Under the Paris Agreement, many countries have committed to ambitious national climate mitigation targets to limit global temperature rise through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Meeting these ambitious and time-bound targets requires not only strong political support but also robust public institutions to implement them. Reducing emissions requires an array of policy sectors to work together; a traditional, “siloed” approach to public sector governance is ill-suited to tackling this complex task. As recognised in the OECD Action Plan on Governing Green – part of the OECD Reinforcing Democracy Initiative – endorsed by Member countries at the 2022 OECD Public Governance Ministerial Meeting, innovative approaches to governance are needed that embrace complexity, help overcome administrative segmentation, and mobilise societal actors. Missions and mission-oriented policies offer a new approach to the governance of societal transformations such as the green transition. Click here to read full oecd.org report.

Managing US perceptions of South Africa is increasingly vital. Rational explanations alone may not be sufficient to shift entrenched views, requiring a more targeted engagement strategy. Having returned from two weeks of discussions in Chicago, Washington DC and New York, I’ve gained troubling insights into US-South Africa relations. My meetings with American academics, policy experts and diplomatic officials – all preceding Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion – revealed growing tensions that have now erupted into an open diplomatic crisis. While merely the catalyst, Rasool’s controversial remarks about President Donald Trump reflect deeper fractures in a relationship increasingly characterised by misunderstanding and mutual frustration. This deterioration demands a strategic recalibration. The ball is in our court. South Africa’s policy of non-alignment – the deliberate choice to maintain sovereign independence in international affairs – faces its most significant test since the end of apartheid. This approach, grounded in national interests rather than rigid alliances, is often misunderstood. Click here to read full saiia.org.za report.

South Africa must build trade relationships more widely owing to the risks to the economy from the tariffs imposed by the US administration under President Donald Trump, says business lobby organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso. While the US is not South Africa's largest market for locally made cars, it is responsible for about 5% of light vehicle exports and earns about R26-billion of revenue for South Africa. This is at risk following the imposition of 25% tariffs on automotive imports by the US, she notes. “Some of these exports will be able to find alternative markets, especially as reciprocal tariffs mean US vehicles will be shunned by many other countries, including our biggest vehicle market Europe. But the international consequences are severe, with global supply chains disrupted, driving prices higher and damaging demand.” The world is heading for a rethink on how countries engage in international trade. Many countries will feel they should become less dependent on the US as a market for their goods. Read full engineeringnews.co.za article here. 

With relations between the South African and United States governments at a low point, it seems likely that South Africa’s inclusion in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) will not be renewed in September. In reporting on the potential consequences of non-renewal, focus has mostly been placed on the detrimental effects on the South African economy. But it is worth considering that, should exemptions, or even a new trade deal, not keep US availability to some key South African produce like citrus open, the US consumer and US agriculture will also be adversely affected. Agoa ensures South Africa’s citrus is not subject to US tariffs. Duty-free access to the US is by no means unusual. Citrus from Chile and Peru, for instance, enjoys a similar type of access, and additionally benefit from shorter transit times to the US. Agoa thus helps keep South Africa’s citrus competitive in America. Should South Africa be removed from Agoa, thousands of rural jobs could be affected, while more than R1-billion in export revenue could be lost. An estimated 35,000 local jobs from farm level throughout the supply chain are at risk. Click here to read full article.

While other countries have taken a more confrontational tone in trade policy, South Africa must continue strengthening relations and widening export opportunities for all the export-reliant sectors of the economy. Agriculture is one such sector that largely depends on exports and has benefitted immensely from the trade opportunities that South African authorities have successfully negotiated over the recent decades. South Africa must deploy an accelerated effort to maintain relationships and strengthen friendships. One region that requires some attention is the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), a free-trade customs union that includes Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini. From 2021, Botswana banned imports of vegetables from South Africa, which continued until partial removal by President Duma Boko in December 2024. This month (April 2025) the government of Botswana plans to remove the remaining import restrictions on beetroot, butternut, cabbage, carrot, garlic, ginger, green melons, herbs, lettuce, onions, potatoes, sweet pepper, tomato, and watermelons from South Africa altogether. Click here to read full report by Wandile Sihlobo.

“Optimism” and the “recovery” of South Africa’s agriculture have been the running themes of these notes since the start of the year. Consider the subsector that accounts for roughly half of South Africa’s agricultural fortunes — the livestock and poultry industry. Its exports are improving, and the better grazing veld is assisting in easing the production costs. We also see improvement in controlling the spread of animal diseases, except for KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, where foot-and-mouth disease remains a problem. Moreover, the horticulture industry — fruit and vegetables — has benefited from the favourable rains and the continuous improvements of port operations supports exports. Better fruit prices in a year when the harvest is decent also supports the recovery of this industry. Field crops was another vital subsector hit by the mid-summer drought in 2023-24 season and the word “recovery” is more appropriate here. This sector includes grains, oilseeds and sugar cane. Read full Wandile Sihlobo here.

The past few weeks were demanding, and I could not comment regularly on most agricultural matters. I am taking advantage of this quiet Sunday to share a few notes guiding my early thoughts about the 2025-26 winter crop season. We must start thinking about the winter crop season as we are now at the tail end of the critical summer crop season in South Africa. The 2024-25 summer crop season looks promising. The Crop Estimates Committee forecasts the 2024-25 summer grain and oilseeds production at 18,0 million tonnes, up 16% from the previous season. This comprises maize, sunflower seed, soybeans, groundnuts, sorghum and dry beans. With these summer crops now mostly at maturing stages of development, we will increasingly focus on the new season, the 2025-26 production for winter crops, which starts in May in some regions of the country. At the end of April, the Crop Estimates Committee will release the farmers’ intentions to plant winter crops for the 2025-26 season. Click here to read full article by Wandile Sihlobo.

South Africa has the contradiction of being the leading agricultural exporter in Africa while the number of food-insecure households is rising. Without proper policy engagement in this challenge, the sector risks more misconceptions about its export-driven growth drive while many South Africans are impoverished. Accurately diagnosing the problem and its underlying causes is critical to formulating a suitable policy response. In February 2025, Statistics South Africa released the Food Security Report for 2019, 2022 and 2023 (COVID-19 affected the ability to collect data in 2020 and 2021 ). The report utilized data from the General Household Survey (GHS) for those years. The report's most striking observation was that 'the proportion of households in South Africa that experienced moderate to severe food insecurity was estimated at 15,8% in 2019, 16,2% in 2022, and 19,7% in 2023. Over this period, the proportion of households that experienced severe food insecurity was estimated to be 6,4%, 7,5%, and 8,0%, respectively. Click here to read full Wandile Sihlobo article.

South Africa's agriculture is recovering after a challenging mid-summer drought that led to significant crop losses in the 2023-24 season. The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) 's data released this afternoon paints an encouraging picture of this new season's summer crop production prospects. For example, the 2024-25 summer grain and oilseeds production is forecast at 18,0 million tonnes, up 5% from the previous month's estimate and 16% of the prior season's crop. This comprises maize, sunflower seed, soybeans, groundnuts, sorghum and dry beans. The expected yield improvements after favourable rains underscore the better harvest prospects. The overall area planting is 4,4 million hectares, roughly unchanged from the last season. Provided this is a second production estimate and possibly still does not fully account for the gains of the favourable weather conditions in recent weeks, we could see further upside revision in the coming months, even if mildly. After all, there are eight more production estimates to follow monthly. Click here to read full article by Wandile Sihlobo. Click here to listen to podcast on same topic.

Since US President Donald Trump commented about his “imaginary” land grabs in South Africa, some among us have started pushing a misleading narrative that agriculture is under pressure and has been failing for a while. The inept municipalities, poor road infrastructure, stock theft, and port inefficiencies all contribute to this narrative of failure and despair. Stories of the failings of land reform farms also add to this sentiment of regression in agricultural progress. But this narrative is far from the reality of the South African farming sector. Regardless of how experts feel about the state’s capacity and the government’s policy stance since the dawn of democracy, the one undeniable fact is that the sector has grown tremendously – and indeed, not failing. Data from the Department of Agriculture shows that domestic agricultural output in 2023/24 had more than doubled the size in 1994. Click here to read full article by Wandile Sihlobo.

Agbiz is proud to announce the appointment of Dr Charl David van der Merwe as the new manager of the grain desk, succeeding Wessel Lemmer, who previously led the desk with dedication and expertise. With a career spanning over 27 years in the agricultural sector, Dr van der Merwe brings extensive experience in grain handling, procurement, market analysis, and strategic development. His leadership and industry knowledge will be instrumental in advancing Agbiz Grain’s mission of supporting and promoting the interests of its members. Dr van der Merwe has held key roles across the grain value chain, from agricultural economics and commodity management to procurement and strategic business development. His previous positions at major agricultural organisations, including NWK, Suidwes Landbou, Tiger Brands, and CMI, have equipped him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the sector. At Agbiz Grain, he will focus on policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and industry representation, ensuring that the grain industry remains competitive and sustainable. Click here to read full statement. 

The abbreviation ESG stands for environmental, social and governance. It is a framework used internationally by stakeholders to assess an organisation’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues. ESG is about sustainability in the broader sense, not just about environmental issues. In agriculture the environmental factors are quite prominent though. Environmental factors are paramount in ESG investing within the agricultural sector. These factors include issues such as sustainable land use, water conservation, biodiversity protection, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The social factors focus on the wellbeing of agricultural workers, local communities, and consumers. Governance factors focus on management structures and practices to ensure accountability, transparency, and ethical behaviour The prominence of concerns regarding climate change as well as human rights and health, are driving forces behind consumer and investor demand for ESG reporting. Click here to read full article by Annelize Crosby, head of legal intelligence, Agbiz.

Storytelling is central to how we interpret economic events. We recall economic history through haunting images of anxious crowds waiting to take money out of banks during the Great Depression or dejected office workers carrying cardboard boxes out of Lehman Brothers in 2008. We gauge inflation by comparing shopping baskets with friends and family. We grapple with the consequences of artificial intelligence by channeling our hopes and fears into science fiction. But do stories themselves influence the economy? This idea has a long precedent in economic thought. John Maynard Keynes wrote extensively about how “animal spirits”—instincts and emotions that influence behaviour—prompt people’s economic actions, like spending or investing in businesses. He argued that these herd emotional urges lie at the heart of economic booms and busts. Click here to read full IMF article.

I’m traveling, and posting will be lower for the next 6 weeks or so — zero when my wife and I are on our bike trip. But I thought I’d say something brief today about the auto tariffs. There’s lots of economic analysis out there (spoiler: they’re bad). Let me add two observations: what these tariffs say about America as an ally (worthless) and what the response to criticism says about the Trump administration’s mindset (totalitarian). On the first point, I’ve seen surprisingly little discussion of the legal basis for these tariffs. U.S. law gives the president a lot of discretion to impose tariffs without prior legislative approval, but the process is still supposed to be constrained by rules. There are, or are supposed to be, specific situations in which the president is allowed to impose tariffs, beyond “he feels like it.” So these tariffs are being justified under Section 232 (of what? never mind), defense of national security. For Canada and Mexico, this is bitterly ironic. Click here to read full article.

Should South Africa be removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, thousands of rural jobs could be affected, while more than R1-billion in export revenue could be lost. An estimated 35,000 local jobs from farm level throughout the supply chain are at risk. With relations between the South African and United States governments at a low point, it seems likely that South Africa’s inclusion in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) will not be renewed in September. In reporting on the potential consequences of non-renewal, focus has mostly been placed on the detrimental effects on the South African economy. But it is worth considering that, should exemptions, or even a new trade deal, not keep US availability to some key South African produce like citrus open, the US consumer and US agriculture will also be adversely affected. Agoa ensures South Africa’s citrus is not subject to US tariffs. Duty-free access to the US is by no means unusual. Click here to read full article.

Global land temperatures in 2024 reached record highs, with the annual average rising 2.1°C above the 1951–1980 baseline. Every month ranked among the hottest ever recorded, with April, May, and June setting new records. The Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C threshold was surpassed in nearly all regions, with Europe and the Americas seeing the largest increases. Northern America, Western Europe, and Southern Europe recorded the highest temperature anomalies. Over 160 countries experienced warming above 1.5°C, affecting 5.4 billion people and 73% of global agricultural land. The Svalbard Islands in Norway saw the highest recorded increase at 3.7°C. Nine of the ten most-affected countries were in Europe, with Canada also experiencing severe warming. This acceleration in temperature rise highlights the urgent need for climate action. The FAOSTAT dataset, developed with NASA-GISS, tracks these changes to help assess climate risks. Without intervention, continued warming threatens ecosystems, food security, and global stability. Click here to read full FAO report.

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased by four points to 48.7 in March but still remained below the level last seen in the fourth quarter of last year. This is according to the latest PMI report released by the Bureau for Economic Research on Tuesday, which showed that, while headline PMI remained in contractionary territory for a fifth consecutive month, this was the highest reading since the 52.6 points recorded in October. Despite some recovery in March, a weak January and February meant that the average PMI for the first quarter of 2025 was 46.2 points, below the 49 points recorded in the fourth quarter of last year. The business activity index increased by 7.7 points to 48.3 in March in response to improved demand, while new sales orders increased by 10.2 points to 48.7 points as a turnaround in export sales boosted demand recovery. The index tracking export sales showed significant gains in export markets, with sales returning to expansionary territory for the first time in four months. Read full freightnews.co.za article here. 

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has recently returned to a neutral state and is predicted to be in a neutral state for the foreseeable future. ENSO, however, has limited influence on the South Africa during the winter seasons and is not expected to have a significant impact. Due to the change of seasons into late autumn (Apr-May-Jun) and early- to mid- winter (May-Jun-Jul and Jun-Jul-Aug), the focus shifts to the south-western parts of the country and the southern and eastern coastal areas. The south-western parts of the country are expected to receive below-normal rainfall during the forecasted seasons and the southern and eastern coastal areas are expected to receive mostly above-normal rainfall. Minimum temperatures are largely expected to be above-normal for the most part of the forecaster period. Maximum temperatures are expected to be above-normal as well with the notable exception of the southern and south-eastern coastal areas that is expected to have below-normal maximum temperatures. Click here to read full report.

Panellists at the Fresh Solutions event of the International Fresh Produce Marketing Association (IFPA), recently held near Somerset West in the Western Cape, shared their thoughts on the findings and recommendations of the FPMI report. Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz, said that some positives came out of the report, including the recognition of barriers to entry in the primary sector, such as access to finance, property and water rights, inputs and in the impact of international prices on inputs. However, he added that the report gave no recognition of the efforts of established companies to help transform the sector. “The three biggest retailers spent R2,4 billion in supplier development last year, whilst the Department of Agriculture’s support budget was R1,2 billion,” he said. He added that some of the findings and recommendations went beyond the scope of the Competition Commission, were not legally binding, were impractical and did not consider the cost of implementation. Click here to read full article derived from farmersweekly.co.za.

The latest BUSA Cargo Movement Update highlights a 25% increase in container volumes, indicating progress in port operations. However, significant challenges persist, including equipment failures, congestion, and adverse weather disruptions. The Port of Cape Town lost over 30 operational hours due to strong winds, while severe flooding in Durban affected rail logistics and road freight. Ongoing Red Sea diversions continue to impact global shipping capacity, raising costs and causing delays. Air cargo volumes remain stable, though international rates have slightly increased. Cross-border trucking volumes declined due to delays at key border posts. While international container trade is gradually recovering, port inefficiencies remain a pressing concern. Supply chain disruptions continue to pose risks for businesses reliant on smooth cargo movement. Industry stakeholders are calling for urgent interventions to enhance port efficiency and improve logistics resilience. Click here to read full report.

Indian consumers can look forward to a flavourful citrus season as the first shipment of South African lemons for the 2025 season arrived in India this week. This eagerly anticipated arrival is also the very first shipment of lemons exported to India by FruitOne, a local citrus cultivation and export company. "We are delighted to announce the arrival of the first shipment of South African lemons in India for the season," said Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA). "This shipment signifies the strong trade relationship between South Africa and India. It starts the season, and hopefully also starts an era of increased exports and opportunities for our two countries." Leardt van der Burgh, Head of Commercial at exporter FruitOne, said: "India, just because of its sheer population size and its growing middle-class, is important to South African fruit's future. The FruitOne brand is known in India, and it is important for us to supply the whole citrus basket to this market. Adding Lemons to this basket in 2025 is a big step forward in this regard." Click here to read full media statement by the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) and FruitOne.

South Africa is set to expand its avocado exports to China following the recent market opening. A 40ft container with 21 tons of avocados has already been shipped to China in 2024. This accounts for a mere 0.03% of South Africa's total avocado exports of 81,012 tons. Derek Donkin, CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers' Association, highlights the potential for growth in the Chinese market, noting its rapidly expanding upper-middle class. Hans Boyum, commercial director for Africa at Westfalia Fruit, aligns with this view, citing increasing consumer awareness of avocados' health benefits as a driver for demand. "South Africa can position itself as a reliable supplier with a fresher product due to shorter shipping times than those of our competitors," Boyum stated. He emphasized the importance of developing market education and distribution networks, suggesting that China could emerge as a key destination for South African avocados in the future. Click here to read full article by freshplaza.com.

It is not uncommon for people to work in the fresh produce industry for most of their careers, and this is the case for a well-known figure in the South African citrus industry. Justin Chadwick has been CEO of the Citrus Growers Association for 25 years, and at the end of March, he will retire from the role. When Justin started at the CGA, the country had just come out of regulation, and all of the different Boards had been done away with. There was no structure in the citrus industry; it really was a baptism of fire. At that time, Justin was the sole employee of the association. These days, the CGA consists of a group of subsidiaries, including cultivar, development and research companies, and the Citrus Academy. It now employs hundreds of people. Justin came from the sugar industry, which was very structured, so he was able to bring this to the citrus industry and serve the growers well. Click here to read full article by freshplaza.com. 

US plan to place port fees on China-built vessels will impact trade, according to Dole. Leading banana supplier Dole has testified that plans to implement new port fees on Chinese-built vessels will cause banana prices to rise in the US. According to a report from Bloomberg, Jared Gale, chief legal officer and company secretary for Dole, testified at a hearing in Washington DC about a US Trade Representative (USTR) proposal for port fees. The proposal calls for fees on Chinese-built vessels, and fleets that contain Chinese-built vessels or have vessels on order from China. “The US fresh fruit trade would be severely impacted by this proposed fee, but so would the consumer,” Gale said. He said bananas are transported from the tropics on small, refrigerated vessels that make frequent trips and unload in the US at multiple small and regional ports. The low profit margin on bananas meant the addition of extra fees would have a swift and noticeable effect on prices. Gale said Dole operates its own fleet of specialised ships, four of which were built in China. Read full article by fruitnet.com here. 

In this insightful discussion with Anlie Hattingh on AgriXtra, Agbiz CEO Theo Boshoff unpacks the newly signed Expropriation Act, shedding light on its implications for land reform and property rights. While some see the legislation as a step forward, others fear its impact on private ownership. Boshoff provides a balanced perspective, separating fact from fiction and exploring what this means for the agricultural sector. Click here to watch the full interview.

In this insightful interview with Anlie Hattingh, Agbiz CEO Theo Boshoff reviews the key milestones and challenges of 2024 while sharing his vision for 2025. The discussion dives into crucial topics such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, sustainable practices across agriculture and its value chains, and what lies ahead for the industry. Click here to watch full interview.

Agbiz is pleased to welcome Maphuti Mawasha as our new Finance Manager. She brings over a decade of experience in financial services and business strategy. Her expertise includes budgeting, financial forecasting, and compliance management. Maphuti has worked with top financial institutions, ensuring sound financial oversight. She holds a National Diploma in Public Finance and Accounting and is pursuing a BCom. We thank Phyllis Strydom for her dedication and contributions.

For nearly 25 years, Justin Chadwick has been at the helm of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), transforming it from a fledgling organisation into a formidable institution serving the region's citrus industry. His leadership, strategic vision and unwavering commitment to growers have left an indelible mark on the industry. This tribute, enriched by the reflections of a few of those who worked closely with him, particularly in the early years of CGA, celebrates his contributions and the enduring legacy he leaves behind. Click here to read full tribute by Louise Brodie, Lucentlands Media. 

In the latest edition of Keeping it Fresh, the Fresh Produce Exporter's Forum (FPEF)'s newsletter, you will get a summary of the most pertinent information as well as reminders of important upcoming events. Please click here to peruse.

Discover the latest updates and insights from Hortgro in the newest edition of their publication. Click here to read the March 2025 issue, featuring the latest industry developments and important information. 

The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA), shares the latest news in the citrus industry in its weekly update, From the desk of the CEO. Please click here to peruse. 

Transforming Poultry Productivity and Empowering Sustainability in Africa

29-30 April 2025 | The Garden Venue, Johannesburg, South Africa

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BUSA Sustaining Progress Conference 2025

29 May 2025 | Focus Rooms, Modderfontein

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3rd Annual Food Waste Solutions Summit

26-27 June 2025 | Hotel Sky, Sandton

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International Fresh Produce Association’s Southern Africa Conference

23-24 July 2025 | Pretoria, South Africa

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South African Sugar Technologists’ Association Congress 2025 

12-14 August 2025 | ICC Durban

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• Agbiz is the only organisation that serves the broader and common over-arching business interests of agribusinesses in South Africa.
• Agbiz addresses the legislative and policy environment on the many fronts that it impacts on the agribusiness environment.
• Agbiz facilitates considerable top-level networking opportunities so that South African agribusinesses can play an active and creative role within the local and international organised business environment.
• Agbiz research provides sector-specific information for informed decision-making.
• Agbiz newsletter publishes members' press releases and member product announcements.