Professor Johann Kirsten on 28 May 2025 facilitated a Creamer Media panel discussion featuring insights from:
- Jabu Mdaki, chief executive of Transnet Port Terminals
- Mmatiou Kalaba, executive director and senior analyst at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP)
- Boitshoko Ntshabele, chief executive officer at Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa
- Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz)
This is part three of a three-part series.
Kalaba discussed the bioeconomy, which involves using agricultural feedstocks for various applications beyond traditional food production, such as biofuels. While recognising the ‘certain opportunity’ and value in this area, he cautioned against potential internal competition. Expanding into biofuels, for example, could create competition for commodities like sugar and maize, as well as for valuable agricultural land.
Kalaba explained that expanding into products like biofuels creates internal competition among commodities and for land. He emphasised the need to weigh the profitability of bioeconomy products against that of traditional agricultural exports. While some developments in this area are promising, he stressed the importance of a case-by-case approach to growth, always mindful of potential market disruptions or shortages in other sectors. The ability to efficiently store and transport diverse agricultural feedstocks, potentially involving controlled environments, would be a factor in expanding the bioeconomy, further highlighting the role of sophisticated logistics and cold chain solutions.
Ntshabele emphasised the critical need for sustained investment in agricultural research to maintain competitiveness. He highlighted its importance in developing new tools and solutions to manage biosecurity challenges – like foot and mouth disease – which directly impact market access and supply chain integrity, including the cold chain.
Kirsten endorsed this, stating that research is the source of technology and innovation, driving productivity gains and risk mitigation. He commended citrus growers for establishing Citrus Research International (CRI) and their collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council, seeing it as a model for other sectors. He stressed the long-term nature of agricultural research, often requiring decades for results, underscoring the need for sustained, collaborative funding from both public and private sectors. Research advancements in genetics, pest control and post-harvest handling directly enhance cold chain effectiveness by improving product resilience and extending shelf life.
Bridging infrastructure gaps
Mdaki offered forward-looking insights on Transnet’s commitment to sustainability, particularly in the context of its infrastructure investments. He highlighted that the new equipment being deployed is specifically chosen to reduce Transnet’s carbon footprint. “The RTGs that we’re deploying are hybrid, so they will be using about 30% less diesel.” This commitment to greener operations reflects an understanding that environmental performance will increasingly become a “determinant in terms of where people import their goods”. This conscious shift towards hybrid technology in port machinery directly contributes to a more sustainable cold chain, reducing emissions associated with handling and loading goods, including highly sensitive refrigerated cargo.
In his concluding remarks, Kalaba reiterated the vast opportunities in the African market, driven by its growing population. However, he emphasised the critical limitations posed by logistics and infrastructure, particularly for perishable goods. The lack of adequate storage facilities and the necessary infrastructure for preserving product quality means that exports to other African countries are often limited to unprocessed or semi-processed, non-perishable items.
He stressed that realising the ambitions of the African Union for regional trade hinges on overcoming these fundamental infrastructure gaps. This directly relates to the development of a continent-wide cold chain network, which would unlock the potential for South Africa to export more diverse and value-added perishable agricultural products to its African neighbors.
The panel concluded with a unified message: South African agriculture is resilient, forward-thinking and committed to continuous improvement. From strategic market diversification and cutting-edge research to the adoption of green technologies in port operations and the ambitious development of rail-based cold chain solutions, the sector is actively shaping its future in a complex global environment.