A powerful partnership between FoodForward SA and OneFarm Share is transforming the way South Africa tackles hunger and food waste. By linking farmers’ surplus produce to communities in need, the initiative is turning potential waste into millions of nutritious meals every year.
Powered by Standard Bank and HelloChoice, OneFarm Share enables farmers to upload available produce to a digital marketplace. Surpluses are purchased at preferential rates and donated to FoodForward SA, which then uses its fleet, cold-chain facilities, and network of more than 2,500 NGOs to deliver fresh food to nearly one million people across all nine provinces every day.
The results are already visible. Weekly truckloads of potatoes and other crops, once destined for landfills, are now feeding families through FoodForward SA’s branches. This effort has created more than five million meals at a cost of just 50 cents per serving. Beneficiaries now receive up to 41 different kinds of fresh produce, including spinach, butternut, beetroot, and aubergines — raising the nutritional value of food baskets from 82 percent to over 90 percent.
The social and environmental impact is just as important. By reducing food waste, the initiative prevents harmful emissions and saves vital farming resources like water and energy. At the same time, small-scale and women-led farming enterprises gain reliable markets and fair prices, boosting rural incomes and resilience.
Looking ahead, FoodForward SA and OneFarm Share plan to expand the programme by increasing the variety and volume of food recovered, opening new opportunities for emerging farmers, and enhancing the nutritional value of meals distributed across the country.
This collaboration shows how innovation and partnership can make a real difference — ensuring that no harvest is wasted and that more South Africans have access to healthy, balanced meals.
