32 schools named finalists in 2025 EduPlant competition

THIRTY-two schools from across South Africa have been selected as finalists in the annual National EduPlant School Gardening Competition 2025. The schools were shortlisted from a total of 300 schools onboarded as Edu-Plant participants at the start of 2024.

- STAFF REPORTER

EDUPANT 2025 finalists announced: 32 schools leading food security through gardening.

(Supplied)

The winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 7, during an official gala event.

The top three national winners will be announced along with the two top Centres of Excellence schools, which mentored the participating schools in the new cycle. In addition, a winning school will be selected within each province.

EduPlant is a national school nutrition and food security programme, initiated in 1994 and implemented by Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), EduPlant has been supported by Tiger Brands since 2019.

The 300 schools initially onboarded as EduPlant food garden schools in 2024 received extensive training in permaculture practices to assist them in growing their own vegetables, fruit, and herbs. The produce is harvested and served as part of the schools' learner feeding programmes. Any surplus crops are shared by the schools with their surrounding communities.