facilitator and agroecology expert, leads the training sessions. ‘The training equips farmers for South African Participatory Guarantee System (PSG) certification so that if they choose to go the organic route, their produce can be sold at organic markets or to organic retailers. Regardless of whether they go this route or not, we help all the farmers to collaborate in marketing their produce together, which contains transport costs. Many of the farmers do not produce a surplus or are too far from cities and markets, so they use their produce in their homes or sell it within their communities,’ says Malusi.

A day of learning and connection

The workshops are an enriching experience, with farmers actively engaging in practical discussions about natural pest control, frost protection and finding markets for surplus produce. Njanjala explains that the project supplies organic seeds and teaches farmers to harvest and bank seeds for future seasons, advocating for a shift away from chemical fertilisers and non-reproductive seeds.

In rural areas, where women often manage vegetable and chicken farming around the home, facilitators like Njanjala and Malusi are mindful of social and cultural practices. They create spaces for women to speak up and contribute to discussions, understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by different communities.

Meeting the farmers, many of whom are elderly but passionately dedicated to improving their lives and their communities, was truly inspiring. Thembeka Nonkonyana, chairperson of Agrihub, sums up the project’s impact beautifully: ‘Our work and this training give dignity back to the community. We empower people to feed themselves and make our town and spaces beautiful and fertile. We aspire to see our farmers become entrepreneurs, share their knowledge and create prosperity for everyone in Langa.’

As I reflect on my visit, I am filled with admiration for the resilience and dedication of the Langa community. The Secret Sauce Project is not just about food security; it’s about transforming lives, nurturing communities and fostering a sustainable future for all, and I am excited to see the impacts and results of this work for the communities of Langa, Knysna and Worcester.