South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Willie Aucamp as South Africa's new minister of agriculture, tasking him with leading the sector through the country's worst foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in decades and a far-reaching animal health reform programme.

Pollination should be recognised as essential agricultural infrastructure rather than a niche environmental service if South Africa is to remain competitive in global markets, then Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen said at the South African Bee Industry Organisation's BeeCon 2026 event in North West on 30 June.

Thousands of visitors attend the Spar Kirkwood Wildsfees every year for music, food, and family entertainment, but organisers say the festival's greatest value lies beyond the main stage, creating opportunities for agriculture, conservation, tourism, and rural economic development.

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has allocated R424,1 million towards strengthening the province’s farming sector during the 2026/27 financial year, with infrastructure development, production support, and agro-processing identified as key priorities.

At the Livestock Global Forum 2026, held on 22 June in Pretoria, Gauteng, experts from around the world discussed whether South Africa’s livestock industry is positioned to compete in increasingly demanding international markets, with much of the focus on the beef industry.

Industry role players say government’s decision to reject Grain SA’s proposed changes to the wheat import tariff system will leave wheat producers operating under conditions that have long eroded profitability.

South African livestock producers affected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks could soon see less severe economic disruption after the Department of Agriculture announced new national control measures to simplify outbreak management while protecting the country’s livestock industry and export markets.

At the Madibeng Agri Youth Day on 23 June in Brits, North West, young people were encouraged not to wait for access to land, funding, or government grants before entering the agriculture sector but to instead build their businesses step by step.

Regional trade, industrial development, and economic integration will take centre stage when South Africa hosts the 9th Summit of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Heads of State or Government in Cape Town on 26 June.

Farmers will not gamble on unfamiliar inputs without proof. During a panel discussion at the Bio360 Africa expo and conference, industry stakeholders agreed that trust, data, and collaboration will determine whether biochar moves from a niche product to a mainstream soil solution.

An 11th-hour deal has brought the liquidation of Tongaat Hulett to an end, just as the matter was due to be heard in the Durban High Court in KwaZulu-Natal.

At a Department of Agriculture Youth Day round-table held at the Agricultural Research Council’s Nietvoorbij campus in Stellenbosch on 17 June, young farmers called for urgent, practical reforms to improve access to finance, land, and markets, warning that inaction is eroding confidence in the sector.

The Port of Cape Town has once again come under scrutiny after being ranked last out of 400 ports in the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence's Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025.

The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) declined by four points to 45 in the second quarter of 2026, reflecting growing concern among agribusinesses over disease outbreaks, geopolitical tensions, rising input costs and weakening commodity prices.

Grain SA has sharply criticised government's decision to leave South Africa's wheat tariff framework unchanged, warning that the move threatens the long-term sustainability of local wheat production and could undermine national food security.

Biosecurity concerns linked to South Africa's ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak resulted in the closure of 15 farm-based voter registration stations in the Free State over the weekend, highlighting the disease's growing impact beyond agriculture.

The Western Cape faces a long road to recovery following multiple storm systems and flooding that hit the province during May, says Premier Alan Winde.

Farmers’ organisations have responded strongly to reports that Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen may be removed from his position as part of a DA Cabinet reshuffle, while senior Department of Agriculture officials say critical programmes will continue despite the political uncertainty.

As the value of South Africa's biogas industry is increasingly recognised, the industry is expanding, with stakeholders being urged to prioritise regulatory compliance and safety to protect workers, build public confidence, and support long-term growth.

The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has allocated R63,9 million towards strengthening the province's response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as part of a R742,5 million budget aimed at improving food security, supporting farmer development, and stimulating economic growth through agriculture.