Global Acquisition by Netafim to Support Food Security and
Strengthen Local Greenhouse Industry’s Access to Technology
Netafim, the global leader of precision irrigation solutions and agricultural projects, announced
that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Dutch turnkey greenhouse projects provider,
Gakon.
Netafim has been active in the greenhouse market for several decades and is now expanding
its offering in the production and supply of top-tier greenhouse projects to meet the increasing
demand for the most advanced farming methods.
In Southern Africa, Netafim’s activity in the greenhouse industry is driven by Vegtech Netafim.
Vegtech Netafim has been providing greenhouse solutions in Southern Africa for more than two
decades, with this acquisition it will be even more equipped to serve this market. “Gakon offers
highly specialised technology and expertise in greenhouse systems, and we have already been
using many of these systems in some of our advanced greenhouse projects. These technologies
and the accompanying expertise will now be even more accessible to Vegtech Netafim and its
clients,” says Barney Isralls, managing director of Vegtech Netafim. The company can offer these
technologies to its clients with immediate effect and will bring it into the market as required.
The acquisition will combine Netafim’s global presence and expertise in precision agriculture
and Gakon’s advanced greenhouse technology. The resulting strengthened greenhouse offer will
allow Netafim to better support agricultural industries such as blueberry, medical cannabis, and
undercover vegetable production across the globe.
Netafim’s entity for irrigation and fertigation solutions in Southern Africa, Netafim South Africa,
will continue to provide irrigation and fertigation solutions for orchards, vineyards, and other open
field agriculture in parallel with Vegtech Netafim’s work in the greenhouse sector and especially
with turnkey greenhouse projects. “We are very proud to be part of a global group of companies
that band together to progress agriculture worldwide. The acquisition will support an industry that
is key to our local economy and we are pleased to be associated with this watershed moment
in the history of the global greenhouse industry,” says Etienne Erasmus, managing director of
Netafim South Africa. “We are, as always, committed to offer the best irrigation and fertigation
equipment selection as well as advanced agronomic and technical support to both our dealers
and end-users.”
The expanded offering will leverage Netafim’s capacity as a holistic destination for farmers of
year-round crops and farm-to-table local produce. It will further support the company’s continued
drive to support efforts towards food security and sustainable agriculture across the globe.
Ends
About Netafim
Netafim is the world’s largest irrigation company and the global leader in precision irrigation
solutions. It is active in 110 countries with 33 subsidiaries and 17 manufacturing plants worldwide,
one of which is Netafim South Africa, housed in Kraaifontein in the Western Cape. Netafim South
Africa has been serving South Africa and its neighbouring countries with irrigation solutions and
services since 1992.
Driven by its slogan, ‘Grow more with less™’, its offering includes a wide range of leading irrigation and complementary solutions across all crops, conditions, and terrains. This includes drippers and driplines, micro and macro sprinklers, valves, filters, water meters, crop management technology (CMT), and ever-developing digital farming solutions. The extensive product offer is supported by experienced agronomic and technical support based on years of accumulated knowledge as the leader in precision irrigation solutions. For more information, visit www.netafim.co.za
In 2017, Orbia acquired 80% of Netafim, while Kibbutz Hatzerim holds the remaining 20%. Netafim is part of the Orbia community of companies, working together to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges. For more information, visit www.netafim.co.za
About Vegtech Netafim
Vegtech Netafim, part of the Netafim Group of Companies, is a leading supplier of turnkey
greenhouse projects. The Company, based in Cape town, operates throughout the African
continent with projects in South Africa, SADC, Central, West and Northern Africa, and offers a
wide range of cutting edge, high-tech solutions for all undercover growing requirements.
For more information, visit www.vegtech.co.za
About Gakon
Gakon Horticultural Projects is one of the leading companies in the world for producing, supplying, building, and servicing high quality turnkey horticultural projects. With 70 years of experience, Gakon has been managing projects from ideation to completion. In their headquarters with integrated production based in Westland, Netherlands, Gakon produces their own greenhouses.
For more information, visit www.gakon.nl
Enquiries:
Netafim South Africa:
+27 21 987 0477
infoza@netafim.com
Vegtech Netafim:
+27 021 987 6980
info@vegtech.co.za
Media enquiries:
Marike Brits
072 185 5157
Marike.brits@netafim.com