By Azwidohwi Mamphiswana
Nestled in Centurion, South Africa, Helix SA Snail Farm is the creation of 62-year-old Annie Roux. Despite setbacks, her transition from European snail farming methods to African techniques, combined with innovative technology, has led her to success. Roux’s journey into snail farming began with curiosity sparked by a TV show. “I was inspired by a show about snail farming,” she said. 
After researching extensively through Google and YouTube, Roux started with European methods. However, she soon realised the techniques were not suited to South Africa’s climate. “It was costly, and after six years of frustration, I discovered Helix SA snails and knew I had found the right approach for our conditions,” she explains.
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Roux begins her day at 7 am, ensuring the farm remains clean by removing leftover food. Cleanliness is crucial to preventing disease, and her employee assists her in cleaning and ensuring predators such as rats, birds, and lizards are kept away from the snails. “Rats can spread bacteria and harm the snails, so we make cleanliness a priority,” says Roux.
With about 300,000 snails, Roux explains that snails are nocturnal creatures. During the day, they rest in their environment, conserving energy for nighttime feeding. The farm remains quiet until dusk when the snails become active. Helix SA snails begin mating at around five months old, a process the business owner humorously refers to as “teenage pregnancy.”. “If it’s mating season, they mate for about 16 hours,” she says, noting that snails were hermaphrodites and could produce 80 to 100 eggs per lay.
Once they reach nine months, the snails are ready for harvest and sale. Roux anticipates her first order for 2025 by March. By late morning, she turns her attention to her automated systems. Using Wi-Fi-connected technology and her smart control system, she monitors temperature and humidity levels. “I wanted a system that would allow me to manage everything remotely, and it’s been a huge success,” she shares.
In addition to selling snails to restaurants, Helix SA Snail Farm produces cosmetics from snail slime. “Our products contain 50% organic snail slime from our farm,” says Roux, noting the growing interest from the beauty industry. She is also committed to sharing her knowledge. She wrote a training manual for snail farming in South Africa and trains about 10 people monthly. “I’m passionate about helping others start in this industry,” she says.
As the day winds down, Roux prepares for the harvest, carefully selecting mature snails for sale while new eggs are nurtured for the future. The harvest is done with precision, as she knows each snail is an important part of her business. Looking back on her journey, she feels immense pride. “It hasn’t been easy, but the rewards make it all worthwhile,” she reflects. Roux’s use of technology and her shift to farming Helix SA snails have allowed the farm to thrive. She continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in snail farming. “The most important lesson I’ve learned is never to give up. Snail farming might be slow, but it works,” she says.
