By Eamonn Ryan
For Africa to compete globally, the cold chain must extend beyond ports and cities into rural farming regions where the majority of agricultural production happens.
Ports like Durban and Cape Town are “gateways to global markets,” Steenhuisen said. But inefficiencies such as congestion, delays, outdated systems, and lack of cold-handling capacity at docks can derail entire shipments of fresh produce.
He emphasised the need to modernise port operations, streamline customs procedures, and integrate cold chain infrastructure into broader logistics systems. “It’s not enough to grow food,” he said. “We must get it to market in peak condition.”
Yet innovation must go beyond city limits. Steenhuisen challenged the industry to bring infrastructure “into the heart of rural Africa.” From Karoo sheep farmers to KwaZulu-Natal vegetable producers, reliable cold storage is the missing link in rural agribusiness growth.
He called for public-private partnerships to make this possible. “Government can’t do it alone. Nor should it. This is smart economics – not aid,” he stressed.
The minister pointed to examples of integrated logistics corridors in West Africa, where cold storage units are co-located with rural collection points. This model, he said, could be replicated in South Africa and elsewhere.
Steenhuisen also highlighted the importance of training and local capacity-building. “Infrastructure is one thing,” he said. “But it must come with skills, maintenance and long-term management.”
He believes that building a resilient cold chain from farm to port is essential not only for exports, but also for feeding domestic markets more efficiently. Urban consumers are demanding more fresh and safe products, and rural producers can meet that demand – if they have the tools.
“Infrastructure isn’t just concrete and steel,” Steenhuisen said. “It’s the backbone of our agricultural economy, and the bridge to the future.”