Episode #58: Riël Mallan on Lucentlands Podcast: Big Ideas for Brave Farmers

What does the future of agriculture look like when you blend risk, branding and bold thinking?

In this crossover episode, Shapers co-host Riël Mallan joins Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie on the Lucentlands Podcast to reflect on three decades of hard-earned lessons in agri-business, brand building and navigating change in a deregulated market.

From his early days trading in a shifting post-90s environment to building premium fruit export brands and shaping investment strategies in private equity, Riël brings his signature blend of wisdom, wit and candour to the conversation.

This episode dives into:

• The realities of deregulation and what it taught farmers about risk
• Why product quality alone won’t cut it in a brand-driven world
• How private equity changed his outlook on scale, succession and sustainability

Whether you're in farming, finance, or just fascinated by how bold ideas take root – this is an unmissable listen.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.