By Lebogang Mashala
The G20 Agriculture National Dialogue centred on eight key themes: transforming agricultural systems, promoting biodiversity, enhancing soil health, addressing climate change, adopting smart agriculture, and utilising digital technologies for sustainable growth.
In preparation for the annual Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists of G20 States (MACS-G20), scheduled to take place in Limpopo in September 2025, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) – in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) – hosted a G20 National Dialogue at its Roodeplaat campus in March.
The aim of the dialogue was to develop an issue note that outlines South Africa’s position on agriculture ahead of the MACS-G20 discussions, which focus on key issues around agriculture and nutrition, with the goal of better coordinating agricultural research and finding common solution strategies. The event brought together scientists, farmers and industry leaders, with the primary objective of strengthening South Africa’s voice in global agricultural science forums and helping shape global agricultural policy.
The dialogue focused on eight key themes: transforming agricultural systems, promoting biodiversity, improving soil health, addressing climate change, embracing smart agriculture, and leveraging digital technologies for future growth.
These priorities aim to shape agricultural strategies in response to urgent challenges facing the sector, both in Africa and globally, according to Dr Lerato Matsaunyane, the research team manager responsible for farmer support, commercialisation and enterprise development at ARC.
Empowering smallholder farmers
Dr Matsaunyane emphasised the critical role of farmers – particularly smallholder farmers – in shaping agricultural discussions. She stressed the importance of including farmers in efforts to identify practical solutions to the challenges they face as the primary end users of research conducted by scientists.
“It is important to remember that, ultimately, we as researchers discuss what we know from the literature and our limited experience in the sector,” Dr Matsaunyane said. “Farmers, on the other hand, are the ones directly on the ground, and are well positioned to share their challenges. Their input will be crucial for drafting South Africa’s position on agriculture for the G20. Their perspectives and recommendations will be key in finding solutions that can support smallholder farmers.”
She stressed that transforming agricultural systems was vital, especially for smallholder farmers facing various challenges. South Africa has a dual agricultural structure, she noted, with both commercial and smallholder farmers. “Transforming agricultural systems will ensure that smallholder farmers can thrive in this industry. This transformation is crucial because smallholder farmers are significant contributors to job creation and the alleviation of food and nutrition insecurity.”
She added that such transformation included adding value to agricultural produce. “This is important, because many farmers experience crop loss, which we can mitigate through value addition. We have found that smallholder farmers often focus primarily on production. As a result, their produce is sent elsewhere for value addition, but the profits they make at the farm gate are not significant.
“Our division is working on equipping farmers with the necessary skills to ensure they can thrive in the industry, primarily through technology. ARC develops various technologies, and we support farmers in utilising these new developments to their advantage.”
Commercialising smallholder farmers is also a key aspect of transforming agricultural systems, Dr Matsaunyane said. “There is a perception that commercialisation is only about scale, which typically means larger plots of land. However, it is possible to be commercial even on a smaller scale. Our division collaborates closely with smallholder farmers to demonstrate that they can operate commercially within limited space. We emphasise that being commercial is about sustaining production over many years, ensuring that farmers remain relevant in this sector.”
Working towards sustainability
“We are facing climate change, which necessitates adaptations in our production systems,” said Dipepeneng Serage, deputy director general of agricultural production, biosecurity and natural resources management at the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform. “By transforming these systems, we are helping farmers achieve sustainability. The participation of farmers in this meeting is crucial because they need to share how climate change is affecting them and propose possible interventions.”
As global agricultural concerns increasingly shift towards sustainability and climate resilience, South Africa’s participation in the G20 agricultural discussions underscores its commitment to addressing food security, fostering innovation and promoting environmental stewardship.
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