South Africa and UN FAO Collaborate on Strategic Roadmap to Strengthen National Agrifood Systems

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The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is spearheading the development of a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmap for Agriculture. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen institutional coordination, foster innovation, and drive the transformation of South Africa’s agrifood systems into inclusive, resilient engines of sustainable development.

Despite agriculture being one of South Africa’s most resilient sectors, it continues to face deep-rooted structural challenges. These include high input costs, market pressures, unreliable energy supply, climate-related disruptions such as droughts and erratic weather, widespread rural poverty, underutilised arable land, and persistent food insecurity.

The STI Roadmap seeks to address these issues by:

• Promoting the development of high-value crops, livestock, and agro-processed products

• Expanding economic opportunities for women and youth in rural communities

• Enhancing food and nutrition security through sustainable technologies

• Strengthening agricultural value chains to support livelihoods and socio-economic transformation

  
  

Guided by the STI Decadal Plan (2022–2032) and the 2019 STI White Paper, the roadmap aligns with the FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–2031 and its “Four Betters”: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. It also contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (Zero Hunger), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 13 (Climate Action).

Key intervention areas include plant and animal improvement, precision agriculture, digital decision-support systems, biosecurity, early-warning mechanisms, agro-processing, value chain development, and farmer support. A central goal is to build a competitive and inclusive agricultural bioeconomy, with a strong focus on empowering marginalised groups, women, youth, and smallholder farmers.

The roadmap complements existing national strategies such as:

• The Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan

• The Forestry Sector Master Plan

• The Aquaculture Research and Technology Development Strategy

• DSTI’s Agricultural Bio-economy Innovation Partnership Programme

  
  

To ensure inclusive governance, a steering committee will be appointed by directors-general from key departments, alongside an advisory committee comprising representatives from industry, academia, and implementing agencies. The project was formally introduced to stakeholders at an inception meeting held in September 2025.

Both the South African government and the FAO recognise STI as a vital tool for tackling societal challenges like food and nutrition security, while advancing the SDGs and ensuring no one is left behind.

The STI Roadmap for Agriculture is scheduled for completion by the end of September 2026.