South Africa

The importance of agriculture that provides the basis for so many organic and natural products once again stood out at the 2026 Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa. The event took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre earlier this month.

Epic, a Savanna ram, set a new South African small-stock record when he sold for R2,05 million at the Black-Tie Blue Blood auction last week.

A group of farmers in the Vergenoeg area, between Balmoral in Mpumalanga and Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng, have raised concerns following the re-administration of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations to their cattle just four weeks after an initial immunisation by state veterinary services.

Mohair South Africa hosted a farmers’ day on 14 April at the Showroom Theatre in Prince Albert, Western Cape, where producers were brought up to speed on how climate policy, emissions reporting, and ethical sourcing requirements are reshaping demand for natural fibres.

The Supreme Court of Appeal has reaffirmed that market value must be the starting point when determining compensation for expropriated property.

Agriculture gained increased visibility at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Brazil in November 2025, but progress in formal negotiations remained limited.

Agri Western Cape (AWC) held its penultimate annual regional congress on 15 April at the Swartland Winery in Malmesbury, where it addressed issues it had identified, along with other topics and queries raised by representatives of agricultural organisations.

Pressure is mounting on the Department of Agriculture (DoA) over its handling of the proposed Section 10 framework for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), as legal challenges and concerns about the public consultation process converge.

The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has called on the minister of correctional services and the department’s national commissioner to urgently address animal welfare concerns at agricultural correctional facilities across South Africa.

South Africa’s citrus industry is set for another strong season this year, with higher export volumes expected. According to Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, harvesting and exports are set to ramp up in the coming weeks.

With 2026 declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the UN, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is stepping up efforts to recognise and empower women in agriculture across the province.

While Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen highlights growing vaccine supply and a coordinated national response, farmers say rollout delays, missed deadlines, and patchy delivery are undermining trust at a critical point in South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis.

South Africa’s animal feed industry is regaining its footing, with the latest figures from the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) pointing to a gradual but steady recovery.

With farmers facing rising costs, climate risks, and policy uncertainty, Nampo 2026 is positioning itself as a platform for practical solutions rather than simply innovation for its own sake.

South Africa’s emergency vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is entering a decisive new phase, with improved vaccine supply, early field data, and a structured monitoring programme on the horizon.

Interest in canola production in South Africa’s summer rainfall region is growing, as new cultivars provide promising options for crop diversification.

The disruption of South Africa’s red meat exports stems from the recent implementation of stricter regulatory requirements under Veterinary Procedural Notice 59, a framework designed to safeguard international market access by strengthening traceability, biosecurity, and disease risk management.

South Africa’s citrus industry is set for a positive 2026 export season thanks to strong production conditions and improved logistics performance. However, industry leaders say geopolitical uncertainty, rising costs, structural vulnerabilities in logistics, and market access challenges continue to shape the outlook.

South African sugar industry stakeholders have warned, that without urgent tariff intervention, the gains of Phase Two of the Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan to 2030 could be undermined before its diversification goals can be realised.

The South African agriculture sector is operating in an increasingly uncertain macroeconomic environment, with the conflict in the Middle East heightening global volatility, increasing input costs, and driving exchange rate fluctuations.