Fruit Logistica 2026: Sustainability not just a buzz word

Nitasha Baijnath-Pillay, Hortgro’s Manager, Resource Management and Sustainability, had the opportunity to attend Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany, for the first time this year. She shares her insights.

From 4 to 6 February 2026, Berlin hosted yet another Fruit Logistica event. Despite experiencing the coldest winter Berlin has ever had, it was heartening to see our Blue North Sustainability exhibit and to showcase our Confronting Climate Change and Carbon Heroes programmes at the Ag-Tech Hub.

There was considerable interest in our CCC carbon calculator (developed by the SA Fruit and Wine Industry) and the SHERPA tool, an online sustainability management solution for supply chains (developed in 2018).

The work of one of our Young Hortgro Leaders from Limpopo, Dibesho Serage, was also showcased. He shared some of his experiences on his stone fruit journey since 2013 with the wider audience. Ground Stone is GLOBALG.A.P. certified and supplies Woolworths, and being on this international platform is very inspiring for our young entrepreneurs.

At the event, it was clear that sustainability is no longer just a buzzword but a tangible reality. There were open discussions as well as closed sessions covering sustainable packaging, soil management and soil health, regulatory updates from the EU Commission, and advances in farming techniques using cutting-edge technologies that increase yields and quality while reducing labour and costs. It was interesting to see the scope of the event and how farmers are increasingly adopting automation to boost efficiency, profitability, and sustainability across many countries.

From left: Team Blue North, Nitasha with Dibesho Serage and Nitasha with Axelle Rupert from AGRINFO.

 One of the events I attended, which has great significance to our RMS (Resource Management Services) work, was the AGRINFO launch of the recent Ghana Study on the implications of EU regulations, as well as a specific study on plastics in Ghana. AGRINFO, a programme implemented by COLEAD and funded by the European Union, is actively addressing the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) 2025/40, which was a major focus before and during Fruit Logistica 2026 in Berlin. COLEAD engaged with numerous partners in transitioning to these new regulations. Some discussions at the event highlighted concerns similar to ours in South Africa regarding the impact of these regulations on the supply chain, costs, and reporting. These regulations include a ban on single-use plastic packaging for small fruit and vegetable portions by 2030 and new labelling rules starting on 12 August 2028.

AGRINFO continues to update on the implementation of the PPWR  (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) to ensure compliance for products exported to the EU and has expressed interest in conducting a study in South Africa on the implications of the EU PPWR for our SA supply chain. This is excellent news, as it provides an opportunity for us to explore solutions to the challenges we will face ahead of the regulations’ implementation.

Caption: Hortgro’s GM for Trade and Markets, Jacques du Preez, with Nitasha at Fruit Logistica 2026.