AgriSA is proud to attend and represent its members at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. This global gathering comes at a critical moment for agriculture, as producers across the world confront the escalating impacts of climate change, shifting trade requirements, and rising expectations for sustainability across value chains.
Climate change: A daily reality for South African farmers
Drawing on insights from the recent AgriSA Atlas Congress and the experiences of farmers across the country, AgriSA emphasises that climate change is no longer a future risk; its effects are already reshaping South Africa’s agricultural landscape. Severe weather events, prolonged droughts, biosecurity threats, and volatile production conditions have become defining features of South African farming.
A value chain mobilising for sustainability
“Farmers and the value chain are largely united in their experience: the climate is changing, and its impacts are real, measurable, and intensifying. Yet, South African producers are already making significant strides forward in the quest to adapt and mitigate the impact through a range of sustainability practices,” says Johann Kotzé, AgriSA Chief Executive Officer.
This is evident across ongoing efforts across the value chain:
- Seed and biotechnology innovations enabling climate-resilient cultivars.
- Cleaner fertiliser and crop-nutrition solutions.
- Energy-efficient machinery and precision agriculture.
- Lower-emission logistics systems, cold-chain improvements, and smart routing.
- Sustainability standards in production, processing, packaging, and retailing.
“It is evident that the entire food system is mobilising to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and meet the growing sustainability demands of global markets while upholding food security,” says Kotzé.
Climate policies and trade: Protecting SA’s market access
Climate policy is increasingly shaping global trade. Instruments such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and emerging climate-related market standards are rapidly becoming determinants of export competitiveness.
“South Africa, a net exporter of produce, must ensure that climate commitments, carbon accounting frameworks, and enabling policies protect access to key premium markets while opening new ones,” says Kotzé
AgriSA notes in its recent comments on the second draft Nationally Determined Contribution (the “draft NDC”) under the Paris Agreement, that the government has made progress towards strengthening national climate commitments, but stresses that implementation must be science-based, economically realistic, and aligned with food security imperatives. A credible climate policy pathway should:
- Support producers to adopt climate-smart technologies.
- Recognise agriculture’s limited short-term mitigation levers.
- Align adaptation plans with water governance, irrigation investment, and early warning systems.
- Provide clarity on carbon measurement, reporting, and certification to secure international market confidence.
Private-sector innovation will drive adaptation
Adaptation across the agricultural economy will be led largely by innovation in the private sector, especially in insurance, finance, and technology. South Africa is already seeing:
- Indexed insurance products.
- Risk-adjusted finance for resilience investments.
- New data platforms, remote sensing tools, and climate intelligence systems.
- Integrated resilience solutions for crops, livestock, infrastructure, and water use.
“These developments show that the sector can simultaneously strengthen resilience, reduce emissions intensity, and drive rural development,” says Kotzé.
A commitment to collaboration
AgriSA acknowledges the urgency of global climate action and remains a constructive partner in shaping South Africa’s national climate commitments. As the country refines its climate policies and negotiates its role in global markets, the agricultural sector must be meaningfully included, supported, and empowered to act.
“South African farmers are on the front line of climate change. Despite its challenges, agriculture continues to innovate, invest, and adapt. Alongside the global agricultural value chain, our role at COP30 is to ensure that the voice of the producer and the ongoing efforts of the entire value chain are recognised in global climate policies,” says Kotzé.
Enquiries
Jolanda Andrag, AgriSA Chief Operational Officer
Email: jolanda@agrisa.org.za
