The South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) invites nominations for its prestigious SASAE Awards. These awards honour individuals and teams who have made outstanding, special, or meritorious contributions to the science, practice, leadership, and management of Agricultural Extension.

AWARDS CATEGORIES

1. GOLD MEDAL
2. SILVER MEDAL
3. BRONZE MEDAL
4. TIM BEMBRIDGE EXTENSION MANAGEMENT AWARD (BRONZE)
5. SASAE FLOATING TROPHY FOR A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
6. TRANSVAAL BRANCH FLOATING TROPHY
7. CERTIFICATE FOR CO-ORDINATED EXTENSION
8. LOUBIE LOUBSER FLOATING TROPHY
9. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

Who can be nominated?

Only SASAE members who are in good standing.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Branch Chairpersons are requested to share the nomination form with branch members. Full submissions must be submitted according to the awards procedures (as outlined in the by-laws) and be emailed to the Chairperson of the Awards Committee at awards@sasae.co.za by 31 May 2026.

All nominations must be submitted using the official SASAE Awards Nomination Form. Submissions that do not use the prescribed form may not be considered. Only nominations submitted on the prescribed form and sent to the official submission email will be accepted.

Submit your SASAE Award nominations and help honour those shaping the future of Agricultural Extension.

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“Shark Tank” Style  •  Video Submission  •  Live Finals

Deadline for Submissions: 30 May 2026

Pitch your vision. Shape the future of agriculture.

1. Introduction

The Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension (CENSARDE) at the University of the Free State, in partnership with the South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE), invites aspiring and established agricultural entrepreneurs to submit pitch videos for the inaugural Agri-Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition at the 59th Annual SASAE Conference in East London.

This competition aims to promote entrepreneurial thinking within agricultural extension and advisory services, showcase innovative and feasible agribusiness ventures, and provide a platform for entrepreneurs to present their ideas to a panel of industry experts, investors, and academics.

The competition is open to individuals 35 years and younger across South Africa who are developing or operating agribusinesses that contribute to sustainable food systems, rural livelihoods, and inclusive agricultural value chains.

2. Competition Categories

Submissions are invited under two categories:

3. Prize Structure

All six finalists will receive certificates of recognition and exposure to a panel of industry leaders, government officials, and potential investors at the conference.

4. How to Submit

4.1 Pitch Video Requirements

Applicants must prepare and submit a pre-recorded “Shark Tank”-style pitch video that presents their agribusiness venture to a hypothetical panel of investors. The video should meet the following specifications:

• Duration: Maximum 3 minutes (strict). Videos exceeding this limit will not be considered.
• Format: MP4 or MOV, uploaded via a file-sharing link (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, WeTransfer or YouTube unlisted link).
• Visuals: Incorporate supporting graphics, or product demonstrations where appropriate.
• Language: English.
• Quality: Clear audio and video; a smartphone recording is acceptable if well-lit and audible.

4.2 What Your Pitch Should Cover

Your pitch video should address the following elements as concisely as possible:

1. The Problem: What agricultural or food system challenge does your venture address?
2. Your Solution: What is your product, service, or innovation? How does it work?
3. Market & Customers: Who are your target customers? What is the market size and competitive landscape?
4. Business Model: How does or will the business generate revenue? Include pricing, production, and distribution strategy.
5. Financial Overview: Current or projected revenue, costs, and funding requirements (Category A: actuals; Category B: projections).
6. Impact & Sustainability: How does your venture contribute to sustainable food systems, rural development, or inclusive value chains?
7. The Ask: What do you need to grow? (Investment, partnerships, mentorship, market access, etc.)

4.3 Submission Details

Email your submission to the following address:

• Prof Jan Willem Swanepoel: swanepoeljw@ufs.ac.za

Subject line: SASAE 2026 Pitch Submission – [Category A or B] – [Venture Name]

Your email must include:

• Full name(s) and contact details of the applicant/team.
• Name of the venture/business idea.
• Category selected (A: Existing SME or B: Ideation / Start-up).
• A link to the pitch video (ensure sharing permissions are set to “Anyone with the link”).
• A one-page business summary (PDF, max 500 words) covering the key elements listed in Section 4.2.

5. Evaluation Process

The competition follows a two-stage evaluation process:

Stage 1: Panel Pre-Selection (Video Review)

All submitted pitch videos and business summaries will be evaluated by an expert panel. The panel will shortlist six finalists (three per category) based on the assessment criteria below. Finalists will be notified by 11 June 2026 and invited to present live at the conference.

Stage 2: Live Finals at SASAE Conference

The six finalists will deliver a live pitch (5 minutes presentation + 3 minutes Q&A) to a final judging panel comprising industry experts, government representatives, and academics. Winners will be announced at the conference Gala Dinner.

Note: Finalists are expected to attend the SASAE Conference. Conference related fees for finalists own cost.

6. Terms and Conditions

• Submissions must be original work. Plagiarised or fraudulent entries will be disqualified.
• By submitting, applicants grant SASAE and CENSARDE permission to use excerpts of their video and business summary for promotional purposes related to the conference.
• The judging panel’s decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Prize money will be paid via electronic funds transfer (EFT) after the conference.
• Applicants may enter only one category per venture.
• CENSARDE reserves the right to withdraw the competition should it not receive enough entries.

Enquiries

For questions regarding this competition, please contact:

Prof Jan Willem Swanepoel

Director: CENSARDE | Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development

University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

Email: swanepoeljw@ufs.ac.za

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Registration Fees

SASAE Members = R5 500.00
Non-SASAE Members = R6 000.00
One Day Attendance = R2 500.00
Registration Fee Covers: Conference Proceedings, Conference Material, Wellness Day Activities, Informal Braai, Tea Breaks with Snacks, Lunches and Gala Dinner.

Registration Details
The registration form can be accessed by clicking register now on the SASAE website or via the QR code in the poster
Registrations will strictly close on 07 June 2026– NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
Payment is due no later than 15 June 2026.

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DEADLINE: 24 APRIL 2026

Submit stories to secretariat@sasae.co.za.

We Invite farmers, practitioners, researchers, and advocates of sustainable agriculture to submit their inspiring stories or brief communications related to the conference theme: “Towards an Inclusive, Digital, and Resilient Extension Paradigm for Sustainable Food and Agricultural Livelihoods: Positioning Agricultural Extension as a Driver of Innovation, Equity, and Sustainability for the entire agri-linked value chain including pre-production, production, and post-production in a wide spectrum of activities including crops, livestock, forestry, game farming, and non-conventional commodities with an unshakable commitment to ethics, human empowerment, and environmental stewardship.“
Please ensure that your submission complies with the provided guidelines.

Submission Guidelines
Please submit a Word document that includes the following:
1. Project Overview
Project Name, Location, Duration, and Objectives
2. Introduction / Background
Context: Background about the project, including challenges and opportunities.
Target Group: Describe the target group, including demographics and needs.
3. Problem Identified (Describe challenges faced during the project)
4. Methods Applied
Extension methodology: Show before and during application, and how it was done.
5.Intervention / Innovation
Description: Describe the technologies, practices, or approaches used
6. Results and Impact (Compare before and after)
Key Achievements: List main achievements, such as increased yields, improved incomes,
or enhanced sustainability
Statistics: Data demonstrating impact, including numbers, percentages, or ratios
Testimonials: Include testimonials from beneficiaries or stakeholders
7. Images (Include images to illustrate the project and its impact)
8. Conclusion
Summarise: Indicate the before, during, and after stages of the project and its outcomes.
9. References
All submissions will be reviewed by our editorial team.
We look forward to your contributions.

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CONFERENCE DATE: 29 JUNE TO 3 JULY 2026

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

We invite researchers, Extension Practitioners, students, and policymakers from government, academia, and private organizations to submit abstracts for the upcoming SASAE Conference 2026. This conference serves as a platform to explore innovative ideas, share research, and engage in discussions that shape the future of agricultural extension.

Deadline: 15 February 2026

Theme: Towards an Inclusive, Digital, and Resilient Extension Paradigm for Sustainable Food and Agricultural Livelihoods: Positioning Agricultural Extension as a Driver of Innovation, Equity, and Sustainability for the entire agri-linked value chain including pre production, production and post-production in a wide spectrum of activities including Crops, Livestock, Forestry, Game Farming, and non-conventional commodities with an unshakable commitment to ethics, human empowerment and environmental stewardship.

Subthemes

1. Inclusive and People-Centred Extension for Empowered Communities
2. Digital Transformation and Innovation in Extension
3. Building Resilient and Climate-Smart Food and Natural Resource Systems
4. Bridging indigenous and scientific knowledge to improve sustainable practices through capacity building and training for extension practitioners by strengthening the Research–Training–Extension Farmer Nexus.
5. Policy, Governance, and Institutional Support for Integrated Extension
6. Sustainable Livelihoods, Food Security, and Value Chains
7. Empowering farmers through enhanced market access and linkage support (through SHEP, CASP and NAMC programmes as well as other relevant programmes).

ABSTRACT TYPES

Abstracts that directly relate to the central conference theme are highly encouraged, and submissions exploring related sub-themes are also welcome. Additionally, we will consider broader agricultural extension topics of interest to the conference audience, even if they are not directly related to the main theme. Submissions can be based on various research approaches, including experimental studies with trials and experiments, as well as social research methods such as questionnaires, interviews and surveys. Please note that abstracts that are directly related to the conference theme will be given priority and first preference.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please submit extended abstracts in English (maximum 900 words). Your abstract should include the following information:

• Title.
• Author(s) and institutional affiliations. Corresponding author’s full name, email address, and cell phone number.
• Introduction: Briefly introduce the topic and its significance.
• Problem Statement: Clearly define the research problem or gap in knowledge.
• Objectives: State the primary and secondary objectives of the study.
• Methodology: Describe the research methods you will employ (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
• Preliminary/Expected Results (if applicable): Briefly outline the anticipated outcomes of your research.
• Discussion of Significance: Explain the contribution of your research to the field of agricultural extension.
• Conclusion and Recommendations: Summarise the key takeaways and potential applications of your research.
• Keywords. Format: 1.5 line spacing, Arial font, size 12, Justified alignment in MS Word.

All submissions must be emailed to the Secretariat at secretariat@sasae.co.za and should be in Microsoft Word document format. Please indicate whether the submission is for a paper or poster presentation.

ABSTRACT REVIEW

All submitted abstracts will undergo a rigorous peer-review process. To ensure a high-quality conference program, abstracts that do not meet the following requirements will not be accepted:

• Originality: The content of the abstract must be original. Plagiarism detection software will be used to identify any copied content.
• Completeness: The abstract should include all the required elements outlined under the SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.
• Clarity: The abstract should be clear, concise, and easy to understand.

More Information:  www.sasae.co.za or secretariat@sasae.co.za or 062 957 1771

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