Grain production in South Africa operates under conditions of increasing complexity, where each season presents farmers with unique challenges.
Grain production in South Africa operates under conditions of increasing complexity, where each season presents farmers with unique challenges.
According to Corteva Agriscience data, agriculture has become more complex than ever due to weather fluctuations, changing pest and disease pressure, rising resource costs, and increased demand for sustainable and profitable production.
Corteva noted that despite favorable soil moisture levels and water reserves in reservoirs, which provide encouraging conditions for planting grains this summer, forecasting El Niño conditions could lead to greater rainfall unevenness, prolonged droughts during critical crop growth phases, and increased strain on yields. In such circumstances, Corteva Agriscience's research and innovations play a crucial role in supporting farmers.
For over a century, Corteva has focused on developing solutions that help farmers manage production risks and unlock the potential of every hectare. Through advanced seed genetics, extensive research programs, and locally adapted solutions, it provides technologies capable of operating in diverse and often challenging agricultural environments.
Research for South African farmers remains particularly important because agricultural conditions vary significantly depending on production regions, including differences in soil types, rainfall patterns, temperatures, pests, and diseases. The company emphasized that a hybrid seed developed without considering local characteristics may not perform as well in different environments.
Corteva focuses on creating genetics that align with the realities faced by farmers, utilizing its research capabilities, field trials, and deep understanding of South African agriculture. This emphasis on local relevance is supported by Corteva's integrated approach, which combines seed technology with crop protection solutions and biological innovations. Agriculture is increasingly moving towards comprehensive solutions aimed at improving plant health, optimizing resource use, and supporting sustainable productivity.
Based on Corteva's research, South Africa's grain industry continues to demonstrate the capacity of farmers to adapt and adopt innovations. The country is poised to harvest a bumper maize crop of 17.25 million tons, the largest in history, highlighting the strength of local agricultural expertise and the importance of continuous investment in productivity-enhancing technologies.
Nevertheless, each season brings new variables, and a successful harvest in one year does not eliminate future production risks. Continuing to develop seed and agricultural solutions that ensure yield stability, adaptability, and resource efficiency will remain critical for strengthening food production systems.
The South African potato industry must move beyond mere production and focus on supply chain efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and meeting consumer needs to maintain its competitiveness. This was stated by delegates at the recent Potato SA Congress and the Seed Potato Producers Forum in Johannesburg.
Speakers from various parts of the production chain noted that while South African farmers produce quality products, greater value can be achieved by improving the process of moving potatoes from farms to buyers and responding more quickly to changing consumer habits.
Steven Fink, a potato producer from Limpopo, emphasized that farmers have achieved high efficiency in harvesting and quick delivery, but bottlenecks further down the value chain limit growth. He noted that optimizing this part of the chain can stimulate higher product turnover, increase flow, and ultimately demand.
Peter van Zyl, Head of Procurement at Freshmark, reported that retailers possess an unparalleled understanding of consumer behavior, and producers should use this information for more careful planning of harvests and deliveries. Van Zyl explained that most potato purchases occur before the weekend, so producers should plan deliveries to distribution centers on Thursday and Friday when demand is highest.
He also advised reducing harvest and marketing volumes mid-month when demand typically drops, and increasing them towards the end of the month to match peak needs. According to Van Zyl, efficient logistics allows potatoes to reach store shelves in less than 48 hours after harvest.
Louis van Zeuner, former head of Absa, urged producers to embrace technological changes rather than fear them. He stated that the threat lies not in the change itself, but in the unwillingness to move with it. He added that artificial intelligence (AI) provides the ability to process the growing volume of available data to support better business decisions.
Meanwhile, Dr. Carmen Müller, a researcher at the University of Pretoria specializing in nutrition and consumer research, pointed out that potatoes play a critical role in South Africa's food security due to their year-round availability, nutritional value, and wide consumption. However, she warned that price volatility remains a serious obstacle for low-income households, as they will not buy the product if the price is higher than expected or unaffordable.
Steven Wolfardt, Head of Sustainability at PepsiCo, noted that consumers are increasingly interested in the food production process. He stressed that basic practices, such as fair labor practices, responsible chemical management, and water efficiency, must be implemented. He predicts that soil health will become the foundation of sustainable potato production.
Louis de Kok, founder of Nile.ag, believes that digital technologies and e-commerce can provide a more direct link between farmers and consumers, provided the solutions are adapted to South African conditions. De Kok emphasized that quality production remains paramount, not a strong social media presence. He also noted that many farmers focus on reducing resource costs, ignoring potential profits from effective marketing and choosing the right sales channels, believing that this is where the biggest opportunities for increasing profitability lie.
Discussions about climate change in South Africa often focus on agriculture, as this is where the consequences of environmental shocks are most evident. The main focus is on droughts, floods, reduced yields, and heat stress affecting livestock. This is because the agricultural sector is directly exposed to extreme weather events.
However, food systems encompass much more than just agricultural production. Between farms and consumers is the agro-processing sector. It consists of enterprises that transform raw agricultural goods into finished food products through processes such as cleaning, milling, canning, packaging, storage, and manufacturing.
This sector links agricultural production with markets, retailers, and households. In South Africa, agro-processing accounts for about 25% of the national output and provides over 300,000 direct jobs.
The agro-processing sector is particularly sensitive to climate risks because its operations depend on a stable supply of agricultural raw materials (crops and livestock). This makes it extremely vulnerable to disruptions caused by droughts, floods, heatwaves, and other extreme weather events.
Researchers conducted a study in the industrial hub of Gauteng, South Africa, to find out how businesses in this sector manage climate risks and what steps they are taking to adapt. This provincial center was chosen due to its significance for food processing, logistics, and distribution in the country. Disruptions in agro-processing affect not only the province but also food availability, supply reliability, employment, and food prices across South Africa.
The study involved interviews with 113 agro-processing enterprises. Participants were asked whether they were aware of climate risks, what they could do to adapt, and what prevented them from doing so.
Key findings showed that formal education is a strong determinant of climate change adaptation. It was found that agro-processing businesses whose owners have a university education make more informed decisions and implement climate-aware practices. Meanwhile, most available training proved ineffective because it focused on production and business management rather than understanding climate risks or ways to respond to them.
Researchers concluded that mere participation in agro-processing is insufficient to advance climate change adaptation; education plays a crucial role here. Other factors, such as age, gender, education, and business experience, had a limited impact on decision-makers' adoption of adaptation measures (such as water conservation, use of energy-efficient technologies, improved storage methods, or diversification of raw material suppliers).
The study included enterprises involved in grain milling, meat processing, dairy production, fruit and vegetable processing, as well as poultry farming, bakeries, and food manufacturers. It was found that these businesses suffer greatly from climate-related disruptions because they rely on crops, livestock, and other agricultural raw materials, as well as water and energy.
Business owners reported that major challenges include water scarcity, rising temperatures, irregular supply of agricultural resources, and increasing production costs. Some companies have taken steps to combat climate change, such as starting to conserve water. They have also expanded their product range to include more long-life processed foods. Operational adaptation included changing work schedules during intense heat, improving ventilation and cooling, and using water more efficiently.
Nevertheless, many struggled with further action due to lack of funds, technical support, and access to reliable information about climate threats.
The study results indicate that agro-processing enterprises in Gauteng need greater support to understand climate change and prepare for its consequences. This support should include better access to information and practical training programs. This will help businesses respond to growing climate risks.
Assisting businesses in adapting should not only be the effort of individual companies. Climate change adaptation must be integrated into existing support programs, such as training, education, and consultation, rather than being treated as an optional extra. Such assistance is usually provided through government extension services, industry groups, and small business support programs.
Any planning for the industry and food production sector must include such training, especially as climate disruptions become more frequent and costly.
Access to climate-focused education, practical training, and technical assistance will be paramount. Many business owners recognize the risk posed by climate change, but awareness of the problem does not always equate to knowing how to respond. Practical guidance, planning tools, and expert advice can help businesses move from short-term measures to long-term preparedness.
Access to financing is also critical, as climate change adaptation requires capital investment. These funds can be directed towards new equipment, infrastructure, or technologies that help cope with changing conditions such as heatwaves and floods. Simultaneously, basic public services must be improved: reliable electricity supply, stable water supply, and functioning municipal services are vital for agro-processing businesses in Gauteng. When these systems are unreliable, it is much harder for businesses to prepare for and respond to climate change.
The study also showed that greater support is needed for women-led enterprises, as women face greater difficulties in accessing finance, technology, market access, and climate information. Preparing agro-processing enterprises for climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of protecting food supplies, supporting jobs, and strengthening the economy.
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