On 21 November 2025, SA Harvest joined the University of Pretoria’s Department of Consumer and Food Sciences for UP-Cycled 2025: #Landfill2Runway. This bold, student-led celebration of sustainability, creativity, and conscious consumption took place at the Moja Gabedi Community Gardens in Hatfield.
Watch a short clip of a video about the event by clicking here.
The event was more than a showcase. It was a statement. A reminder that waste is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of something better.
Why we showed up
We believe food waste is not a logistics issue. It is a justice issue. Every year, South Africa wastes 10 million tonnes of good food while 18 million people go hungry. That is not just a statistic. It is a call to action.
So when the UP team invited us to be part of this year’s event, we showed up with rescued ingredients, open hearts, and deep respect for the students who are reimagining the future one upcycled product at a time.
What we witnessed
What it means
This was not just an event. It was a glimpse into a future where waste is designed out of our systems and dignity is designed in. A future where young South Africans lead with purpose and partnerships like this one between universities, NGOs, and communities become the norm.
We are grateful to Dr Nadene Marx-Pienaar and the UP team for the invitation, the collaboration, and the shared belief that change is possible and necessary.
Together, we are not just reducing waste. We are rewriting the story.