24th – 28th June 2024   •   Durban, South Africa

SAI Platform Annual Event 2024

Building climate change resilience through regenerative agriculture

24th – 28th June 2024   •   Durban, South Africa

SAI Platform Members Only   •   #SAIPlatform2024
SAI Platform Members Only #SAIPlatform2024

Option 2: Low Carbon Livestock with Nestlé

Join Nestlé for a deep dive into the innovative low carbon dairy research taking place in George with a visit to Skimmelkrans Dairy Farm and Outeniqua Research Farm

Thursday 27th June

Members will depart the Capital Zimbali Resort after the Community Meetings and fly from Durban to George. Relax and unwind at the hotel before a full day of field visits with Nestlé on 28th June.

Accommodation

Nestled in the urban business, retail and residential hub of George, the Premier Express Inn is just minutes away from the Garden Route Mall, forests, mountains, renowned golf courses and sparkling coastline. 

AccommodationDestinationStartEndBasisDuration
Premier Express Inn GeorgeGeorge27 Jun29 Jun B&B2 Nights

Price

R12 300 / €600 including:

  • Domestic flights from Durban to George and from George to Cape Town or Johannesburg 
  • 2 Nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis
  • 2 x dinners at a local restaurant (TBC)

Bookings are subject to accommodation and flight availability and a minimum group size of 10 delegates travelling.

Full flight and itinerary details will be shared will field visit participants closer to the event.

Friday 28th June

Join Nestle for a deep dive into the innovative low carbon dairy research taking place in George with a visit to Skimmelkrans Dairy Farm and Outeniqua Research Farm. Overnight at the Premier Express Inn before taking an early morning flight to Cape Town or Johannesburg, depending on your international flight connection.

Skimmelkrans Dairy Farm

The Skimmelkrans Dairy Farm, spanning 550 hectares with 800 lactating cows, is owned by the 4th generation Kuyler family and supported by Nestlé as one of its low carbon pilot dairy farms. With a strong focus on soil health, water conservation, feed management and manure processing, they are achieving the goal of low carbon through a two-pathway strategy of reduction and sequestration.

Join Nestlé and the Kuylers to explore why the four pillars of regenerative agriculture are integral to their operation and see firsthand the positive results of the innovative actions implemented to reduce GHG emissions from enteric fermentation, feed production, fertiliser use and manure management. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the improved nutrient efficiency achieved as a result of actions taken to regenerate soil health and increase soil carbon.

Outeniqua Research Farm

Outeniqua Research Farm is a model research centre, spanning 200 hectares with a herd of 700 Jersey dairy cows, owned and managed by the Department of Agriculture Western Cape with Nestlé as a collaboration partner. Founded in 1953, research focuses on dairy production from planted pastures, providing science-based solutions in response to challenges faced by farmers in the Southern Cape.  Prof. Robin Meeske is part of a team of Specialist Researcher at the research centre.

Join Nestlé and the Research Team (in collaboration with Pretoria University) for an engaging firsthand insight into the research they are currently undertaking on methane reduction and explore the block trials in place to test alternative pasture species for improved resilience.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the effects of moringa supplements on methane production per cow and how the addition of SOP Lagoon to manure ponds is simultaneously reducing ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide without accumulating nitrates in liquid manure.

NESTLE