Major policy shifts this year have been adding to unknowns about the future and policy decisions, according to our World Uncertainty Index, which has doubled since January. Uncertainty has surged to an exceptionally high level globally, and it’s likely here to stay, as the IMF noted during the recent Annual Meetings. To better understand what causes this and what it reveals, we developed a new subcomponent of that measure, the World Policy Uncertainty Index, which, like its counterpart, is drawn from textual sources. Our new gauge tracks reports by the Economist Intelligence Unit by tallying country-level references to “uncertain,” “uncertainty,” and “uncertainties” in passages related to “policy,” “policymaking,” as well as words related to politics, such as “election,” “government,” and “vote.” It covers 71 advanced countries, emerging markets, and developing economies. The Chart of the Week shows that a recent record monthly level for policy uncertainty was accompanied by relatively upbeat readings for our World Sentiment Index—echoing recent IMF forecasts that the global economy remains resilient and is slowing only modestly. Click here to read full report.

As delegates gather in Johannesburg later this month for the G20 Summit, the pressing question for Africa is whether its leaders will seize the moment to embed African priorities into global decision-making. The African Union (AU) joined the G20 as the 21st member at the 2023 summit in India and was officially represented at the 2024 summit in Brazil. With this year’s summit taking place on African soil for the first time, expectations are building that Africa finally has a chance to negotiate for a fairer deal on critical issues like debt relief, climate finance and inclusive growth. South Africa’s G20 presidency is advancing an ambitious agenda aimed at tackling some of the continent’s most entrenched economic challenges. Key elements of its agenda include strengthening disaster resilience through faster response and reconstruction, advancing debt sustainability for low-income countries, lowering borrowing costs for African sovereigns, and unlocking climate finance for a just energy transition. South Africa is also championing the strategic use of Africa’s vast critical minerals reserves—including lithium, cobalt, and rare earths—as catalysts for industrialisation and job creation. The aim is to accelerate the continent’s transition from raw material exporter to value-added producer. Click here to read full report.

The signs have been there for years. Rivers are shrinking. Lakes are receding. Droughts are increasingly severe. The world is drier than ever. But there is good news, according to the first edition of the World Bank’s Global Water Monitoring Report, Continental Drying: A Threat to our Common Future, which provides the most detailed assessment yet of the world’s fresh water. Newly available data and enhanced satellite images show us exactly where water is disappearing and offer a menu of solutions for areas threatened by the water crisis. Governments, researchers, and communities now have the evidence they need to anticipate risk, design targeted responses, and plan for a drier, more variable future. That’s smart development—and an opportunity to safeguard jobs and incomes, increase farm productivity, and protect natural resources. The view from above is sobering. Satellites show the planet loses 324 billion cubic meters of fresh water every year. Put into context, that’s about the combined annual flow of the Danube, Elbe, Meuse, and Rhine rivers, four of Western Europe’s largest waterways. Click here to read full report.

The US-Africa preferential trade deal – in place for a quarter century – expired on 30 September 2025. It’s far from certain if the trade deal will be renewed and, if so, how. Through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), roughly 35 sub-Saharan African countries could export thousands of products to the American market duty-free. First signed into law in 2000, it was designed to encourage African exports, create jobs, and deepen trade ties. Its usage varied widely: South Africa shipped cars and citrus; Kenya and Ethiopia focused on apparel; Lesotho and Eswatini relied heavily on garments; Mauritius sent textiles and seafood. Those exports support hundreds of thousands of jobs. A sizeable proportion are held by women and young workers, particularly in areas where formal employment is scarce. For African exporters, a world without Agoa and with broader US tariffs is a double squeeze on competitiveness. Will Agoa be revived at all or quickly enough? It rests with the US Congress rather than the White House, which has publicly supported a one-year extension. Transitional deals are being floated, but only an enacted law restores certainty. Click here to read full report.

On the 4nd of November 2025, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) provided online training through the Agbiz SHEQ platform to Agbiz members on the legal requirements in terms of the National Energy Act of 2008 for energy performance certificates for buildings. Since 2024, the submission and display of such certificates is mandatory for privately owned buildings with a net floor area greater than 2000 m2 and 1000 m2 for publicly owned buildings. These certificates must have been issued by an accredited body prior to 31 July 2024 and thereafter by a registered professional. Building owners can register on the SANEDI website: https://epc.sanedi.org.za/login. By Annelize Crosby, Legal Intelligence Manager, Agbiz.

Annelize Crosby, Bestuurder van Regsintelligensie by Agbiz, vertel ons oor die Gautengse Hooggeregshof se uitspraak oor die verkoop van onroerende eiendom en die impak wat die op die Landbou sektor kan hê. Click here to watch.

As the festive season approaches, this week’s AgriView turns the spotlight on Agri-tourism — a growing opportunity to showcase South Africa’s rural beauty and agricultural diversity. From the table grape farms of Kakamas in the Northern Cape to the rich heritage of the Karoo wool and lamb industry, agri-tourism offers a chance for South Africans to reconnect with the land, learn where their food comes from, and support local economies. The episode highlights how combining agriculture, culture, and travel can bring new energy to small towns, sustain farming communities, and create unforgettable experiences for families exploring our country’s hidden gems. Host Wandile Sihlobo emphasizes that for agri-tourism to thrive, municipalities must play their part—ensuring safe roads, clean towns, and reliable services that encourage visitors to stay and explore. With South Africa’s agricultural sector showing renewed optimism after a strong La Niña season, there’s never been a better time to take a “short left” into the heart of our rural economy. Tune in to AgriView for insights on how agri-tourism can help grow rural prosperity, boost local businesses, and build pride in South Africa’s farming heritage. Click here to watch.

The Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems work stream of the Business 20, a G20 engagement group, has endorsed three principles that it argues will contribute to the building of sustainable food systems and agriculture. The principles are increased trade, resilient supply chains, and sustainable agricultural practices. Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo explains these three principles and how African countries can put them to good use. What is global food security? How does it differ from food poverty? Global food security is more comprehensive, seeking to address the challenges of access to food, nutrition, sustainability and affordability. The broad ambition of global food security is to ensure that countries, especially the G20 members, work collaboratively on initiatives that reduce global poverty levels. This reduction of poverty must be material at both national and at household level. Achieving this goal will demand that each country’s domestic agricultural policy enables increases in food production, prioritises environmentally friendly production approaches, and eases trade friction. This will enable countries that cannot produce enough food to import it, and most importantly, do so affordably. Click here to read full report. 

When the agricultural sector is experiencing favourable production conditions, the interlinked industries tend to benefit. We are seeing such benefits in the agricultural machinery industry, which has seen robust sales for much of this year. More specifically, the tractor sales have increased for the past ten months, while combine harvester sales have cooled in the last five months, having started on a solid momentum. This is evident in the October 2025 sales data. For example, the tractor sales are up 12% y/y, with 857 units sold. Meanwhile, the combine harvester sales were down 39%, with 17 units sold. The soft sales in combine harvester sales are not a significant concern, given the higher volume of sales in the past few months. Importantly, the cumulative sales of combine harvesters for the first nine months of 2025 are up 4% from the corresponding period in 2024, with 197 units sold. The increase in agricultural machinery sales primarily reflects the financial gains from the better 2024-25 agricultural season, particularly in field crops, horticulture, and wine grape harvests, which were mainly supported by favourable weather conditions.  Click here to read full report. 

October 16th marks World Food Day, a celebration of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945. This day also provides an opportunity for countries to assess their food security conditions. Thus, this was one of the major discussion themes in South Africa’s agriculture last month. At a national level, South Africa is considered food secure; however, this manifests differently at the household level, with many families still struggling with food insecurity. Speaking in the Western Cape on October 17, President Cyril Ramaphosa also weighed in on the country’s household food insecurity challenge, correctly highlighting the household poverty challenges and emphasising the need to find ways of addressing the food insecurity crisis in the country. Food insecurity has many different explanatory factors. Income poverty is one driver of household food insecurity in the country. Moreover, the inefficient logistics and higher energy prices, amongst other factors that contribute to the cost structure of the economy, are sources of persistent cost pressure in the food value chain. Click here to read full article.

We are beginning to see the benefits of the recent rains through improvements in soil moisture across the summer crop-growing regions of South Africa. The rains from the last week of October to the first week of this month, although patchy, have brought improvement to the North West, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, southern Mpumalanga, and the northern regions of the Eastern Cape. These are generally agricultural regions, and the improvement in soil moisture will support crop germination in the early-planted regions, as well as in the areas that are yet to be tilled. The dryness in parts of the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo is not a significant worry. We remain convinced that the country will receive favourable rainfall through the summer season. While we generally highlight summer grains and oilseeds in some of our comments, the rains are beneficial to all agricultural activity. We highlight the summer grains and oilseeds, as they are currently at the planting stage. Click here to read full article.

In May 2022, then Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza launched SA’s Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan, co-created by the government, organised agriculture, labour and other stakeholders. Focus on Value Chains and Commodity Corridors. The document outlined the main constraints on SA’s agriculture and agro-processing, and presented solutions. The distinct aspect was its focus on various commodity value chains and the mapping of commodity corridors across the country. What followed was the creation of structures that monitor implementation and processes across the various commodities. The master plan is critical because, although SA’s agriculture gross value added has more than doubled since the dawn of democracy, there is still potential for growth. However, various inefficiencies persist, which increase transaction costs for farming businesses and constrain their expansion. Fortunately, when Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen began his term, he recognised the value of the master plan and continued to champion it. Click here to read full article.

The agricultural community faces challenges from all fronts, such as climate change, tariff trades and an increased demand for food security. Innovation and technology are key to improve agricultural productivity. How can emerging technologies benefit African farmers and the agriculture value chains? Click here to watch.

As tensions between United Stated and South Africa continue to rise with the US President Donald Trump recent announcement to snub the G20 Leaders Summit hosted by South Africa in the coming weeks. Trump's reasons include Issues around South Africa's Land Expropriation act and alleged discrimination and killing of Afrikaners. This has sparked a debate on South Africa farming sector amid global trade tensions. Wandile Sihlobo is chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa to help unpack and address the narrative that SA's farming sector is under siege. Click here to watch.

Wandile is also an executive director at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa and a good friend of our show. Together with Mmatsheko Mosito, Wandile will unpack what Trump's statements mean for our farmers, for the global perception of South African agriculture, and for the ongoing journey toward equity and growth in our food systems. Click here to watch.

This is a busy period in South African farming. The summer crop farmers are tilling the land for the new season, table grape farmers are harvesting, and the winter crop farmers are harvesting. South Africa’s 2025-26 winter wheat season began at the start of October. But we are seeing that farmers have begun delivering the new season crop, which was planted from the start of May. In the first five weeks of this year, farmers have delivered about 425,190 tonnes of wheat to commercial silos. These are still early days, and the harvest is expected to gain momentum in the coming months. South Africa’s 2025-26 winter wheat harvest is forecast at 2.03 million tonnes, a 5% increase from the previous year. Click here to listen.

It was June 1960, and the maize was ready for harvest. Maize pickers were recruited from surrounding areas, reaching as far as the former homelands of Lebowa and KwaNdebele. Early each morning, while frost still blanketed the fields, the pickers began their work – each with a grain sack in hand, gathering the maize cobs one by one. Once filled, the sacks were loaded by hand onto wagons and taken to the threshing floor. A Nigel 21 threshing machine stood waiting to separate the grain from the stalks and husks. It was powered by a McCormick Farmall tractor, using a belt and pulley system to drive the machine’s internal mechanism (the threshing cylinder). The tractor operator manually fed each full sack into the machine, where the maize was processed. The stalks emerged on one side, later used as fuel for the stoves in our home. The husks were blown into a heap, creating a wonderful playground for us children, while the leaves became winter feed for the cattle. Once the maize had been threshed it fell into grain sacks, each of which was weighed and sewn shut with thick thread using a long needle. Every sack had to weigh exactly 202 pounds (91,6kg), comprising 200 pounds of maize and two pounds for the sack itself. Click here to read full report. To download the current PDF version of Agbiz Grain Quarterly, click here. 

Agbiz Grain Quarterly is an online magazine dedicated to the South African grain handling and storage industry. In addition to the usual offering of thought-provoking, industry-specific articles, the November 2025 issue highlights the grain silo history of South Africa and explores the importance of prioritising preventative silo maintenance to ensure safety and preserve grain quality during long-term storage. This issue also features coverage of Sacota’s AGM and the challenges faced by the grain and oilseeds sector, TRIM’s strategic outlook for the industry, and insights on hazardous substance transport. Readers can further explore articles on the influence of commodity type and temperature on insect infestations in silos, grain storage options, updates in the agricultural regulatory environment, and managing flammable storage compliance in South Africa and much more. To download the current PDF version of Agbiz Grain Quarterly, click here. To download the digimag, click here.

This paper explores the macroeconomic implications of lowering the inflation target in an Emerging Market such as South Africa using the IMF’s Global Integrated Monetary and Fiscal model (GIMF). Model-based simulations indicate that lowering the inflation target from 4.5 to 3 percent, as recently announced by South Africa’s central bank, may entail moderate near-term output costs (measured by the so-called “sacrifice ratio”), while leading to medium-term output gains and lower borrowing costs. The near-term costs critically depend on the credibility of the central bank, which determines the speed with which agents adjust their inflation expectations. Specifically, output costs are lower when inflation expectations adjust more rapidly following the announcement of the new target by the central bank. Similarly, higher sensitivity of risk premia to the announcement of a lower inflation target can further reduce these costs. Concurrent fiscal consolidation can help support the disinflation process and lower the marginal sacrifice ratio. Click here to read full report.

The Supreme Court is now weighing whether President Trump’s tariffs, which hinge on a specified economic emergency power, can remain intact. It leaves one of his biggest policy initiatives hanging in the balance. While upholding the tariffs would mark a vast expansion of presidential power, striking them down could unleash a host of dilemmas for Trump — from mass payouts to finding new legal authority to push his priorities across the line. What would await the administration, in the words of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, is “a mess.”  The Trump administration has acknowledged that a Supreme Court loss would mean refunds of the billions in tariff revenue already collected. It convinced lower courts to pause their rulings invalidating the tariffs in part because of concerns the refunds could be issued, only for the Supreme Court to potentially declare the tariffs legal and make it difficult to claw back the cash. Refunds for the group of small businesses challenging Trump’s tariffs at the high court would be the most straightforward; the administration already agreed to pay them back if it loses.  As for the others, Neal Katyal, who represented the businesses at the argument, told Barrett “it’s a very complicated thing” that involves formal protests and administrative procedures. Click here to read full report.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) will undertake an Outward Selling Mission (OSM) to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this week. The project forms part of the implementation plan for the recently concluded Joint Economic Commission, during which Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau presented to Saudi officials and businesses a list of South Africa’s leading potential export products, and a comprehensive portfolio of high-impact investment projects, aligned with the country’s economic priorities. The trade mission takes place from November 10-12. The OSM will facilitate access for South African value-added products and services into the Saudi Arabian market, build brand awareness for products and services, and connect with potential buyers and importers. The companies selected are mainly in the agro-processing and health sectors. The mission aligns with the DTIC’s strategic objective of expanding South Africa’s industrial footprint and unlocking new market opportunities in the Middle East region. It serves as a platform to promote value-added exports, strengthen industrial linkages, and position firms competitively within regional and global value chains. Click here to read full report.

International migration is a recurrent phenomenon that has grown rapidly over the past two decades. This paper examines the role of agricultural distortions in shaping emigration patterns and influencing productivity and welfare in developing countries, using Guatemala as a case study. We develop a theoretical framework where household members can work in agriculture, non-agriculture, or emigrate, and calibrate the model combining detailed micro and aggregate data. Our model identifies two key channels through which agricultural distortions affect migration and productivity: a first channel where distortions increase emigration among more productive agents, reducing aggregate productivity, and a second channel where distortions drive factor misallocation, lowering incomes and increasing overall emigration. Simulations suggest that, reducing distortions in the agricultural sector to the most efficient department in each region would lower the emigrant share by 2.3 percentage points, primarily among more productive workers. Lower distortions would similarly boost aggregate agricultural productivity by 30.1% and raise welfare by 3.4%. An analysis at the sub-national level reveals that high-distortion areas are more isolated and exhibit less financial penetration and government presence. Click here to read full report.

Oil prices rose by 5 percent toward the end of the month after new U.S. sanctions were announced on Russian oil companies, with Brent closing at about $65 per barrel (bbl) on October 29. Throughout 2025, oil prices declined due to ongoing trade policy tensions and concerns over excess supply, with occasional short-term increases in response to geopolitical events. The decline in Brent contributed to the Urals price falling below $60/bbl — the price cap in place since February 2025 — before a lower cap of $47.6/bbl was introduced in September. Oil demand growth continues to weaken. Global oil demand is estimated to have increased by only 0.8 million barrels per day (mb/d), or 0.7 percent year-on-year, in 2025Q3, indicating continued sluggish growth relative to the 2015-19 average. This trend is expected to continue, resulting in an annual demand of 103.8 mb/d in 2025 and 104.5 mb/d in 2026. Oil consumption in advanced economies is projected to remain stable, whereas growth in China will likely moderate due to the accelerated adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. Demand growth in India, one of the major contributors to global growth, is expected to be driven by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline, naphtha and diesel. Click here to read full report.

A quiet but consequential contest is playing out in the global financial architecture. One that could determine Africa’s ability to finance its own development. In recent months, powerful voices from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Paris Club and US investment bank JP Morgan have questioned the preferred creditor status of African multilateral development finance institutions. These institutions include the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Trade and Development Bank (TDB). Preferred creditor status is a long-standing practice in global finance. It gives multilateral development finance institutions priority in being repaid when a country faces financial distress. The idea is simple. These institutions lend to promote development. During crises, they step in with counter cyclical lending – increasing support when commercial creditors pull out. This reliability depends on their strong credit ratings, which in turn rest on the assurance that they will be repaid even when others are not. That assurance is what the preferred creditor status guarantees. The World Bank, IMF and regional development banks in Asia and Latin America all enjoy this protection as a matter of practice. Click here to read full report.

Corteva Agriscience, in partnership with CNBC Africa, hosted a panel discussion in Johannesburg that brought together influential stakeholders from across the agricultural value chain. The live panel discussion explored the transformative role of technology in African agriculture, the future of the seed sector and the partnerships required to build a more resilient food system. According to Wandile Sihlobo, senior economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), Africa has the potential to be a global agricultural powerhouse, but this will only be realised when technology, policy and private-sector investment move in the same direction. As the continent is vulnerable to climate shocks and economic volatility the focus should be on long-term structural change rather than short-term interventions. To achieve this goal, digital technology, advanced genetics and farmer-focused solutions are central to improving productivity across African markets. It is for this reason that Corteva Agriscience is commited to driving innovation in seed technology and farming practices. We don’t just create products. Click here to read full article. 

At Agbiz's Media Information Day held on October 23, 2025, in the Western Cape, Agbiz Fruit Desk Manager Wolfe Braude highlighted South Africa's fruit export performance and trade diversification. Braude said that 36% of fruit exports go to the European Union, 17% to Asia, 15% to the Middle East, 13% to the United Kingdom, 7% to the United States, and 5% to Africa. The event also featured updates from industry leaders on biosecurity, water use, and food security. Citrus Growers' Association CEO, Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, discussed the industry's goal of exporting 260 million cartons by 2032 under its Gain, Retain, and Optimize strategy. SATI CEO Mecia Peterson addressed the link between fruit exports and food security, while Netafim's Michael Esmeraldo spoke on the need for improved irrigation efficiency in fruit production. A panel discussion led by Agbiz's Legal Intelligence Manager, Annelize Crosby, focused on agricultural remedies and integrated pest management, highlighting the importance of sustainable approaches to pest control and market compliance. Article by FreshPlaza.

Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) announced on Tuesday that it officially rolled out Phase 2 of the RMIS Traceability Platform today. RMIS at the launch said that this will bring South Africa’s red meat industry closer to full livestock traceability, improve disease response and support market access as South Africa deals with Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. RMIS said that the event was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, along with representatives from organised agriculture and other key stakeholders. “It showcased the practical functionality of the platform across the value chain.” RMIS added that to encourage inclusivity, they also introduced the RMIS Movement App - a free, user-friendly tool developed for producers who are not yet using digital livestock management systems. “Phase 2 introduces API integration between the RMIS Traceability Platform and several digital livestock management systems used across the value chain.” These include: Farm-level: Benguelasoft, Logix, AIMS, Datamars, Auction: FlexiAuction, Feedlot: Gigalot, Pointr Software, Abattoir: Matrix Software. Click here to read full article.

This update provides a consolidated overview of the South African logistics network and the current state of international trade. At our container terminals, an average of 11 754 TEUs was handled daily, a decrease from 14 802 TEUs the previous week. Port operations were characterised by inclement weather, vacant berths, as well as equipment challenges and shortages. More than 30 operational hours were conceded at the Port of Cape Town this week due to adverse weather, as equipment challenges and poor weather conditions prevented optimal performance in Durban. Vacant berths, agent delays, and inclement weather ensured operational delays at our Eastern Cape Ports, while adverse weather conditions resulted in operational delays at the Port of Richards Bay. The latest reports from TFR suggest that the line between City Deep and Mafikeng was closed once again this week due to the derailed containers still needing to be retrieved. The line is expected to be recommissioned over the weekend. The latest Southern Africa terminal and service update from Maersk for week 45 provides positive reading for our major South African Ports, as most major terminals (CTCT, CTMPT, NCT, and PECT) recorded no waiting times. DCT Pier 1 and Pier 2, however, recorded waiting times between 1 and 3 days. Click here to read full article.

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has said that South Africa’s subtropical fruit sector remains a cornerstone of the country’s agricultural economy and a critical driver of export growth, particularly as the government pursues new market opportunities in Asia and beyond. Speaking at the Subtropical Marketing Symposium this week, Steenhuisen said that when he assumed office last year, he pledged to ensure that South Africa’s agriculture would compete “not just on volume, but on value.” “Nowhere is this more relevant than in the subtropical sector. Our avocado industry produces around 155 000 tons a year, and nearly half of that is exported as fresh fruit," he said. "Of the fresh exports, 75% go to the European Union and Russia, 22% to the United Kingdom, and a smaller but growing 3% to Africa and the Middle East.” Steenhuisen noted that emerging markets such as India, China, and Japan still account for less than 1% of exports but present “enormous potential.” “India presents a substantial opportunity for our avocado growers, especially from May to August when South African exporters can offer a competitive alternative to the South American product, supplying large-sized avocados to Indian consumers during a key window,” Steenhuisen said. Click here to read full article. 

In the context of trade uncertainty, Citrus Growers' Association (CGA) chief executive officer Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele said that expanding market access remains central to the growth of both the citrus industry and the broader economy. Speaking at the Agbiz roundtable discussion in the Western Cape, Ntshabele highlighted the importance of trust, respect, and safety in discussions between stakeholders. He outlined the "Gain, Retain, and Optimise" (GRO) strategy, which focuses on expanding, maintaining, and improving market access through compliance and research. Gain refers to the expansion into new markets through science-based access protocols. Retain focuses on maintaining existing markets through quality, sustainability, and compliance. Optimise involves improving current market protocols through continuous research and development. Ntshabele said that the citrus sector remains a driver of transformation, inclusion, and growth. The industry's Vision 260 aims to export 260 million 15 kg cartons by 2032, with the potential to create 100,000 additional jobs. Click here to read full article.

Alfred Whitman, DP World’s global vice president and vertical lead – perishables, explains how global supply chains are shaping fresh produce trade and how his company is working to enhance efficiency in an increasingly challenging logistics environment. How do you see the current state of the fresh produce supply chain, particularly in Asia? Are you still seeing global challenges such as geopolitical and tariff disruptions impacting supply chains? Or is this easing somewhat? Alfred Whitman: There are significant challenges persisting for the fresh produce trade, particularly in terms of supply. Across the end of 2024, we saw climate-driven cost inflation increase in markets such as China and Thailand, and while that is slowing, we’re anticipating supply-side frictions for years to come. It’s precipitated by factors which include disease (which we’ve seen in some banana crops) and extreme weather conditions which, according to the FAO, have increased spoilage by up to 10 per cent. We also can’t discount the impact of continuing geopolitical tensions creating challenges in trade routes. Click here to read full article.

As the United Nations annual climate change conference (COP30) got underway in Belém, Brazil, on Monday, Africa arrived with a “shared vision and demand for real delivery on climate commitments”. In a policy brief, Power Shift Africa, a Nairobi-based climate and energy think tank, is urging both the COP30 presidency and African negotiators to make this summit a turning point — from promises to practice and from ambition to implementation. More than a decade after the Paris Agreement — a legally-binding international treaty on climate change — reshaped global climate governance, Power Shift Africa said COP30 must now prove that the multilateral system can deliver real results for all. While the first Global Stocktake at COP28 in Dubai and the new global finance goal agreed at COP29 in Baku were milestones, the analysis warns that “words alone will not avert catastrophe”. The Global Stocktake, held every five years, measures the world’s collective progress under the Paris Agreement. The task for Belém, the policy brief said, is to make climate ambition real, fair and felt in people’s daily lives. Africa’s position is not about seeking special treatment, but demanding fairness, consistency and delivery. Click here to read full article.

The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Sinovuyo Moabalobelo as its new Head: Strategic Projects. Agbiz CEO, Theo Boshoff, said: “We are excited to welcome Sino to the Agbiz team. Agbiz has always had a strong focus on economics, trade, policy, and legislation, but we are increasingly seeing that public–private partnerships (PPPs) are essential to creating an enabling environment for agribusiness. In recent years, the industry has entered into a PPP with Transnet to create additional plug points in the Port of Cape Town, while also engaging in rail reform and exploring partnerships to improve road infrastructure. Beyond regulatory certainty, our regulators must also be capacitated to perform effectively. Sino’s experience at Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator positions her perfectly to strengthen our capacity in this space.” Click here to read full statement. 

Established in celebration of Agbiz members who have reached their centenary milestones, this bursary is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in agribusiness. It provides an opportunity for South African master’s and PhD students in agribusiness management-related fields to further their studies and contribute to the future growth of the sector. If you’re passionate about advancing your academic journey and making an impact in agriculture and agribusiness, this opportunity is for you. Learn more and apply here. 

RMIS launched Phase 2 of its national traceability platform today in Pretoria. For the first time various livestock management systems across the value chain (farm, auction, feedlot, abattoir) can now share movement data in a standardised format. The Minister of Agriculture attended the launch this morning, where RMIS also introduced a free mobile app for producers who aren't yet using digital systems, so they can record movements using their GLNs. Click here to read full report. 

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. 

Agbiz Media Day

5 December 2025 | Pretoria, GP

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ASSAf Forum on Food Safety

19 November | Zoom Webinar

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B20 Bayer Strategic Dialogue

21 November 2025 | Illovo, Johannesburg

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World Conference of Science

1 – 5 December 2025 | CSIR ICC, Pretoria

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Agri-Data Revolution: Shaping Southern Africa’s Fresh Produce Future Summit 2026

17–18 March 2026 | Johannesburg, South Africa 

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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.