Personnel and Innovation Drive Growth at South African Soybean Crushing Facility

The Pretoria Protein Company is Africa’s first energy-neutral soybean crushing facility, combining environmental practices with production efficiency. While the plant’s technical capabilities set new industry standards, however, it is the individuals behind the operation who give it its unique character and are driving its success.

Plant CEO, Fanie Schoeman’s career spans multiple sectors of agricultural processing. His career path in the industry began at Meadow Feeds, where he managed various facilities before leading Tiger Brands’ Zambian plant. Subsequent roles at Premier Foods, where he oversaw nine mills, and a nine-year tenure at Namib Group expanded his expertise in feed production, wheat processing, and maize milling operations. Following another six years at CBH managing feed production and contract growing operations, Schoeman endeavoured to retire, which proved short-lived. His experience proved valuable at VKB’s Villiersdorp plant and later at RussellStone in Bronkhorstspruit, where he optimised soybean crushing operations.

Once onboard at Pretoria Protein Company, Schoeman’s technical expertise influenced the design and construction of the plant, working closely with equipment suppliers throughout the ten-month build. The facility processed 4,000 tonnes in October 2024, increasing to 9,000 tonnes by December – equivalent to 300 truckloads. With a second seed cleaning and preparation line slated for June, the plant aims to achieve an annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes. 

Schoeman emphasises the connection between personnel management and product quality. “If your people are doing well, your product performs well,” he observes, underlining Pretoria Protein Company’s commitment to individualised personnel management. The plant upholds high standards through its comprehensive process, which includes everything from initial soybean seed sifting to hull separation, cooking, flaking, oil extraction, and final processing into meal.

While Pretoria Protein Company focuses on production excellence, Pretoria Protein Trading, a distinct yet complementary entity, is currently responsible for marketing and distributing Pretoria Protein Company’s commodities in the market.

CEO Mpumi Mahlangu, who heads up market development at Pretoria Protein Trading, epitomises the company’s pioneering approach. Her journey in the protein industry began during her doctoral research on circular economy principles in telecommunications, during which she identified significant opportunities in sustainable protein production. Her vision, which strongly aligned with Pretoria Protein Company’s objectives, led her to propose the establishment of Pretoria Protein Trading, of which she is a shareholder.

Mahlangu’s background encompasses computer science, telecommunications, and entrepreneurship. After graduating from UCT, she developed software and participated in a women’s business development programme at a prominent telecommunications company. Other experience includes network configuration, project management, and directing operations at an international OEM company. This unconventional career path has given her a unique, out-of-the-box perspective on market expansion within the protein-crushing field in South Africa, particularly in extending beyond traditional animal feed markets. 

According to Mahlangu, after a year of operation, Pretoria Protein Trading intends to extend its product range to include soya for human consumption. Soya is also a key ingredient in biofuel and soya oil in beauty products, giving Pretoria Protein Trading a wide range of opportunities as it expands the business in the next five years. This view is fuelled by her belief that the focus should be on making nutritious and affordable food more accessible throughout Africa.

Schoeman’s technical production expertise, coupled with Mahlangu’s market development skills, equates to a joint venture that lays an ideal foundation for both young companies to achieve remarkable success. This collaborative approach has proven highly effective already, with the production facility consistently boosting output while the trading company expands through product line diversification – all while upholding stringent quality and sustainability standards.

In short, the early success of both Pretoria Protein Company and Pretoria Protein Trading illustrates how agricultural ventures can harmonise technical excellence with strong personnel development, creating an ecosystem in which innovation and expertise converge to advance South Africa’s protein sector.