South Africa has taken an important step to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by securing more vaccines and strengthening cooperation with Argentina.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen led a delegation to Argentina that included representatives from Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and organised agriculture. The visit focused on securing vaccine supply, strengthening research cooperation and improving South Africa’s response to FMD.
More Vaccines for Farmers
South Africa has already secured and distributed 2,5 million doses of FMD vaccines from Argentine manufacturer Biogénesis Bagó. These include vaccines that protect against different strains of the virus: 1 million doses of bivalent SAT-1 and SAT-2 vaccines; and 1,5 million doses of trivalent SAT-1, SAT-2 and SAT-3 vaccines.
During the visit, a further 5 million doses were confirmed as ready for export, pending approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
OBP and Biogénesis Bagó have signed an agreement to ensure a steady supply of vaccines. Government also plans to work with the private sector to improve distribution so that farmers can access vaccines more easily.
Also read: Pig farmers face heavy losses from FMD and African swine fever
Fast Action Needed
“Our immediate priority is to secure a stable and sufficient vaccine pipeline so that we can scale up vaccinations rapidly across the country,” Steenhuisen said in a statement on Wednesday. ”We must get ahead of this disease to protect our national herd, our farmers and the broader agricultural economy.”
He added that government is expanding distribution mechanisms to include the private sector to help get vaccines to farms more efficiently.
Long-Term Cooperation
South Africa and Argentina have agreed on a three-year plan (2026–2028) to work together on animal health. This includes sharing knowledge, improving skills, and strengthening systems to prevent and manage disease outbreaks.
The plan aims to improve how South Africa prepares for and responds to FMD in the future.
Also read: FMD | Nearly 90 new cases in Free State in one week as vaccination roll-out struggles
Research and Skills Development
The Agricultural Research Council has renewed its agreement with Argentina’s agricultural research body Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Building on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2021, the renewed partnership will deepen collaboration in research, technology transfer and skills development, particularly in the fields of animal health and vaccine innovation.
Regional Ambitions
Steenhuisen noted that South Africa’s livestock sector is deeply interconnected with the economies and food systems of the other member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), so our response to the disease carries regional significance. It’s about building a resilient animal health system capable not only of managing the current outbreak but also of preventing future crises.
Government is also exploring the possibility of becoming a regional vaccine distribution hub for the SADC region. This could improve access in neighbouring countries and strengthen disease control across the region.
Also read: Botswana investigates FMD extortion threats while SAT1 strain shows unprecedented international spread
