Gauteng is positioning itself as a hub for agricultural innovation, with provincial leaders arguing that technology could be the key to unlocking food security in a country where hunger persists despite a thriving export sector. Speaking at AgriPark in Soshanguve, Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa highlighted the province’s potential to lead in agri-tech as global discussions on food security intensify within the G20.
The G20’s agriculture working group is currently focused on shaping policies that foster international cooperation and sustainable farming investments—topics that resonate deeply with South Africa’s own challenges. Ramokgopa emphasized that the country’s current presidency of the bloc presents an opportunity to push for solutions tailored to African needs, particularly in overcoming trade barriers and building resilience against natural disasters. “We must leverage this platform to address the unique hurdles our continent faces,” she noted during a discussion with EWN’s Nokukhanya Mntambo.
South Africa’s agricultural sector presents a striking contradiction: while the nation exports more food than it imports, millions of households still grapple with hunger. Ramokgopa attributed this disparity to inefficiencies in food systems, where economic and logistical gaps prevent production from translating into accessible, affordable nutrition. “There is a disconnect between how the systems and the economy of food works and actually solving the issue of food security,” she explained. High food prices—driven by global competition, soaring energy costs, expensive agricultural inputs, and recurring shocks like climate disasters—only exacerbate the problem.
Technology, she argued, could bridge this gap. Innovation in agriculture isn’t just about scaling up production but integrating smarter solutions—precision irrigation to conserve water, advanced pest control to protect crops, and blockchain to streamline supply chains. The Human Sciences Research Council supports this view, noting that process innovation dominates the sector’s advancements, targeting immediate operational needs to boost efficiency and productivity. “Size is not the only factor,” Ramokgopa said. “It’s also about what you put in—technology, intellectual property—that can transform how we grow and distribute food.”
The implications of this approach extend beyond Gauteng. If successful, a tech-driven model could offer a blueprint for other regions facing similar paradoxes: robust agricultural output alongside persistent food insecurity. By aligning with G20 priorities, South Africa could also attract investment and partnerships to accelerate these innovations. Yet challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that small-scale farmers—often the most vulnerable to price fluctuations and climate risks—can access and afford these technologies.
For now, the focus is on turning potential into action. As Ramokgopa’s comments suggest, the path to food security may lie not in producing more, but in producing—and distributing—more intelligently.