Agrimotion is an owner-managed consultancy founded in 2013 that services the agricultural industry. Based in the Western Cape, South Africa, we comprise of a team of professional Soil Scientists, Horticulturists, Viticulturists, and Agronomists who specialize in soil management and fruit production on an international scale.

Vision

Agrimotion strives to set the standard for best practices in soil management and fruit production, through ethical and sustainable solutions.

Mission

Agrimotion commits to provide an independent, unbiased consulting service to the producer through practical and scientifically sound recommendations. Our goal is to build meaningful partnerships with clients whilst striving toward a common goal of achieving long term profitable yields.

Coenraad Fraenkel

M.Sc. Agric Soil Science

Non-Executive Director

Soil Scientist & Horticulturist (Team Leader: Citrus team)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • SACNASP Professional Natural Scientist (400714/15)
  • Soil Science Society of South Africa
  • SABI Member

PRESENTATIONS:

  • 2019: How can we farm citrus better in the 20th Century? Adana Citrus Growers Association, Turkey
  • 2018: Irrigation workshop, Adana (Turkey)
  • 2017: CRI workshop: Rootstock selection according to soil type
  • 2015: Geospatial International Congress: Geospatial Soil Management
  • 2015: SABI National Conference: The use of Remote Sensing in Irrigation Management
  • 2015: Guest Lecturer, Dept. Soil Science, University of Stellenbosch
  • 2015: Article in the Kommuniek: “No Recipe for Pecan nut nutrition – Overview of the Pecan Phenology and Management.”
  • 2014: Agrimotion Short Course: The use of Remote sensing in the Fruit Industry

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2017 to present: Consultation to various citrus producers in Adana & Izmir, Turkey
  • 2017 to present: ACG & Suiderland farms: New citrus orchard developments and existing orchard soil management (1500ha)
  • 2016 to present: Schoeman Boerdery: New citrus orchard developments and existing orchard soil management (1500ha)
  • 2015 to Present: Nutritional management for various citrus producers (9500ha)
  • 2015 to Present: San Miguel: New citrus orchard developments and existing orchard soil management (1200ha)

Danie Kritzinger

M.Sc. Agric Soil Science

Director & Business Development Manager

Soil Scientist & Horticulturist (Team Leader: Viticulture team)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • SACNASP Professional Natural Scientist (100045/14)
  • Soil Science Discussion Group (Western Cape)
  • Feldman’s Horticultural Discussion Group
  • Soil Science Society of South Africa
  • SATI Natural Resource Management Advisory Committee
  • South African Society for Enology & Viticulture

PRESENTATIONS:

  • 2020: Lecturing 4th year Viticulture students at Stellenbosch University
  • 2020: SATGI short course (Grape nutrition and Soil preparation)
  • 2019: EXSA Farmers day (Table grape nutrition)
  • 2017: Article consultation for SABI, The use of remote sensing technology in the fruit industry
  • 2015: Hexvallei De Doorns Farmers Day: Remote sensing and NDVI
  • 2015: Terason Farmer’s Day: Irrigation monitoring and scheduling
  • 2014: Agrimotion Short Course: Soil classification and orchard development

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2017 to Present: Nutrition and soil management and new orchard developments for Suiderland & ACG group (1000ha Table Grapes)
  • 2019: Soil survey and new orchard development for Dragon Fruit near Luanda, Angola (220ha)
  • 2018: Soil survey and new orchard development for Komsberg Farm, Namibia (550ha)
  • 2018: Reconnaissance soil survey and feasibility study for Agri developments in the Lekoumou province of Congo (3000ha)
  • 2017: Soil survey and new orchard development for Triple D Farms, Northern Cape (125ha)
  • 2017-2019: Macs in Moz, Mozambique – Soil classification and assessment for macadamia, litchi and avocado orchards (2500ha)
  • 2016: Soil survey and new orchard development for Mouton Citrus (100ha)
  • 2014: Soil survey and new orchard development of wine grapes for Awash Wines, Ethiopia (500ha)

Mico Stander

M.Sc. Agric Soil Science (Cum Laude)

Director & COO

Soil Scientist & Horticulturist (Team Leader: Pome and stone fruit team)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • SACNASP Professional Natural Scientist (400061/17)
  • Hortgro Science Irrigation and Nutrition Technical Advisory Committee
  • Hortgro Science Soil Health Technical Advisory Committee
  • Fieldmans Horticultural Discussion Group
  • Soil Science Society of South Africa

PRESENTATIONS:

  • 2018 Langkloof Farmer’s Day: Lessons learned from drought
  • 2017 Langkloof Drought Symposium: Drought management strategy
  • 2016 Hortgrow Drought Symposium: Monitoring methods
  • 2016 Hortgrow Drought Symposium: Drought management strategy
  • 2015 Hortgro Symposium: Drone, Maps, Satellites and Apps: Remote Sensing’s place in agriculture
  • 2015 Geospatial International Congress: Drone, Maps, Satellites and Apps: Remote sensing’s place in agriculture
  • 2015 Langkloof Farmer’s Day: Drone, Maps, Satellites and Apps: Remote sensing’s place in agriculture
  • 2015 Guest Lecturer, Dept. Soil Science, University of Stellenbosch
  • 2015 Guest Lecturer, Dept. Horticulture, University of Stellenbosch
  • 2015 Agrisoil Fumigation Day: Grabouw & Ceres, Soil management
  • 2014 Guest Lecturer, Dept. Soil Science, University of Stellenbosch
  • 2014 Agrimotion Short Course: Nutrition and Flower bud Development

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2015 to Present: Expofrut Argentina, Nutrition and soil management for 1000ha of pome fruit
  • 2015 to Present: Fruitways, Irrigation scheduling on pome fruit
  • 2013 to 2014: Malawi Remote Sensing Project to detect variation in orchards (macadamia, tea and coffee) (Satemwa, Lujeri, Makandi and Naming ‘Omba Estates)
  • 2013 to Present: Nutrition and soil management of 42 farms (1700 orchards) cultivating pome fruit , stone fruit, persimmons, olives and citrus

Karen van der Westhuizen

BSc Agriculture (cum laude)
SABI Irrigation design course (Distinction)

Soil Scientist (Team Leader: Irrigation team)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • SACNASP Professional Natural Scientist (400061/17)
  • SABI Member
  • Soil Science Society of South Africa

PRESENTATIONS:

  • 2019: Hortgro Symposium: Brak management in crop production
  • 2018: Irrigation workshops: Fruitways, Suiderland, ACG Riverfresh, Arborlane & Graaff Fruit farms
  • 2017: WWF Water Conservation workshop: Principles of scheduling and irrigation monitoring
  • 2016: San Miguel Irrigation workshop, Principles of irrigation scheduling and monitoring
  • 2016: Mouton Citrus Irrigation workshop, Principles of irrigation scheduling and monitoring
  • 2015: Fruitways Irrigation workshop, Principles of irrigation scheduling and monitoring
  • 2014-2017: Suiderland Irrigation Workshop, Principles of irrigation scheduling and monitoring
  • 2014: Agrimotion Short Course, Soil classification, Irrigation scheduling & GIS overview

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2018: Weekly irrigation recommendations and monthly farm visits on over 1200ha of pome fruit, stone fruit, citrus and table grapes in the Western Cape (Suiderland, ACG Riverfresh, Arborlane & Graaff Fruit farms)
  • 2018: Monthly farm visits and irrigation scheduling advice on an additional 900ha of pome fruit farms in the Western Cape (Fruitways farms)
  • 2017: Developing detail drought management strategies and water budgeting systems for the Suiderland citrus and table grape farms
  • 2014 to present: Developing Agrimotion’s IRIS app and platform for the integration, interpretation and collection of irrigation data for successful scheduling
  • 2014 to present: Irrigation scheduling and consulting on over 650ha of table grapes and citrus for the Suiderland farms spread across the Western Cape
  • 2014 to 2015: Soil classification and new orchard developments for citrus in the Citrusdal and Clanwilliam region of the Western Cape (320ha)
  • 2014: Soil classification and new orchard developments for pome fruit in the Kouebokkeveld, Western Cape (184ha)
  • 2013 to 2014: Malawi Remote Sensing Project to detect variation in orchards (macadamia, tea and coffee) (Satemwa, Lujeri, Makandi and Naming ‘Omba Estates)

Ockert Botha

M.Sc. Agric Soil Science
B.Sc. Conservation Ecology

Soil Scientist (Team Leader: Nelspruit office)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • SACNASP Candidate Natural Scientist (117235)
  • Soil Science Society of South Africa

AWARDS:

  • 2017: Best Publication for a researcher younger than 30, Combined Congress, Bela-Bela

PRESENTATIONS:

  • 2019: How can we farm citrus better in the 20th Century? Adana Citrus Growers Association, Turkey
  • 2018: Irrigation workshop, Adana, Turkey
  • 2018: WWF Producers Day, Robertson. Success Stories from the farm: Irrigation Scheduling at Paul Cluver Wines
  • 2017: Combined Congress, Bela-Bela, The effect of composted biochar on compost properties and mineralisation
  • 2016: Consulting Lecturer – Chemistry, Biology and Soil science, Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute
  • 2016: RUFORUM Biennial Conference, Stellenbosch University, Importance and application of post-graduate research in the field of soil science

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2018: Noordhoek, Riversonderend: Soil classification and orchard development of citrus (150ha)
  • 2018: Meri Pobo, Brazil: Soil classification and assessment for the establishment of acerola cherry, table grapes, papaya, and dragon fruit (4200ha)
  • 2017 to Present: Macs in Moz, Mozambique: Soil classification and assessment for macadamia, litchi and avocado orchards (2000ha)
  • 2017 to Present: Variety of soil classifications and orchard developments
  • 2017: De Rust Landgoed (Paul Cluver): Irrigation Scheduling on pome fruit

Bruno Herrmann

B.Sc. Soil Science & Agronomy
Fundamentals in Avocado production

Soil Scientist (New orchard development team)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • SACNASP Candidate Natural Scientist (118999)
  • Soil Science Society of South Africa

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2019: Macs in Moz, Mozambique – Soil Classification and assessment of macadamia orchards (1500ha)
  • 2018: Meri Pobo, Brazil – Soil classification and assessment for the establishment of acerola cherry, table grapes, papaya and dragon fruit
  • 2018: Sonthule, Addo, Eastern Cape – Land capability study. Reconnaissance survey and soil classification for the assessment for citrus orchards (115ha)
  • 2018: Gubenxa, Eastern Cape – Reconnaissance survey. Soil classification and the assessment for apple orchards (1000ha)
  • 2018: Komsberg, Namibia – Soil classification and the assessment for citrus orchards (315ha)
  • 2018: Macs in Moz, Mozambique – Soil classification and the assessment for macadamia and avocado orchards (500ha)
  • 2018: Suikerbosrand, Koue Bokkeveld – Soil classification and new orchard development (77ha)
  • 2017: Macs in Moz, Mozambique – Soil classification and assessment of macadamia, avocado and litchi orchards (1500ha)
  • 2017 to Present: Assistance in soil reconnaissance and classification conducted by Agrimotion

Marzanne Steyn

B.Sc. Agric Soil Science & Agronomy

Soil Scientist (Team Leader: Climate Studies)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • South African Pecan Nut Association

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2019: Assisting with the set up of nutritional programs for Agrimotion clients
  • 2019: Conducting weather analysis for new agricultural projects
  • 2019: Assisting with fieldwork as part of the Agrimotion irrigation team
  • 2018: Development of a greenhouse production unit with the capacity to produce 40 000 grafted pecan seedlings per season

JP Rheeder

B.Sc. Agric Soil Science & Chemistry

Soil Scientist (New orchard development team)

AFFILIATIONS:

  • SACNASP Candidate Natural Scientist (128217)

KEY PROJECTS:

  • 2020: Soil sampling and classification for new orchard development projects

Aline Meyer

M.Sc. Soil Science

Soil Scientist (Irrigation Team)

Aline is the newest consultant to join the Agrimotion team. She is pursuing her PhD in soil science and has lectured at both Stellenbosch University and Elsenburg Training Institute.

Liezl Saayman

Hons. Geography

Technical Manager

  • 21 years’ experience in managing data collection and management from farmers.
  • Leaf sample analysis scheme which coordinates the collection and sampling of 3000 leaf samples from over 100 different farms.
  • Data processing and technical support for all consultants.

Jimmy Hanekom

B.Acc
Hons.B.Compt
Chartered Accountant (SA)

Chief Financial Officer

Since completing his articles at PwC in 2003, Jimmy has worked in various financial and executive roles at national companies across the financial services, property and healthcare sectors. 

Jimmy holds a B.Acc degree (Stellenbosch), a Hons.B.Compt degree (UNISA) and is a Chartered Accountant (SA).  He also completed the SAPOA Property Development Program (University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business). 

Hugo Truter

Hons.B.Com Managerial Accounting

Financial Manager

Before joining Agrimotion, Hugo completed his CIMA internship at Moore Stephens. He lives in Stellenbosch and serves as an external examiner for management accounting at the University of Stellenbosch.

Hugo Paul

MSc Geographical Information Systems and Science (UNIGIS)

Geomatics Specialist

AFFILIATIONS:

  • South African Geomatics Council (SAGC) – Geomatics Professional (GPr GISc 1503)
  • Geo-information Society of South Africa

Christiaan Theron

B.Sc Hons. Geoinformatics

GIS and Data Analyst

Christiaan has a background in the development and application of GIS, EO and GEOBIA, with a focus on climate and agriculture. His skills include vector- and raster-based quality assurance, automation of GIS and EO tools, and software versioning.