Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has called for an accelerated transition to localised, sustainable food systems, reaffirming the country’s commitment to food sovereignty as a “pillar of national resilience and development.”

His remarks came during the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4), held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia.

Speaking to a global audience of policymakers, scientists, producers, youth leaders and civil society, Minister Steenhuisen unveiled a set of strategic initiatives aimed at transforming South Africa’s food system.

Central to his address was the government’s push to empower communities to define their food futures through localised production and indigenous knowledge systems.

“We are promoting localised food production, with a clear focus on leveraging indigenous crops and livestock, which have both nutritional and climate resilience advantages,” Steenhuisen stated.

He outlined ongoing efforts to map indigenous crops nationwide and invest in research to unlock the potential of underutilised plants, particularly for agro-processing and nutrition security.

“Current government programmes are mapping these crops nationwide and investing in research to identify underutilised plants and their agro-processing potential to develop products that will facilitate the upscaling and uptake of these foods,” he said.

The minister also highlighted the development of community seed banks as a key tool to ensure access to quality seeds and promote agricultural self-sufficiency.

Livestock breeding is another major area of focus, with emphasis on using indigenous genetic material to boost resilience. In addition, modern diagnostic tools and vaccine research are being prioritized to strengthen biosecurity.

“Breeding for resilience is the buzzword in promoting livestock,” said Steenhuisen.

“We are also developing modern diagnostic tools that will aid tracking and tracing outbreaks.”

Steenhuisen stressed that smallholder farmers remain central to the country’s agricultural development agenda. Through targeted interventions under the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), farmers receive financial aid, training, and infrastructure support.

“With food inflation on the rise, initiatives like Ilima/Letsema’s ‘One Household, One Garden’ model are designed to help households mitigate rising food costs, especially for vulnerable populations,” he said.

The minister also emphasised the government’s commitment to regenerative agriculture and agroecological methods, which aim to restore degraded land and enhance biodiversity.

“We are actively encouraging our farmers to embrace regenerative agriculture, agroecology and conservation practices,” Steenhuisen said.

“These approaches are designed to restore land, improve biodiversity, and future-proof local food systems in the face of climate volatility.”

On food quality and standards, the Minister highlighted the South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA GAP) programme as a vital mechanism to help farmers meet both local and international market requirements.

“Food safety and quality assurance are non-negotiable priorities,” he declared.

“SA GAP is helping farmers, especially smallholders, adopt responsible, market-friendly production methods.”

Steenhuisen underscored the importance of global collaboration. South Africa is working with partners like the G20 Food Security Task Force and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to address food price inflation and ensure equitable access to nutritious food.

“The aim is to develop policy ‘baskets’ that support effective interventions, both at home and across the African continent,” he said.

“Key elements include smallholder farmer support, sustainable agriculture aligned with CAADP, and country-led planning, all in support of the African Agenda 2063.”

IOL News

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