Emseni Farming blends tech and purpose to lead South Africa’s pepper industry

SOUTH AFRICA – Emseni Farming, a major producer of greenhouse peppers based in KwaZulu-Natal’s Valley of a Thousand Hills, is combining technology, community development, and decades of hands-on experience to shape South Africa’s commercial agriculture sector.

“I came here in 1981,” says Dietmar Joosten, CEO of Emseni. “We started with small tunnels, planting directly into the ground. It wasn’t always productive, but we were learning.”

Emseni forms part of the KwaSizabantu Mission, a Christian initiative started in 1970 by Rev. Erlo Stegen. Farming has always been central to the mission’s approach to community support.

“The idea was that self-sustaining farming activities would surround a church to support it,” says Dietmar. “That’s the model we followed, and it still guides us today.”

What started with six co-workers now supports hundreds of families. Profits from the farm go back into mission activities, outreach, and local development.

To grow their hydroponic expertise, Dietmar reached out to international contacts in the 1990s. “Rijk Zwaan introduced us to Mr. Fink, a down-to-earth Dutch farmer,” he says. “He visited us at least six times, invited us to the Netherlands, and helped lay the foundation of our project. I believe that’s the key to our success, getting help from someone who’s already doing it.”

Emseni now runs over 14.5 hectares of high-tech greenhouses, with the most recent six hectares fully automated by Priva. “Priva doesn’t just manage heating; it integrates everything for us,” says Dietmar. “From yield data to water usage.”

At 1,000 meters above sea level, the farm grows peppers all year. “In winter, we use CO₂ enrichment, increasing yields by 20–30%.”

Balancing people and progress

The farm employs more than 800 workers. “There’s a whole community here that thrives because of the farm. Government should recognise that farming sustains those who can’t go anywhere else,” Dietmar says.

Electric wagons have replaced ladders in greenhouses, improving worker safety and efficiency. The farm also runs its own nursery to grow seedlings, cutting costs and improving quality.

Water use is tightly managed. “We use 80% rainwater, harvested from our greenhouse roofs,” says Dietmar. “We also recirculate all our irrigation water and treat it using UV and a safe Belgian peroxide system. You can put your hand in it and it won’t burn.”

Retailers like Woolworths and Checkers buy from Emseni, with Woolworths playing a large role in shaping their sustainability approach. “In the beginning, their standards were hard. Today, we share advice,” Dietmar says. “If it weren’t for Woolworths, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

Looking ahead, Emseni is upgrading older systems to match its newest greenhouses and continues working with local families on home gardening projects.

“We’ve got one of the best pepper growers on the continent,” Dietmar says. “Our peppers match the quality of anything grown in the Netherlands. It’s all about good management.”

He adds, “When you combine the right technology, the right people, and a purpose beyond profit, you can grow more than vegetables. You grow a future.”

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