The Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has announced funding for nine new research projects designed to revolutionise South Africa’s red meat sector.

By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming

These initiatives, developed under RMIS’s “Field to Future framework”, directly address the real challenges facing everyone from small-scale farmers to commercial producers, feedlots, abattoirs and policymakers.

According to RMIS CEO Dewald Olivier, these projects weren’t dreamt up in boardrooms, but they’re based on extensive consultation with people actually working in the industry. “We’ve prioritised practical, impactful solutions that will deliver measurable outcomes,” says Olivier. The research aligns perfectly with the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030 and aims to make the sector more competitive, inclusive and sustainable.

Also read: RMIS CEO Dewald Olivier inspires farmers at AgriFund Connect Summit

The Nine Game-Changing Projects

FMD Virus Persistence at Slaughter
The University of Pretoria and Zoetis are investigating how to minimise foot-and-mouth disease risks during slaughter, developing evidence-based guidelines for safe trade and regulatory updates.

Economic Impact of FMD Outbreaks
The University of the Free State is quantifying the economic effects of FMD on the GDP, employment and trade to help develop better biosecurity policies.

Combating Stock Theft
UNISA researcher Willie Clack is investigating livestock theft patterns and evaluating the effectiveness of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum to improve law enforcement coordination and farmer safety.

Supporting Emerging Farmers
Optimal Agricultural Business Systems (OABS) researchers led by Dr Hamman Oosthuizen are examining how land access systems affect emerging livestock farmers to design better support programmes for inclusive growth.

Mapping Our Value Chain
A comprehensive mapping project (also by OABS) will identify gaps in production and market access, aiming to integrate an additional 250 000 weaner calves into the commercial chain.

Farm-Level Vaccination Strategy
VNet’s Dr Danie Odendaal is developing a phased National Vaccination Strategy with digital tools for better herd health planning and disease prevention.

Digital Veterinary Support Platform
Gendac’s David Malan is creating “Vet Connect” – a mobile platform providing veterinary support to remote and underserved areas.

ESG Roadmap Development
AgriFusion’s Frans van Wyk is developing an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) roadmap tailored for local conditions whilst meeting international standards.

Quality-Based Beef Marketing
BFAP and Stellenbosch University are upgrading South Africa’s beef grading and classification system to align with consumer expectations and international benchmarks.

Also read: RMIS, MPO team up to bring in 77 000 FMD vaccine doses

What It Means for You

Whether you’re a communal farmer, commercial producer or consumer, these projects will impact you:

Better disease management reduces losses and improves market access.
Enhanced safety measures protect rural communities from stock theft.
Improved support systems help emerging farmers succeed.
Quality upgrades mean better products and fairer pricing.
Digital solutions bring veterinary expertise to your fingertips.
Sustainable practices future-proof the industry.

Looking Ahead

These 2025 research projects represent a massive investment in the future of South Africa’s red meat industry. By addressing everything from biosecurity to transformation, technology to sustainability, RMIS is laying the groundwork for a sector that’s competitive globally whilst inclusive locally.

For farmers and industry stakeholders, this research translates into real solutions for everyday challenges. For consumers, it means better quality, safer products from a more sustainable industry.

Want to know more? Visit www.rmis.co.za for updates and detailed information about these groundbreaking projects.