South African Startup MyBitSecure Launches Smart Farming Platform

South African agritech startup MyBitSecure has officially launched full deployment of its MBS SmartFarm Platform following a successful three-month pilot programme conducted in Stellenbosch. The platform was developed to support emerging farmers, cooperatives, and smart agriculture initiatives by combining Internet of Things (IoT) technology with cybersecurity tools designed for agricultural operations.

MyBitSecure first drew attention to the project last year after unveiling a fully integrated system that connects IoT-enabled irrigation controls, soil-monitoring tools, and enterprise-level cybersecurity protection for farm data. The company designed the system to work with existing irrigation infrastructure through retrofittable sensors, flow meters, and digital dashboards, allowing farms to modernise operations without replacing current equipment.

Stellenbosch Pilot Shows Results

The pilot programme was carried out at the Sustainability Institute in Lynedoch, Stellenbosch, where the platform was tested over a three-month period. According to the company, the trial recorded measurable improvements in both soil health and water management during the testing phase.

Following the results of the pilot, MyBitSecure has now moved ahead with wider deployment plans across Sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention on smaller-scale and emerging farming operations that often face limited access to advanced agricultural technology.

The company says the platform was built specifically for African farming conditions, where water efficiency, soil quality monitoring, and climate resilience are becoming increasingly important for food production and sustainability.

Focus on Food Security and Sustainability

Tandi Rouse, co-founder and director of MyBitSecure, said improving access to agricultural intelligence tools remains critical for strengthening food systems across the continent.

“Soil health is the foundation of food security and for too long, the intelligence needed to protect it has remained out of reach for the farms and communities that need it most. The MBS SmartFarm Platform changes that,” said Rouse.

“What we are bringing is a contribution to the long-term resilience of food systems across this continent, backed by evidence, built for African conditions, and designed to serve the people who feed us,” she added.

The expansion of smart farming technologies across Africa has accelerated in recent years as agritech startups increasingly focus on improving water management, crop monitoring, and production efficiency for farmers dealing with rising climate and resource pressures. MyBitSecure’s latest rollout adds to a growing number of African technology companies developing localised digital agriculture tools aimed at improving food security and supporting sustainable farming practices across the continent.