Sustainability in action at…
Donovale Farming Company
The recent SASTA Field Day in the Midlands showcased the impressive sustainability journey of Donovale Farming Company. Attendees had the opportunity to meet owners Chris and Ant Edmonds, with Ant presenting the farm’s innovative and ecoconscious approach to agriculture. Spanning 985 hectares in KwaZulu-Natal, Donovale grows sugarcane, navel oranges, avocados and tea tree. Ant highlighted the use of regenerative practices such as minimum tillage, drip irrigation, and microbial sub-soil enhancement to improve soil health. Their commitment to continuous improvement through the SUSFARMS® system has earned them a prestigious Gold-level sustainability certification.
Dr Iona Basdew (SASRI Biosecurity Scientist) spoke on the value presented by refugia development to promote sustainability from a pest management perspective. She discussed the refugia sites that have been established at Donovale, as well as the increase in insect abundance and richness observed at the sites over time.
SASRI Senior Research Entomologist, Dr Lawrence Malinga further emphasised the farm’s sustainable pest control methods, including the environmentally friendly ‘Sterile Insect Technology’ where sterile eldana moths are released in a bid to disrupt breeding and thereby suppress population growth.
