I am growingly convinced that a serious dialogue over the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on small-scale #farmers in #rural #SouthAfrica (or any other rural setting for that matter) must include the highlighting of and strategic support to help overcome the challenges posed by low literacy levels and lack of access to essential infrastructure like electricity and the internet. youtu.be/fRpynRMt4bA

What an incredible few days in #Amsterdam at the #GreenTech Amsterdam event. I have already diarised to return 14-16 June 2027. I’ve often been asked: What does a vocational training organization from South Africa do at the world’s undisputed #1 horticulture technology event? My reflection in this video provides part of the answer. Let the milestones continue! Let the impact continue! #Thankyou to everyone who makes the efforts of #LearningAcademyWorldwide in high stakes communities possible. @Acumen4Life @SvenIsaksson @AgriAllAfrica @GreenTechRAI @GreentecF @AgriWesKaap @Wesgro @WCGovAgri @UK_UAT

From digital screens to the soil of South Africa! The students of Haarlem are redefining what it means to be a scholar. In 2025, they’ve taken learning beyond the classroom to plant: 🥔 3,800 Potato seeds 🌻 3,700 Sunflower seeds 🌾 800m² of diverse crops 🚀🇿🇦 #Education #Sustainability #AgriTech #SouthAfrica #Innovation2026 #HaarlemHarvest2026 youtu.be/SUy5VtV3iis?si=FnSe…

An American goes to the ER for high blood pressure, stays under 24 hours, no surgery, no CT, no MRI, and gets a $41,000 bill. Lovely. Now here’s the part people miss when this gets discussed economically: that $41,000 fully counts toward U.S. GDP. Not because it’s useful, but because GDP counts priced transactions, not value or outcomes. And it doesn’t stop there. The system creates additional GDP layers around the same visit. Hospital administrative labor, insurance claim processing, billing departments, compliance and coding, insurer overhead and profit, financial services handling payments and debt, interest if the patient can’t pay immediately. So one short ER visit inflates healthcare GDP, inflates services GDP, inflates finance GDP, inflates measured economic activity. Even though nothing extra was medically produced. This is why US GDP looks larger than countries with regulated or single payer healthcare. In Europe, the same visit might cost a few hundred euros, involve minimal billing, and generate far less economic activity on paper. Same patient. Same outcome. Wildly different GDP contribution.

Perhaps by some, but not necessarily by myself. Consider 2 examples; #1 Many people will have corroborating accounts of Santa. #2 Jesus & Apollonius both traveled the Middle East at the same time performing miracles then were tried and executed by Rome before ascending to heaven.

I've had the honour of witnessing an inspiring movement in #Haarlem, #South Africa, where experienced community members are actively shaping the future of our students. This powerful learning environment unfolded during my 70-day work here as part of the Learning Academy Worldwide #vocational #training in #agriculture programme. During this intensive period, where we planted 3,000 square metres of potatoes, just over a third of a hectare of animal feed, sunflowers and various other crops (including pumpkin, carrots, spinach, butternut, and beetroot), local expertise proved invaluable. It is a powerful model of mentorship and leading by example. This video shows the strength in this little rural gem in South Africa - the Local Mentors & Community Treasures @CormacRussell @SvenIsaksson @Gugulethu_CM

6th #UrbanAgriWorld Summit 2025 Oct 22-24 #Ballito @KZN #SouthAfrica Prof Rina Kamenetsky-Goldstein #GreenCityCenter #VolcaniInstitute will present "#UrbanAgroecology: Where Science Meets Tech" transforming food systems w/ #smartgreenhouses, #verticalfarms & #biotechinnovation.

6th #UrbanAgriWorld Summit 2025 Oct 22-24 #Ballito #KZN #SouthAfrica FIRESIDE CHAT: "#UrbanAg for Women & Youth – Barriers, Enablers & Solutions" ground-level conversation w/ young farmers sharing real challenges & practical solutions driving inclusive growth in #UrbanAgriculture

Season 4 - Episode 6 - New Pack for Upliftment - 2 Month Project x.com/i/broadcasts/1mrGmBXrQ…

Season 4 - Episode 6 - New Pack for Upliftment - 2 Month Project x.com/i/broadcasts/1kvKpMYRR…

Season 4 - Episode 5 - New Pack for Upliftment - Water Crisis II x.com/i/broadcasts/1RDGlAXkN…

Season 4 - Episode 4 - New Pack for Upliftment - Water Crisis x.com/i/broadcasts/1lPKqvaEj…

Season 4 - Episode 4 - New Pack for Upliftment - Water Crisis x.com/i/broadcasts/1kvJpMDrz…

Wow! Lloyd, you beauty. Ousting Baez in round one and on to round 2 at ⁦@usopen⁩. Well done sure! Immensely proud South African! ⁦@TennisSA⁩

Season 4 - Episode 3 - New Pack for Upliftment - Who do you turn to? x.com/i/broadcasts/1lDGLBZWB…

Season 4 - Episode 2 - New Pack for Upliftment x.com/i/broadcasts/1RDxlAEZN…

Season 4 - New Pack for Upliftment x.com/i/broadcasts/1ypKdZqLV…

Season 4 - New Pack for Upliftment x.com/i/broadcasts/1eaKbWjln…

Way to go Lloyd! Into the 2nd round at ⁦@Wimbledon⁩. ⁦@TennisSA⁩

Add to this dialogue the incredibly insightful work of Joel Kotkin in his 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class' - truly awakening.

Intriguing shades of purple and pink...lovely picture.