Meet the rebels reshaping South Africa’s protein future.

There’s a quiet uprising happening in South African agriculture, and it’s gaining momentum. A growing group of bold thinkers, doers and problem-solvers are challenging the status quo of the soya industry. These are the soya rebels.

They’re not waiting for permission. They’re already reimagining what soybeans can do, not just as a crop, but as a catalyst for transformation. From energy-neutral processing to breakthrough applications, the rebellion is real, and it’s rooted in results.

Take Fanie Schoeman, for example. With decades of technical expertise in agricultural processing, he played a key role in the rapid setup of a new energy-efficient soya facility in Pretoria, getting it up and running in record time. Or Mpumi Mahlangu, an entrepreneur with a sharp eye for market development and a passion for food security. As CEO of a predominantly female company, she’s breaking into the traditionally male-dominated soya and agriculture market, inspiring more women to follow suit.

These individuals work within formal companies, yes, but their personal vision, urgency, and refusal to settle for “business as usual” mark them as rebels.

This rebellion is about smart, sustainable, people-driven change.

So here’s the challenge:

If you’re anywhere in the soya value chain (farmer, processor, researcher, policymaker, retailer) what does rebellion look like for you? Where can you challenge the old models? Where can you push for progress?

Because the soya rebellion is already happening.

The only question is, are you part of it?