Pretoria: The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), is spearheading the development of a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmap for Agriculture.
According to South African Government News Agency, this strategic initiative aims to enhance institutional coordination, drive innovation, and transform South Africa’s agrifood system to be inclusive, resilient, and aligned with national and regional development priorities.
South Africa’s agriculture sector, known for its resilience, still grapples with structural challenges affecting productivity and GDP growth. These challenges include high input costs, market competition, unreliable energy supply, climate change impacts, rural poverty, food insecurity, and underutilisation of arable land, among others.
The roadmap will focus on the development of high-value crops, livestock, and agro-processed products, while expanding opportunities for women and youth in rural areas. It aims to enhance food and nutrition security through sustainable technologies and strengthen value chains that support socio-economic transformation.
Anchored in South Africa’s STI Decadal Plan 2022-2032 and the 2019 STI White Paper, the roadmap seeks to modernise productive sectors and promote inclusive growth through innovation and strategic partnerships. It aligns with the FAO’s Strategic Framework for 2022-2031, promoting the ‘Four Betters’: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and better living conditions. It also contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 9, and 13.
The Decadal Plan outlines key intervention areas including plant and animal improvement, digital decision-support systems, precision agriculture, biosecurity, early-warning systems, agro-processing, and value chain development. The roadmap aims to build an inclusive agricultural bioeconomy targeting marginalised groups, women, youth, and smallholder farmers.
The initiative aligns with national strategies like the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan, Forestry Sector Master Plan, and Aquaculture Research and Technology Development Strategy. It also incorporates the Agricultural Bio-economy Innovation Partnership Programme from DSTI, fostering public-private innovation partnerships.
Directors-General of key departments will appoint a steering committee to guide the roadmap, with an advisory committee including members from industry, academia, and implementing agencies for inclusivity. An inception meeting to introduce the project was convened in September 2025.
The South African government prioritises STI for addressing societal challenges like food and nutrition security while advancing the SDGs. The FAO recognises STI as central to transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
The roadmap is expected to be completed by the end of September 2026.