Empowering Growth: Omnia’s Strategic Role In Agriculture And Mining For Food And Job Security

According to the most recent Food and Nutrition Security Survey, 63.5% of households in South Africa are affected by food insecurity, while the country’s unemployment rate is 33.2%.

Building on a sustainable foundation to empower communities through the critical agriculture and mining sectors is key to developing resilient economies. This is according to Seelan Gobalsamy, Group CEO at Omnia, a company that plays a significant role in supporting the backbone of South Africa’s GDP.

With over 70 years of experience, Omnia has established strong relationships, a solid footprint, and an in-depth understanding of the South African and global landscapes. The company has long been a significant player in both the local agriculture and mining sectors, committed to leveraging its expertise to navigate these challenges and support sustainable growth and food security.

“Our production facilities support communities by ensuring the sustainability of our operations and those of the farmers and mining operations we work with. For the communities around our operations whose lives are influenced by what we do, maintaining a thriving and responsible business is critical,” says Gobalsamy. Additionally, Omnia’s fertiliser, biological, and soil-health innovations have accelerated and secured the food needs of countless South Africans and beyond.

A purpose grown from home soil

Where other manufacturers and suppliers import products in bulk, Omnia develops products locally to tailor solutions to African conditions supporting our farming communities. The company’s world-class production facilities in Sasolburg and beyond are hubs of innovation, research and have become a bastion for the low-carbon transition of South Africa’s food system.

“Our purpose has always been underpinned by local roots with global relevance,” Gobalsamy reflects. “This means understanding African farmers’ unique challenges, like soil health, supply chain constraints, and logistic pressures. That way, we can develop solutions for the unique African conditions, rather than importing uninformed and universal answers.” Agriculture is critical for Africa which has the highest population growth and is a net food importer.

Omnia’s holistic approach to soil health, through their Nutriology® model, includes specialised products, innovative solutions, and client relationships that promote long term sustainability. Furthermore, the company has invested and developed biological solutions, improving the efficiency of synthetic inputs, all while improving yields and optimising costs. It has rolled out carbon-efficient fertiliser blends and pioneered regenerative agriculture practices in South African farms.

“If you want to ensure long term sustainability, you have to start with the soil,” Gobalsamy explains. “Healthy soil is the ultimate ESG investment. It locks in carbon, holds water, and sustains livelihoods for generations to come.”

Humanising chemistry

Omnia’s workforce reflects its communities, with social programmes tied to the regions where it operates. Education initiatives, bursaries, and skills development programmes aim to prepare a new generation for careers in science and engineering for the agriculture and mining sectors. Omnia’s education programmes invest in STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), equipping the work force of tomorrow and particularly women with the foundational skills to build careers in this area. The business believes that by investing in community development projects, supporting education, promoting environmental sustainability and addressing social challenges, “ESG cannot be an add-on,” Gobalsamy argues. “For us, it is about integrating sustainability into the very core of how we design products, how we treat our people, and how we plan for the future. The goal is not quarterly targets but generational impact guided by our core values.”

Beyond agriculture

Omnia has a presence in 23 countries, distributing to more than 40 countries from over 70 distribution centres, and its mining segment is a key growth vector. Through its mining segment, the company supplies explosives and solutions that enhance safety and efficiency, by reducing energy intensity and environmental harm. The mining segment, through BME Blasting Solutions and BME Metallurgy offers integrated solutions for commercial mining, which are customised to boost efficiency, increase yields, and reduce costs and environmental impact. Its innovative technologies enhance the safe extraction and recovery of materials and minerals.

Omnia contributes to what Gobalsamy describes as an “ecosystem of resilience.” “Food security, job security, and energy security are not separate issues,” he explains. “They are interconnected.”

Through its purpose-driven approach to agriculture and mining, Omnia delivers impact, resilience, and value, empowering communities and industries through sustainability, innovation, and ESG-aligned practices that support long-term environmental, social, and economic wellbeing.”

A call to engagement

As the company embraces a broader conversation about its impact, Gobalsamy sees value in engaging more directly with customers, policymakers, communities, and investors. “We cannot solve food and job security alone, but we can bring credible, science-based solutions to the sectors we serve,” he says. “Omnia is committed to being a catalyst for positive transformation, ensuring that the benefits of our work extend across the value chain, contributing to a resilient and sustained future.”