IN CONVERSATION WITH MR ROGER TUCKELDOE (the Acting DDG: Food Security and Agrarian Reform)
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South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to food sovereignty as a cornerstone of national resilience and development. Speaking at the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Steenhuisen outlined several strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering local food systems and empowering communities to shape their own food futures.
The summit, hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), brings together global leaders including heads of state, ministers, researchers, farmers, youth, and civil society to assess progress since the original UN Food Systems Summit.
Minister Steenhuisen highlighted South Africa’s push to promote localized food production, with a focus on indigenous crops and livestock that offer both nutritional benefits and climate resilience. "We are actively mapping these crops across the country and investing in research to explore their underutilized potential for agro-processing,” he said. These efforts aim to scale up the availability of locally adapted foods to improve nutrition security.
He added that the government is establishing community seed banks to ensure reliable access to quality seeds and support long-term agricultural self-sufficiency.
On the livestock front, the focus is on breeding for resilience, particularly through the use of indigenous genetic material. Efforts are also underway to strengthen biosecurity, with the development of advanced diagnostic tools, enhanced disease tracking systems, and ongoing vaccine research.
Supporting smallholder farmers remains a central pillar of government policy. Through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), farmers are receiving financial assistance, training, and infrastructure support to boost productivity and sustainability. Steenhuisen also pointed to the Ilima/Letsema "One Household, One Garden" initiative, which helps households grow their own food as a buffer against rising food costs.
In pursuit of long-term sustainability, South Africa is promoting regenerative agriculture, agroecology, and conservation practices. These methods aim to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and create climate-resilient farming systems.
“Food safety and quality remain top priorities,” Steenhuisen emphasized. He noted that the South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA GAP) programme is equipping farmers—especially small-scale producers—with tools to meet local and international standards for sustainable and market-ready production.
On the global stage, South Africa is collaborating with international partners such as the G20 Food Security Task Force and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to tackle food price inflation and its effects on low-income populations. These partnerships aim to build effective policy frameworks that support smallholder farmers, promote sustainable agriculture in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), and drive country-led planning in alignment with Africa’s Agenda 2063.
The summit, hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), brings together global leaders including heads of state, ministers, researchers, farmers, youth, and civil society to assess progress since the original UN Food Systems Summit.
Minister Steenhuisen highlighted South Africa’s push to promote localized food production, with a focus on indigenous crops and livestock that offer both nutritional benefits and climate resilience. "We are actively mapping these crops across the country and investing in research to explore their underutilized potential for agro-processing,” he said. These efforts aim to scale up the availability of locally adapted foods to improve nutrition security.
He added that the government is establishing community seed banks to ensure reliable access to quality seeds and support long-term agricultural self-sufficiency.
On the livestock front, the focus is on breeding for resilience, particularly through the use of indigenous genetic material. Efforts are also underway to strengthen biosecurity, with the development of advanced diagnostic tools, enhanced disease tracking systems, and ongoing vaccine research.
Supporting smallholder farmers remains a central pillar of government policy. Through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), farmers are receiving financial assistance, training, and infrastructure support to boost productivity and sustainability. Steenhuisen also pointed to the Ilima/Letsema "One Household, One Garden" initiative, which helps households grow their own food as a buffer against rising food costs.
In pursuit of long-term sustainability, South Africa is promoting regenerative agriculture, agroecology, and conservation practices. These methods aim to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and create climate-resilient farming systems.
“Food safety and quality remain top priorities,” Steenhuisen emphasized. He noted that the South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA GAP) programme is equipping farmers—especially small-scale producers—with tools to meet local and international standards for sustainable and market-ready production.
On the global stage, South Africa is collaborating with international partners such as the G20 Food Security Task Force and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to tackle food price inflation and its effects on low-income populations. These partnerships aim to build effective policy frameworks that support smallholder farmers, promote sustainable agriculture in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), and drive country-led planning in alignment with Africa’s Agenda 2063.
