Yet the research makes an important point: technology is only valuable when it addresses an actual business problem.

A small furniture manufacturer may achieve greater immediate value from improved quoting and inventory management than from purchasing expensive automated machinery.

Similarly, a farmer may benefit from basic digital recordkeeping and weather monitoring before investing in sophisticated precision agriculture systems.

What We Should Start Doing

For the Garden Route, three priorities stand out.

1. Connect digital skills to existing industries.

We need to move beyond teaching technology in isolation. Digital skills development should increasingly address real problems in agriculture, manufacturing and forestry. This creates opportunities for young technology professionals while improving the competitiveness of established businesses.

2. Invest in local value addition.

With only 5.2% of national pine plantings in the Western Cape, our competitive advantage cannot depend solely on raw material production. We should be strengthening local processing, product design, furniture manufacturing, digital sales channels and access to larger markets.

3. Make technology adoption practical and measurable.

Businesses need affordable solutions, demonstrations, technical assistance and ongoing mentorship. Start with one operational challenge, implement an appropriate solution, and measure the improvement before expanding.

What We Need to Stop Doing

We also need to challenge some familiar approaches to economic and technology development.

Stop measuring success by the number of people trained or events hosted. Participation matters, but improved productivity, revenue growth, employment and business sustainability are stronger measures of economic impact.

Stop promoting technology without understanding the business problem. Not every farmer needs a drone, and not every manufacturer needs AI. Solutions should follow clearly identified needs.

Stop treating traditional industries and the technology sector as separate economies. Agriculture, forestry and manufacturing are increasingly dependent on digital capabilities. Our regional economic development strategies should reflect that reality.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The research presented by Vinnie Mzolisa and AIfE reinforces an opportunity we see at GRIT Hub: connecting the Garden Route's established industries with emerging technology capabilities, practical skills development and entrepreneurship.

We already have the agricultural producers, forestry businesses, manufacturers, universities, training institutions and emerging technology talent.

What we need is stronger collaboration between them, with a greater emphasis on implementation and measurable results.

The next chapter of economic development in the Garden Route should not simply be about producing more. It should be about creating more value, retaining more of that value locally, and building the skills and businesses needed to sustain it.

Click here to view the full report

Source: Timber and Agri Tech research presentation, African Institute for Entrepreneurship (AIfE), presented by Vinnie Mzolisa at the Western Cape DEDAT Tech Talk, 27 October 2026. Figures are reproduced as reported in the presentation; original statistical sources and methodologies have not been independently verified. Recommendations reflect GRIT Hub's perspective.

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