During the Biosecurity Summit, Minister Steenhuisen reiterated the critical importance of united efforts in advancing biosecurity measures to protect and enhance South Africa’s agricultural sector. Industry experts and policymakers are set to delve deeper into the practical aspects of implementing the Minister’s biosecurity strategy, emphasizing the necessity of balancing economic considerations with the well-being of emerging farmers and ensuring widespread biosecurity advantages across all agricultural sectors in South Africa.
By Maile Matsimela
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen unveiled an ambitious biosecurity agenda aimed at transforming the country into a global agricultural powerhouse during his address at the Biosecurity Summit 2025.
Speaking to a packed audience at the University of Pretoria’s Sanlam Auditorium on 10 June, Steenhuisen outlined a comprehensive approach to tackling persistent biosecurity challenges while creating new opportunities for growth across the agricultural sector.
Minister Steenhuisen candidly addressed the significant biosecurity threats currently facing South African agriculture. Recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have resulted in substantial economic losses, export bans and food security concerns throughout the country.
“The consequences of these biosecurity breaches extend far beyond the farm gate,” Steenhuisen emphasised. “They create food shortages, price shocks and particularly strain our rural and subsistence farmers who have limited resources to absorb these impacts.”
The Minister highlighted systemic weaknesses in the current biosecurity framework, including delayed vaccine availability, insufficient surge capacity during outbreaks and bureaucratic bottlenecks that hamper rapid response. A critical shortage of veterinarians – with only 70 employed in the public sector against a required 400 – has further complicated animal health service delivery, especially in underserved rural communities.
Steenhuisen didn’t just outline problems – he announced several immediate interventions already in progress. Chief among these is South Africa’s first national avian influenza vaccine rollout, supported by contracted animal health technicians and veterinarians to ensure widespread coverage.
The Minister also reported significant progress with the “biosecurity hub” initiated in 2022, which is modernising surveillance systems through digital data exchange and sophisticated risk assessment tools. This digital transformation aims to facilitate early detection and rapid response to emerging threats.
“We are streamlining protocols, upgrading our digital surveillance tools and developing comprehensive early warning frameworks that will allow us to act faster and more decisively when biosecurity threats emerge,” he explained.
To address the critical veterinarian shortage, the government is expanding training posts, creating rural internships and strengthening career pathways to make public service more attractive to animal health professionals.
Steenhuisen also revealed targeted interventions at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), including investments in new freeze-dryers to boost vaccine production capacity for critical pathogens like African horse sickness.
The centrepiece of Steenhuisen’s address was his proposal for a national biosecurity compact – a formal agreement defining baseline vaccine stocks, clarifying stakeholder roles during outbreaks and fostering collaboration among government, industry, academia and civil society.
“Biosecurity is not merely a government function – it requires a whole-of-society approach,” Steenhuisen stressed. “This compact will build trust through transparency and evidence-based decision-making, ensuring our biosecurity measures benefit all stakeholders, from commercial enterprises to small-scale and subsistence farmers.”
The Minister emphasised that inclusion would be a non-negotiable aspect of this compact, with special attention paid to rural and communal farming areas that have historically been underserved by agricultural support systems.
Steenhuisen presented a compelling economic case for investing in biosecurity, citing Australia’s example where every dollar spent on biosecurity yields a thirty-fold return on investment.
“Robust biosecurity systems aren’t just about preventing losses – they’re about creating opportunities,” he said. “By positioning South Africa as a premier exporter of high-quality agricultural products, particularly beef to lucrative markets like the European Union, we can create jobs, stimulate rural development and enhance investor confidence in our agricultural sector.”
The Minister connected these biosecurity initiatives to broader agricultural development frameworks, including the Decadal Plan and the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan, presenting biosecurity as a foundational element for sustainable agricultural growth and export competitiveness.
Concluding his address, Steenhuisen called for immediate action and sustained commitment from all agricultural stakeholders.
“The time for planning is behind us – this is the moment for aligned resources and decisive execution,” he declared. “By working together to strengthen our biosecurity frameworks, we can not only safeguard our agricultural heritage but unlock South Africa’s full potential as a global agricultural leader.”
As the Summit continues, industry leaders, scientists and government officials will further explore practical implementation strategies for the Minister’s biosecurity vision, with particular focus on balancing commercial interests with the needs of emerging farmers and ensuring that biosecurity benefits reach all levels of South African agriculture.
