Dutoit, in a groundbreaking move to revolutionize agricultural education for the next generation, has teamed up with Tangible Africa to introduce Juicy Gems – an innovative mobile game that aims to inspire learning through interactive coding challenges and real-world agricultural knowledge.
Juicy Gems is not just your average game – it serves as a dynamic educational tool designed to captivate young minds by teaching coding and agricultural literacy in an engaging and accessible manner. Players use physical tokens to maneuver a virtual tractor, harvesting fruits and vegetables while solving coding puzzles and answering questions related to sustainable farming practices.
“We believe that the future of agriculture lies in inspiring the youth to not only understand the source of their food but also to consider farming and agricultural technology as exciting career paths,” says Gysbert du Toit, Commercial Director of Fruit Packing at Dutoit. “Our purpose for 2025, ‘Cultivating wellness, one harvest at a time,’ is centered around investing in people and progress. Juicy Gems is our way of planting the seeds of knowledge, sustainability, and innovation in young South Africans – ultimately contributing to the economic and social wellness of our country.”
Central to the development of Juicy Gems is a collaboration with Tangible Africa – a renowned initiative of Nelson Mandela University and the Leva Foundation. Known for creating low-data, high-impact tools that teach coding without the need for constant internet access, Tangible Africa has crafted a game that is both entertaining and educational, especially for underprivileged communities.
“Juicy Gems is all about making digital education tangible,” explains Ryan le Roux, Project Lead at Tangible Africa. “It’s not just about winning – it’s about learning. Through school tournaments, learners can enhance their computational thinking skills and deepen their understanding of the role of agriculture in our daily lives.”
Starting from June 30th, Juicy Gems will be accessible to all South Africans. By looking for specially marked bags of Dutoit apples at major retailers nationwide and scanning the QR code on the packaging, players can enjoy the game on their mobile devices from the comfort of their homes, classrooms, or on the go.
In honor of Mandela Day, Juicy Gems will host a series of interactive tournaments across South Africa, inviting learners, schools, and families to engage with the game while celebrating education, innovation, and social impact. These events aim to encourage nationwide participation and foster a deeper appreciation for the significance of agriculture and technology in shaping a brighter future.
The game has already been introduced in classrooms through teacher workshops and pilot tournaments in collaboration with the South African Teachers Union (SAOU), with plans to expand to more schools in the near future. The ultimate goal is to equip learners with digital skills that are relevant for the future, spark an interest in agriculture, and unlock career opportunities in food production, sustainability, and technology.
Juicy Gems exemplifies how a purpose-driven partnership between agriculture and technology can make a tangible impact – from the classroom to the farm of tomorrow.
