Talborne Organics traces its roots back to the 1980’s, when entrepreneurs Mike and Jenny Slabber saw television reports about severe pollution in European rivers and coastlines, with synthetic farming inputs being a primary cause. By chance, they learned of a demand for natural fertilizers amongst German wine grape and medicinal herb growers, and grasping the opportunity, they set up a small factory in South Africa to manufacture natural fertilizers.

As the company grew and developed, the products were sold to local South African farmers, where many of South Africa’s soils, which are ancient and weathered when compared to international norms, were found to be severely depleted because of industrial scale intensive agriculture. The standard practises of applying huge quantities of salt-based fertilisers in search of maximum yields was destroying soil health and fertility, making crops vulnerable to weeds, pest and disease pressure and climatic stresses. 

The Afrikaans saying “hulle het die grond gemyn” which when translated into English means “they mined the soil” was a recurring theme when analysing many a farm’s soils. Understanding that these practices were extractive and entirely unsustainable, Mike and Jenny looked for restorative solutions.

Having both grown up on farms in rural South Africa, they had a keen appreciation for the intricacies and complexities found in nature. They understood then, what is becoming increasingly clear now: Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants = Healthy People and the only way to produce healthy and sustainable food in sufficient volumes, is by working with nature, and not against it.