Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, unveiled an ambitious vision for South Africa’s soybean industry during his address at the Soy Celebration Day held at Kievits Kroon Gauteng Wine Estate on Wednesday, 16 April.
By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming
The minister’s speech highlighted the transformation of soya from a secondary crop to a strategic asset in the country’s agricultural portfolio, while outlining both challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Steenhuisen said soya is no longer a sideline crop in South Africa. “It’s no longer something we grow ‘just in case.’ Soya is central. It’s strategic. And it’s time we treated it that way in how we plan, how we invest and how we regulate,” the minister told attendees, which included industry leaders, farmers, researchers and agricultural stakeholders.
He pointed to substantial growth in the sector, noting that South Africa planted over a million hectares of soya in 2024. This expansion, he said, comes amid global increases in soybean production, with Brazil leading the charge and worldwide production estimated to increase by 5.99% in the 2024-25 season, according to figures cited from Grain SA.
Steenhuisen emphasised soya’s numerous advantages, describing it as “an opportunity” that South Africa is “well-positioned to seize” due to the country’s technical expertise, world-class commercial producers and advanced research institutions.
“Soya represents a lower water footprint than traditional protein crops, a critical component of food security and affordability, a real export growth opportunity particularly into sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, and a powerful case study in conservation agriculture,” he explained.
Watch Minister Steenhuisen’s speech here: https://shorturl.at/iGRk3
The minister added that South Africa’s agricultural sector can be globally competitive.
“It already is, in many ways. However, we will continue to advocate for a level playing field in global trade, which is critical for developing economies. We must ensure South African soya is branded, backed and traded as a premium African product. That means better trade diplomacy. It means understanding market preferences. It means being present in AfCFTA forums, in BRICS meetings and at WTO tables; not as spectators, but as serious players.
“Expansion of markets will stimulate the demand for South African products and this demand will, in turn, drive economic growth and job creation across the sector,” explained the minister.
Despite these prospects, Steenhuisen didn’t shy away from addressing significant challenges facing the industry. Chief among these is South Africa’s struggling logistics infrastructure.
‘No matter how good your yield is, if you can’t move it reliably or affordably, that yield becomes a burden instead of a profit,’ he stated, highlighting delays at ports, rail inefficiencies and poor rural road networks as critical bottlenecks.
Other obstacles include slow regulatory processes and what the Minister described as “a general culture of bureaucracy rather than innovation” that is hampering competitiveness. He also addressed the need for greater inclusion in the industry.
“We must broaden access – not for political reasons, but for economic ones. Because our growth potential depends on new entrants. We need more black farmers. More women. More youth because diversity is a growth strategy,” Steenhuisen said.
On the government’s role, the Minister said as the Minister of Agriculture, he wants to be very clear. “Our job is not to farm; it’s to get out of the way, remove red tape and enable those who do.”
The speech also highlighted recent international developments, including a R90 billion trade and investment package signed with the European Union last month. The minister said this is a market that is shifting fast, and there’s a need to adapt quickly to seize the available opportunities.
Looking toward the future, the Minister characterised soya as emblematic of modern agriculture’s direction. “Soya, in many ways, is a symbol of where agriculture is going. It’s water-efficient. It’s climate resilient. It fits into regenerative systems,” he said.
He concluded his address by emphasising the importance of collaboration across the sector and positioning the government as a partner committed to creating growth conditions.
“You have a partner in government. Not one with all the answers. But one committed to creating the conditions for growth,” he said, adding, “Soya is not just a commodity. It is a catalyst – for innovation, for inclusion and for prosperity” in South African agriculture.
The Soy Celebration Day was organised by Russell du Preez, CIO of Russellstone Group, who brought together key stakeholders from across the agricultural sector to discuss advancements and challenges in South Africa’s growing soybean industry.
