South Africa

Despite some temperature variability during spring 2024, conditions have stabilised, resulting in a positive outlook for raisin production.

Ostrich production is expected to increase by roughly 7% from 140 000 birds slaughtered in the 2023/24 season to 150 000 in the 2024/25 season.

The Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has released its first-ever Red Meat Industry Report, providing a detailed analysis of the trends shaping supply, demand, and prices.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall across Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, with the potential for severe flooding, property damage, and disruption of essential services. The adverse weather is expected to persist throughout the week.

The South African sugar industry is bracing for a transformative year in 2025 as stakeholders advance into the next phase of the Sugar Value Chain Master Plan to 2030.

Potatoes SA has warned against panic over potato supply amid a year of adverse weather. In 2024, potatoes reached record-high prices as black frost in Limpopo and drought in the Free State curtailed harvests towards the end of winter.

Various trends will reshape the global agribusiness environment over the next 10 years. These trends include agriculture in controlled environments, such as tunnels and greenhouses, which could counter seasonal production advantages, the rise of digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, the use of blockchain and big data, and a return to mechanical weed control using robots.

The past year saw an increase in the number of countries allowing for the cultivation and import of crops that have been genetically engineered (GE).

South African tractor sales increased by 17% to 9 181 units in 2022, making it the highest annual sales figure in the past 40 years, said Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, in his recent market analysis.

Fresh produce marketers need to keep up with changing trends in consumer behaviour to make the best of marketing budgets.

South Africa faces job losses in excess of 20 000 should the EU proceed with legislation that bans the use of tea tree oil.

The arrival of the first full red apricot variety in South Africa holds huge potential for local producers and the expansion of apricot production, according to Michael Oosthuizen, International Plant Selection’s representative in South Africa.