About Us

The South African Organic Sector Organisation (SAOSO) is a non-profit organisation focused on uniting and growing the organic agriculture sector in South Africa.

Our Vision

Building resilient, eco-friendly, and biodiverse food systems for a sustainable South Africa.

Our Mission

To facilitate the transition to ecologically sound and sustainable systems of agriculture through training and skills development, research, programme development, maintaining standards in ecological practices, knowledge exchange, advocacy and policy development, growing awareness, as well as facilitating trade through market participation, and networking across South Africa.

Why SAOSO was Formed

In 2008, the NEDLAC Trade and Industries Chamber Fund for Research into Industrial Development Growth and Equity (FRIDGE) study was published.

This study developed a value chain strategy for sustainable development and the growth of organic agriculture and included the establishment of a body to represent the organic sector in the country. Subsequently in 2009, SAOSO was founded.

SAOSO and PGS SA

In 2023, the two voluntary associations SAOSO and Participatory Guarantee System South Africa (PGS SA) merged enabling operations to be streamlined.

PGS SA now functions as a division within SAOSO and continues to support the establishment of communities of practice and PGS groups that help facilitate local market access for organic and agroecological farmers.

Our Guiding Principles

A member of IFOAM Organics International, SAOSO is guided by the four principles of organic farming: health, fairness, ecology and care.

We recognise that food sovereignty begins with the right to seed, and respect for the soil and biodiversity. Our work is linked to the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals and the Seventh Generation Principle.

The Seventh Generation Principle is an Indigenous Knowledge concept that encourages us to think seven generations ahead – about 140 years into the future – and to decide whether our decisions today will benefit those children seven generations from now into our future.

We Are Guided By:

The Rights of Mother Earth

The right to life, respect, and health free from contamination and genetic manipulation.

Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Prioritising justice, human dignity and the well-being of the indigenous communities.

Section 24 of the Constitution

Everyone is entitled to a healthy environment and it must be protected from harm.

The Earth Charter

A shared responsibility for well-being, creating a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society.

Management Committee

Alan Rosenberg

Chairperson

Short Bio

Alan contributed for more than three decades to the Organic Production Standards for South Africa which, since 2018, are SAOSO’s Standard and are part of the IFOAM family of standards. Alan is also the current chairperson of the South African National Standard (SANS) 1369 organic agriculture production and processing working committee. He has trained, taught and lectured on sustainable forms of agriculture, and has written and published six books on the subject and refers to the approach to the work he does as having a 7th Generation Principle.

Alan Rosenberg has worked locally and internationally in the organic and agroecological sectors for nearly 50 years. Alan was a signatory to the appeal which led the Department of Trade and Industry, NEDLAC and the IDC FRIDGE Study of 2008. This led to the formation of SAOSO and Alan has been involved with the organisation since its inception and is the current chairperson.

Butshabelo Mabunda

Vice-Chairperson

Short Bio

Butshabelo is a passionate organic farmer and advocate from Greater Giyani in Limpopo Province. With a National Diploma in Business Management and extensive experience in agriculture, she has been pivotal in promoting organic farming in her community. As the Operational Manager for Sheba Organics, Butshabelo works to empower women, youth, and local farmers to grow organic food, aiming to alleviate poverty and malnutrition. She is committed to expanding organic farming practices, believing it to be the healthiest and most sustainable path for her community.

Colleen Anderson

Secretariat

Short Bio

Colleen Anderson has been with the South African Organic Sector Organisation since 2015, initially as a volunteer for the Secretariat and now Project Coordinator of the activities of Knowledge Hub for
Organic Agriculture in Southern African (KHSA), of which SAOSO is the South African node.

She is an advocate for clean, nutritious food and believes that everyone is entitled to this basic human right. She was drawn to SAOSO which represents the core principles of organic agriculture which are health, ecology, fairness and care.

She has worked largely in the NGO and University sector, where her role was project managing large, multi-donor grants for regional collaboration amongst universities as well as a five year SADC-based programme on mitigating the effects of climate change on food security.

Matt Purkis

Joint Operations

Short Bio

Matt is an environmental activist and entrepreneur in the green sector. He has spent the past decade working in agro-ecology, natural architecture, green events, permaculture training, green business development and land design. He is an independent contractor for the University of Johannesburg, an IFOAM Academy graduate and is currently pursuing his MBA in sustainable food supply chains. Passionate about youth development in agro-ecology and developing practical solutions for sustainable human settlements, Matt is focused on creating pioneering, innovative solutions towards a sovereign, ethical and fair food system.

Busisiwe Mgangxela

INOFO

Short Bio

Busisiwe is an Ecological Organic Agriculture farmer, a PGS Pollinator and a Provincial PGS Coordinator in the Eastern Cape.

She is an Ecological Organic Agriculture leader having been trained by IFOAM Organics International representing South Africa in the Southern Africa Region to advocate and lobby for soil fertility, ecology, health, sustainability and fairness in agriculture. She has been instrumental in starting GMO-free zones in the province.

Raymond Auerbach

Policy Research

Short Bio

Raymond has been farming organically in KwaZulu-Natal for 40 years and has had an active background in soils, trees, farmer training and agricultural research techniques. Post-1994, he worked with government on strategies for transformation and land policies, while finishing his MSc on sustainable farming systems. His doctorate focused on integrated catchment management. For the past decade, he has been teaching soil science and plant production at Nelson Mandela University where he has started a long-term research trial comparing organic and conventional farming systems. He works with students across Africa and collaborates globally with researchers.

Sheryl Ozinsky

Value Chain Development

Short Bio

Sheryl is a seasoned leader in tourism and environmental sustainability in Cape Town. With a background in marine biology, she played a key role in establishing the Two Oceans Aquarium, Whale Well at Iziko Museums, and Robben Island as a heritage site. She led Cape Town Tourism for six years, contributing to its global recognition. Sheryl also co-founded the Oranjezicht City Farm and established the popular farmers market at Granger Bay, V&A Waterfront. Her work includes founding PETCO and POLYCO, two plastics recycling companies, and leading efforts in sustainable initiatives like Greening 2010.

Audrey Wainwright

Certification

Short Bio

Audrey Wainwright is a PGS facilitator, mentor, and trainer, originally at Bryanston PGS in Johannesburg and currently part of a team establishing the Oranjezicht City Farm Market PGS in Cape Town and supporting other groups in the province. She serves on the South African Bureau of Standards technical committee for organic production and processing and the IFOAM-Organics International PGS Committee.

Sasha Mentz

Advocacy & Communications

Short Bio

Sasha holds a Master of Philosophy in Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and a Master in Geopolitics and Political Science from the Sorbonne University (Paris, France). Currently a small-scale organic farmer and advocacy researcher, she is project manager for PGS SA and a PGS practitioner herself, as she coordinates the Outeniqua PGS group in the Western Cape.

Previously Sasha worked for the United Nations as a climate change consultant and has been involved in extensive research on global agricultural trends and how these affect Africa’s farmers. Her ongoing advocacy research for pan African organisations focuses on resisting the agrochemical and biotechnology push onto the continent. She is also part of the #Unpoison initiative that seeks to address the issue of agro-chemical capture in South Africa.

Nthatise Maphasa

PGS Secretariat

Short Bio

Nthatise is a passionate agriculturalist and entrepreneur dedicated to nurturing nature through clean food and sustainable practices. With a zealous commitment to indigenous organic agronomic methods, Nthatise advocates for a healthier, holistic, more balanced world where tradition meets innovation.

Organic Sector Working group

Organic sector working groups bring together experts, farmers and stakeholders to collaborate on best practices, policy advocacy, market development, standards, training and so on to promote sustainable farming practices and help address challenges unique to organic and agroecological agriculture. Their collective efforts are vital in advancing the growth, integrity, and resilience of the organic sector.

Research, Training and Extension
Advocacy and Communication
Value Chain and Market Development
Networks and Partnerships
Programme Development and Innovation
Standards and Certification