WATCH | Climate resilience and intercontinental trade at Nampo 2025
Standard Bank's Agribusiness division offers a variety of products to support farming businesses, including financial solutions, insurance, and services tailored to meet each client’s unique needs.
Africa’s agricultural sector, often described as the backbone of the continent’s economy, supports between 65% and 70% of its workforce, according to the World Bank. Contributing up to 40% of gross domestic product, it acts as a lifeline for millions. However, beneath its vital role lies a growing challenge: climate change. Since 1961, agricultural productivity growth has plummeted by 34%, raising alarm bells for the future of food security across the continent.
“Climate change has a real impact on agriculture, and agriculture impacts climate change through what we do and how we use land. We are also impacted by climate change through drought, small storms, and heat waves. It’s affecting our farmers,” said Louis van Ravesteyn, the Head of Agribusiness at Standard Bank Group.
“We focus on four aspects of our climate-smart agriculture strategy: smart water, smart energy, smart practices, and smart equipment. We provide solutions to our customers to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change on the continent,” he added.
NAMPO: A hub for agricultural innovation
Van Ravesteyn was speaking at the National Agricultural Market and Producers Organisation (NAMPO), the largest agricultural exhibition in the southern hemisphere. This year’s event, held in the Free State, was attended by more than 87 000 people over four days and hosted more than 900 exhibitors. Standard Bank has been involved with NAMPO since its first expo 56 years ago.
“NAMPO is a place to network and to learn about the latest technology. We've evolved over the years and have spent capital at NAMPO to enhance our client facilities, where clients can engage with us about agri-related solutions, as well as non-agri-related solutions. NAMPO is such a great economic injection into the Bothaville environment,” said Brendan Jacobs, the Head of Agribusiness at Business & Commercial Banking South Africa, Standard Bank Group.
Jacobs and Van Ravesteyn were part of a panel at Standard Bank’s Beyond Borders Breakfast, hosted on the sidelines of NAMPO. The panel also featured Sithembile Dlamini, the Head of Africa China Banking at Standard Bank SA, and Jayde Clack, the Managing Director of GrainCo.
Tailored solutions in Agribusiness Bank
The panel discussed the bank’s commitment to supporting farmers in becoming more climate-resilient while facilitating transregional growth. At the breakfast, the bank convened its Heads of Agribusiness from South Africa and 14 other African countries, providing an opportunity to network and share knowledge.
Standard Bank's Agribusiness division offers a variety of products to support farming businesses, including financial solutions, insurance, and services tailored to meet each client’s unique needs.
“Standard Bank doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all policy with its clients. The products they offer are tailored to the specific needs of your business. Standard Bank, being in 15 countries in Africa and investing in agriculture, understands what they are investing in. They know the risks and work through them with you. The big difference between Standard Bank and other banks is that Standard Bank treats its clients as partners, beyond the financial and transactional relationship. They understand that if you grow, they grow, so you work at it together,” said Clack.
Exploring new trade pathways
As trade uncertainty looms, especially around the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and shifting global trade dynamics, there is growing urgency to expand regional trade and create new pathways for South African produce to enter global markets.
One such market is China, where Standard Bank has made significant progress.
Standard Bank has operated in the Chinese market for the past 18 years, providing its clients with regulatory information and facilitating trade opportunities by introducing them to reputable buyers. This has been achieved through a partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
“We’ve really looked at how to leverage our presence and strength in that market and extend it to our clients, helping them navigate the regulations and ensuring they are registered and certified to export to the Chinese market,” Dlamini said.
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