Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

What is the future of agriculture in South Africa?

Agriculture is one of the most vital sectors in the South African economy, both in terms of meeting the needs of a highly food-insecure nation and as a major contributor to the economy. Close to 20% of the South African population is food insecure. Yet, the country grows more than enough food, and millions of tons end up as food waste. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector is also economically critical.

With 2040 in mind, there is a strong emphasis in the sector on achieving sufficient and sustainable food production, improving the livelihoods of small farmers, and achieving economies of scale and improved export revenues for larger farms. Technological innovation is improving efficiencies in the sector, and improved decarbonisation and sustainable practices are building a better future.

Food, and the way it is produced, drives human and environmental health. As the world becomes more conscious about the dangers of harmful chemicals in soil, water, and air, as well as detrimental food processing and packaging, transformation should also focus on agricultural and food production standards. The industry must maintain a healthy and sustainable environment, for instance, by protecting people from rising food-related non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and obesity.

Between now and 2040, many more commercial farms will go off-grid, for instance, by switching to renewable energy for better energy security and to 5G private networks for better internet connectivity. Electric vehicles and equipment, powered by charging stations on the farm, will become more mainstream, reducing the industry's dependence on fossil fuels and outside refilling stations. Farms will become self-contained production centres that collectively help the country to dramatically improve its chances of reaching its 2050 net-zero targets.

The decarbonisation of the South African agricultural sector holds great promise. On the demand side, high electricity and diesel prices, decreasing costs of solar PV, and the need to grow food efficiently and extend the shelf life of more agricultural produce are driving the adoption of solar-powered irrigation, drying, and cooling systems. In fact, it is hypothesised that 50% of renewable energy sources will be used in most large commercial farms to power refrigeration, heating, irrigation, and the operation of equipment and machinery in the South African agricultural and food sectors, will come from renewable energy sources by 2040. Unfortunately, factors such as lack of funding and teething problems with solar-powered systems still block much-needed progress, but progress is happening. Farmers and industry players are already investing in the best technologies, and a switch-over to electric tractors, trucks, and other vehicles, powered by electric charging stations on farms, is imminent.

With major food retailers leading the market with 'vertical farms' in their stores, and more consumers demanding organic and pesticide-free foods, experts predict that vertical farms will start popping up in cities and that smaller farmers will contribute more food to formal retail outlets by 2040. This will be a notable departure from the reality of the past decade when only 20% of farms in the country provided 80% of the food. Progress can be made in this regard if South Africa can ensure an abundance of renewable energy and if the cost of real estate and technology can come down to make more innovative, smaller-scale farming initiatives more viable for more people.

Source: Siemens South Africa