Written by Xoliswa Emmaculate Sitengile
Now and then, a story comes along that redefines what’s possible. This is one of them. At the heart of it is a woman who has taken waste, something most of us discard without a second thought and turned it into something powerful. Meet Buyiswa Twala, founder of Agrigreat Soiltech and Envirocare and an innovator who has transformed biowaste into sustainable agriculture in South Africa. Her journey, fuelled by empathy and innovation, is proof that the most remarkable revolutions often begin quietly, rooted in community and care.
Buyiswa’s path to purpose began with a simple love for food. As a child, she was fascinated by its flavours, colours and stories. But as she grew older, especially through her work in community outreach, she became increasingly aware of the harsh realities faced by those for whom even one daily meal was a luxury. The injustice of it struck her deeply. She began to ask herself difficult questions; How can we feed more people? How can we heal the earth while doing so? Those questions became the heartbeat of her mission.
Her passion for agriculture took root in secondary school, where she co-founded her school’s first vegetable garden as part of a geography project in Grade 11. It wasn’t just a school assignment; it was a glimpse into what was possible. After matric, she joined The Pink Forum, a non-profit organisation, where she led the Pink Garden Initiative. This project brought sustainable gardens to schools in under-resourced communities, feeding both learners and their families. She volunteered her time for two years, guided not by recognition, but by purpose.
It was while working with a farming cooperative in Kanana, an informal settlement in the Northwest province plagued by hunger and poor infrastructure, that Buyiswa hit a turning point. The cooperative had created a community garden to feed over 200 families, but their efforts were stalling, with soil degradation and a lack of capital taking a toll. That’s when Buyiswa noticed the abundance of biowaste in the community. What others saw as refuse, she recognised as possibility. Drawing on her background in science, she began experimenting with organic matter, eventually developing a nutrient-rich formula that could restore exhausted soil. It was here that the seeds of Agrigreat Soiltech were planted.
Agrigreat tackles two of South Africa’s most pressing environmental and agricultural challenges: soil degradation and the overflow of biowaste in communities with poor waste management systems. At the heart of Agrigreat is its award-winning formula, crafted entirely from biowaste. The process is sophisticated yet deeply rooted in nature: through controlled fermentation and scientific precision, Buyiswa’s team extracts vital nutrients, custom-matching them to the needs of different crops. The result is a clean, potent organic fertiliser that rivals synthetic alternatives, without the environmental harm.
Another of Buyiswa’s standout innovations is the Agribin, a sleek, pest-resistant container that safely stores organic waste until it’s ready for processing. These bins are now used in both households and businesses, reshaping how organic waste is managed and making the process hygienic and scalable. In doing so, Agrigreat is not just supporting farmers; it’s influencing retail waste practices, promoting the circular economy and challenging the status quo of agricultural production.
Buyiswa Twala’s journey hasn’t been without hardship. Like many entrepreneurs, especially women in male-dominated sectors, she’s faced her share of obstacles; from funding challenges to navigating scepticism. But she has remained grounded in purpose. During difficult times, she found joy and strength in the song La Vida by MiCasa, a reminder that even amid struggle, life is to be celebrated.
She lives by the words: “In order to lead, you have to be led first. And nothing worth having comes easy.” These aren’t just platitudes, they’re reflections of a lived reality, a guiding light for how she shows up in her work and her life.
Today, Buyiswa is recognised not only as an innovator but as a leader reshaping the future of agriculture in South Africa and beyond. Her ability to see possibility where others see waste is extraordinary. But what makes her truly exceptional is her commitment to ensuring that the impact of her work reaches those who need it most, rural farmers, low-income communities and the next generation of change-makers.
This is more than a success story. It’s a call to reimagine what innovation looks like and who gets to lead it.
With women like Buyiswa Twala at the helm, the future of sustainable agriculture is not only possible, it’s already in motion. Her name belongs in every conversation about food justice, climate action and African innovation. If you haven’t heard it yet, remember it now because from waste to worth, she is building more than a business, she’s cultivating hope.
Xoliswa Emmaculate Sitengile is a tech-savvy creative passionate about digital rights, storytelling, and African innovation. With experience in cybersecurity, digital marketing, and community building, she brings a unique blend of insight and advocacy to Maua. She’s dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering inclusive digital futures.
Email: es********@***il.com
