ABioSA supported a small Limpopo biotrade business as part of its SME development strategy. Mor Nutrition Products is a women-led community-based enterprise growing Moringa in rural Limpopo province to make herbal tea blends for the hospitality sector and health shops. The company has a workforce of 90% youth and 70% women. Revenue grew 72% from 2023 to 2025.

Mor-Nutri is recognised for its Moringa tea blends, infused with indigenous flavours like Rooibos and Marula, as well as health shots. It is supported by research institutions such as Wits University and the Agricultural Research Council, through partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation. The business has skills transfer programs for young employees, focused on sustainable agriculture, food processing, quality control and marketing; and it mentors local agricultural entrepreneurs.

ABioSA's decision to fund MorNutri was based on business growth, community impact and future export potential. Funds were used to buy a new tea bag machine to help unlock the hospitality marketto develop marketing materials, and employ seasonal labour.

Mor-Nutri operates across the whole value chain from cultivation and harvesting to processing, distribution and retail. This model offers control over costs and quality, but requires managerial expertise and strong systems. ABioSA recognised that the business needed technical support and mentoring in addition to financial grants.

M-theory consultancy was contracted to assist Mor-Nutri management to develop and implement a Quality Management System (QMS), including food safety and good manufacturing practice.

Site visits to assess business premises and operations, and interviews with management, were followed by a gap analysis to identify areas of non-compliance. M-theory experts coached staff and management on QMS and best-practice policies and procedures.

The intervention has had many positive outcomes. The business has established a Ginger nursey and installed solar panels and an irrigation system. Mor-Nutri as has been trademarked and five new jobs created.

In partnership with the National Youth Development Agency, Mor Nutri has helped five youth employees to register agricultural cooperatives that will join its supply chain.

Through its network of cooperatives, Mor-Nutri continues to create jobs, support women farmers and provide opportunities for young people to participate in meaningful climate-smart agriculture.

Business support strategy for the biotrade

The SA government has been trying to develop community-based enterprises and increase their share in the economy. Mor-Nutri is a good example of a business in the biotrade sector where enabling growth in capacity and operations would resolve economic challenges from rural poverty to job creation and skills development.

Mor Nutri was a pilot for ABioSA to investigate an approach that blends technical and financial support. Phase III of ABioSA will use a new categorisation and referral tool, developed by Prime Africa for ABioSA, to analyse the maturity level of the business life cycle of small businesses and their position in the respective value chains.

The five identified categories are: start-up, emerging, established, growth-ready and fully compliant export-ready or exporting companies.

The tool enables identification of specific support required for each category and for businesses to be referred for technical and/or financial support within the ecosystem of implementing agencies of government, public and private financial institutions, and donor organisations; paired with peer learning and mentoring.

The tool will be piloted from 2026 by ABioSA as part of the BioPANZA market access cluster.

ABioSA will focus on export-ready and exporting companies. Other businesses will be referred to support organisations under the BioPANZA Market Access Cluster. The desired outcome is to increase the pipeline of businesses able to successfully serve the local and international biotrade markets.