Gerhard van der Burgh
Senior Analyst at BFAP & Managing Director of IVIS
Who is Gerhard van der Burgh?
Gerhard van der Burgh has a rooted understanding of the strategic and operational dimensions of agriculture and agribusiness, along with the combined challenges and opportunities they present. With over a decade of experience as an agricultural economist, he works with industry organizations, private companies, and government agencies across the agricultural sector and allied fields such as minerals, energy, water, and the environment. As the Managing Director of BFAP’s Integrated Value Information System (IVIS), Gerhard leads innovative, process-driven projects that require multi-disciplinary integration of data and expertise. His passion for agriculture extends into advanced analytics – he specializes in production and resource modeling and excels in optimizing value chains to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
Areas of Expertise
- Agricultural value chain optimisation – Deep expertise in streamlining and improving agricultural value chains, from farm-level production to market delivery.
- Production and resource modeling – Developing and using quantitative models to simulate agricultural production systems and resource use for informed decision-making.
- Data science & systems integration – Integrating complex datasets and software systems to deliver comprehensive, real-time analytics and decision-support tools for agriculture.
- Cross-sector analytics – Applying agricultural economics insights across multiple sectors (including mining, energy, water, and environmental management) to drive holistic development strategies.
Key Roles & Contributions
- Managing Director of IVIS – Spearheads BFAP’s Integrated Value Information System initiative, leading a team that delivers data-driven, multi-dimensional projects and solutions across various value chains.
- Senior Analyst at BFAP – Provides strategic analysis and modeling expertise for BFAP’s research and consulting programs, informing agricultural policy and industry decision-making with data-backed insights.
- Project coordination & leadership – Coordinates collaborative projects with stakeholders in agriculture and related sectors, ensuring integrated approaches that bridge private sector, industry organizations, and government efforts.
- Innovation in data solutions – Drives the development of cutting-edge analytical tools and integrated systems (e.g. IVIS platform) that support strategic decision-making in agro-food value chains.
Academic Achievements & Affiliations
- Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics – Earned an M.Com (Agricultural Economics) from the University of Pretoria, completed in 2016.
- Research affiliation with University of Pretoria – Conducted and contributed to research while affiliated with the University of Pretoria’s Department of Agricultural Economics, focusing on the intersection of agriculture with broader economic and sustainability issues.
- Peer-reviewed publications – Co-authored scholarly work on scenario-based decision support for sustainable development in agriculture (e.g. published in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management), reflecting his expertise in combining theoretical and practical insights for complex agricultural systems.
Let us help you find the right solution for your business
In an ever-changing world, we are here to help you navigate and lead in Africa’s agricultural, agro-processing and food sectors.