André Brink, owner of the renowned Groot Phesantekraal farm near Durbanville, has been awarded the 2024 Western Cape Farmer of the Year by the Agricultural Writers SA Awards. Representing his farm and the province, André will now compete at the national level on November 15, 2024, in Pretoria.
Groot Phesantekraal, founded in 1698 and managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Brink family, has grown from 350 hectares to an impressive 4,650 hectares (plus 850 hectares of leased land) under André’s leadership. Today, the farm is highly diversified, with small grain crops, vineyards, a wine cellar, a livestock division of 3,500 Dohne Merino sheep and 400 Hereford cattle, a feed factory, hospitality services, and a property development branch. Each division is overseen by members of the Brink family, with André identifying expansion opportunities and Ronelle managing marketing and exports.
Dedicated to sustainability, André emphasizes cutting-edge technology, crop rotation, and resource efficiency. Groot Phesantekraal’s investments in solar energy, precision irrigation, and waste-reduction measures support its eco-friendly mission. Through André’s proactive approach to risk management, the farm keeps much of the value chain in-house, ensuring quality control and traceability.
The farm has received numerous accolades, including Grain SA’s Grain Producer of the Year (2022) and recognition for canola yield excellence in 2015. Groot Phesantekraal’s wines have also won awards, including the FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc. André is frequently invited to share his expertise at industry events and host international study groups.
For André, success is defined by maintaining a sustainable and profitable business for future generations. His children’s involvement in the family business remains his greatest achievement, motivating him to continue expanding Groot Phesantekraal’s legacy. The Agricultural Writers SA Awards celebrate leaders like André who advance sustainable farming, rural economies, and food security in South Africa.