Alfa Laval, Ecovado launch avocado oil plant in South Africa
Ecovado and Alfa Laval Middle East, South and East Africa have opened an avocado oil processing plant in Limpopo, South Africa, built entirely around Alfa Laval™ processing technology. The Vhembe District facility, now fully operational, sources fruit from smallholder growers and is intended to expand export volumes of avocado oil while creating jobs across the surrounding Venda community.
World class technology behind a new industry
The plant was established by Ecovado, a South African agro-processing company founded by entrepreneur Hulisani Mudau, who identified an opportunity in the region’s abundant but underused avocado crop. Ecovado built and equipped the facility with a 100% Alfa Laval processing line, giving the company the capacity to produce oil of export quality, with the majority of output destined for international markets.
Bongani Twala, General Manager of Alfa Laval South and East Africa, said the project reflected the company’s broader aims for industrial development in the region: “This project represents exactly what sustainable industrial development should look like, world class technology enabling local entrepreneurship, job creation, and long term community development. We are proud to support Ecovado in transforming the natural abundance of Venda into real economic opportunity. This project captures Alfa Laval’s purpose, Pioneering Positive Impact.”
Seedling donation to secure long term supply
Alongside the equipment line, Alfa Laval has donated funds to purchase avocado seedlings for small scale farmers in communities near the plant. The initiative is designed to widen local avocado production over time, securing a longer term supply of fruit for the facility and giving households in the area an additional source of income.
For Ecovado, the investment extends beyond processing capacity. Mudau, Managing Director of Ecovado, said: “This project was born from a desire to change the economic landscape of my home community. With Alfa Laval’s support, we have been able to build a facility that not only processes avocado oil but also creates livelihoods. The world-class equipment and seedling donation have empowered us to grow an industry that belongs to the people of Venda.”
A model for rural industrialisation
With the plant fully operational, Ecovado is now employing local residents and sourcing fruit directly from small scale growers in the surrounding district. The company aims to increase its network of community suppliers and grow export volumes as production scales up, positioning Venda as a more competitive source of avocado oil in global markets.
The partnership between Ecovado and Alfa Laval illustrates a model in which processing technology, local leadership and targeted investment are combined to build economic capacity in an underserved rural region.
