At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, during the crazy moment of panic buying, KSFI founders Liza Lightfoot, Mpumelelo Ncwadi and Asanda Apleni, saw an opportunity to train EC youth new regenerative ways to farm and deliver food security to those who need it most: rural households.
What began as a three musketeers’ desire to alleviate poverty and reduce regional youth unemployment has become a bottom up revolution to promote an alternative to commodity agriculture.
KSFI’s 23-hectare demonstration farm shares efficient systems of small-scale farming, shares resources such as tools, equipment, harvesting and packing infrastructure. Coaching in sales, marketing, and financial management with access to shared office support. With the focus on agriculture education and training KSFI is uniquely positioned to serve this need because we are targeting freshly produced high value crops produced utilizing regenerative organic methods; currently underserved young farmers with small-scale farmland; and the sales of good quality hand tools, bio fertilizers and non-GMO organic seed.
Because regenerative organic farming in South Africa is a nascent farming approach that is not favoured by mainstream conventional agriculture, the history of KSFI will continue to evolve as a story of innovation, adaptation, and evolution.
In 2021, the 23-ha farm that has become KSFI Demonstration and Incubation Farm has been purchased. This was followed by the acquisition of a foundation herd of grassfed Nguni cattle.
KSFI’s 23 hectare demonstration farm will share efficient systems of small-scale farming, shared resources such as tools, equipment, harvesting and packing infrastructure. Coaching in sales, marketing, and financial management with access to shared office support. With the focus on agriculture education and training KSFI will be uniquely positioned to serve this need because we are targeting freshly produced high value crops produced utilizing regenerative organic methods; currently underserved young farmers with small-scale farmland; and the sales of good quality hand tools and non-GMO organic seed.
Liza Lightfoot, who co-founded Kidlinks Small Farm Incubator (KSFI) with Mpumelelo Ncwadi and Asanda Apleni in 2020, is 'The Matriarch,' Chief Executive Officer of KSFI, and Ex Officio member of its Board of Directors. Her role is to manage the organization and to implement its business strategy, once approved by the Board. Liza brings to the role experience and operational skills in business start-up, management and governance.
As the Student Facilitator, Asanda is responsible for designing and supervising student workshops and training, monitoring, and overseeing field reports and research projects. Asanda Apleni is KSFI’s Learning Coordinator. She plans, designs, implements and supervises educational programmes, including coordination and monitoring of student workshops and training courses. She also oversees field reports and research projects. Her background includes a Masters degree, a M.Sc. in Agriculture Economics. She is the Chief Operating Officer, and she manages the Community Outreach Division of KSFI.
Mpumelelo Ncwadi is the Chief Thinkering Officer, Intellectual Architect and Spiritual Leader of KSFI. His role is to promote creative thinking and discovery through learning by doing. He is a storyteller, wayfinder and forward thinker. He co-founded KSFI to be a catalyst for radical and practical change that creates resilience. Mpumelelo is a certified grazing instructor by the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers.
Serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in building successful businesses in marketing, financial and recycling sectors.
US. Scholar, author, composer
Environmental Scientist, Food Security, & Global Health Researcher.
Liza Lightfoot, who co-founded Kidlinks Small Farm Incubator (KSFI) with Mpumelelo Ncwadi and Asanda Apleni in 2020, is 'The Matriarch,' Chief Executive Officer of KSFI, and Ex Officio member of its Board of Directors. Her role is to manage the organization and to implement its business strategy, once approved by the Board. Liza brings to the role experience and operational skills in business start-up, management and governance.
As the Student Facilitator, Asanda is responsible for designing and supervising student workshops and training, monitoring, and overseeing field reports and research projects. Asanda Apleni is KSFI’s Learning Coordinator. She plans, designs, implements and supervises educational programmes, including coordination and monitoring of student workshops and training courses. She also oversees field reports and research projects. Her background includes a Masters degree, a M.Sc. in Agriculture Economics. She is the Chief Operating Officer, and she manages the Community Outreach Division of KSFI.
Dr. Robson Mukwambo is a hardworking transdisciplinary social scientist researcher with a demonstrated record of impactful research success. Self-directed and motivated professional with a highly-ethical, meticulous, and thorough approach. Able to work in a diverse community, and conduct transdisciplinary research, particularly in learning, teaching, and food and water security systems. Demonstrated a high level of maturity, is independent, and can work with minimum supervision but makes a good team player. Robson has special interest in social expansive learning processes, co-learning, community of practise (CoP), food and water security and community-based research.
Inspires and challenges young minds
Member of Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA), Chairperson of Buffalo City Metro Branch and a member of Provincial Executive Committee (PEC)
Brings a can-do mentality and a hands-on approach to every individual and organization she work with.
I am Xolelwa Koncoshe an Agroecology farmer, founder of Ncera Information Resource Centre, Ncera Small Scale Farmers Foundation, Senjenje Multipurpose Cooperative and Managing Director of Isithembiso Multipurpose Organization. I am passionate about climate change and mitigation strategies of which Agroecology is one form of farming that guarantees sustainable food system without compromising the environment. Creation is teaming with diversity and humans included, when we embrace it we can make the world a better place not only today but for the generations to come hence I believe so much in collaborations.
An agro-ecology farmer, trainer of teams of organic agriculture leadership.
Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the venture capital and private equity industry.
