Farming for the future

Farming for the future 

Agriculture remains one of the most important sectors in both South Africa and Africa. In addition to the role it plays in reducing poverty and improving food security, in the past two years the agriculture sector was one of the top-performers in the South African economy, reporting year-on-year growth.

TerraClim is a tool that integrates multiple climate data sources into one integrated database, which is then translated into climate maps and subsequent climatic indexes which then aids decision-making in the field over multiple seasons. In the face of climate change, understanding how seasonality affects crop production and yield is fundamental to protecting food security and the economy. Using the latest technology, TerraClim aims to help stakeholders make sense of detailed climate and terrain information available to them, ultimately assisting them in making informed decisions that both protect and boost agricultural practices. Innovus was fundamental in assisting with the commercialisation and the further development of the TerraClim technology.

We spoke to Dr Tara Southey – Terraclim’s CEO and founder – about what it means to her to be a female entrepreneur in this day and age.

Dr Tara Southey – leading from the front

Dr Tara Southey is a qualified winemaker – having graduated with a BSc degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University in 2007. She subsequently completed her MSc in viticulture where she focused on the impact of soil type, irrigation, and climate on wine quality, before completing her PhD at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology. In her time as a postdoctoral researcher, she focused on creating and developing the data decision-making tool that would eventually become TerraClim.

While Tara is TerraClim’s CEO and founder, she plays an active and visible role in the everyday running of the company. Like with any start-up, Tara’s role within the company is multifaceted – including being a primary researcher, project leader, and being involved with the company’s marketing and funding efforts.

Tara believes her entrepreneurial superpower lies in her vision – her ability to hold onto the ‘big picture’ for TerraClim and not let all the smaller, everyday stuff corrupt what she eventually wants the company to achieve. Coupled to this, Tara believes another of her superpowers is that she is not easily intimidated and aptly thrives on being thrown into the metaphorical deep end.

Tara speaks of her grandmother as being one of her biggest female role-models and someone who showed her what it means to push boundaries and risk everything for their voice to be heard. Another of Tara’s role models is Audrey Verhaeghe – Chairperson of RIIS and the SA Innovation Summit, and CEO of ANZA Capital – who Tara credits as being a natural leader and a dynamic person who has whole-heartedly embraced all facets of what it means to be a modern woman.

When asked what she believes should be in every entrepreneur’s toolkit, her answer is simple: the right team of people working alongside you and supporting you. As for the advice she would give her younger self: “push harder at the opportunities that threaten you and don’t be afraid to jump in the deep end.”