We are in Canberra today, Australia’s capital and a great city. Amongst many vital engagements we had, we also managed to meet colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
I was not a stranger to their work, as we in South Africa closely follow the agricultural policy and crop forecasting developments in Australia, partly due to their significant role in global grains production and exports, as well as the similarities in production conditions with South Africa.
To demonstrate the relevance of this letter, I will highlight several key aspects of their work, including climate-smart agricultural practices, biosecurity, collaboration with the private sector on research, in-depth insights into agricultural trade, and commodity forecasting. These are all the areas that apply to South Africa’s agriculture.
The DAFF equips farmers with sound research and pathways in reducing emissions and producing in more environmentally friendly ways. These are aspects that are also vital for global agricultural trade in today’s environment. Australia exports over two-thirds of its agricultural produce; therefore, compliance with the requirements of its key markets remains vital.
Like Australia, South Africa is an export-oriented agricultural sector, although smaller in value terms (and roughly half of our agricultural products go to exports). The practices of supporting various climate-smart agricultural research, improving biosecurity, and deepening trade research are areas where South Africa should increase its focus.
Fortunately, some of these matters are not far from our discussions at home. South Africa’s Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan already has some elements of such work.
What remains missing is the focus on implementing the plan, along with the release of the 2.5 million hectares of government-owned land with title deeds, which could be key for inclusive growth. The biosecurity matter, which I discussed in my first letter, remains a running theme, but not just about animal health; it is also key for plant health.
I mentioned the Master Plan because of its structure, which involves government and private sector participation. This is a strength of the Australian approach to agriculture, which we must focus on at home, and ensure there are resources and implementation in the many plans we have crafted.
I won’t delve into much, but I hope this provides a high-level view of agricultural matters.
10 September 2025
Canberra, Australia
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