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Argentina’s 2001 foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak shows that cases continued to rise after the first vaccination round began, peaking during the campaign, before declining only after the second round was completed. This demonstrates that a single round is not enough — success requires a full vaccination cycle.
Die landbou-organisasie TLU SA het minister van landbou, John Steenhuisen, se besluit verwelkom om 27 eksterne tegniese raadgewers aan te stel. Hulle sal help om tegniese data te na te gaan om te verseker dat alle produkte voldoen aan veiligheids- en gehaltestandaarde soos vereis deur die registrateur van die Wet op Kunsmis, Veevoer, Landboumiddels en Veemiddels.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is creating growing pressure on South Africa’s agricultural sector. Higher input costs, disrupted shipping routes, and increased logistical risks were the main topics discussed at the Absa Agri Trends .
Iran het opnuut beperkings op die Straat van Hormuz ingestel en daarmee sy vroeëre besluit omgekeer om die belangrike skeepsroete te heropen. Dit volg ná Amerikaanse president Donald Trump gesê het dat Washington sy blokkade op Iran-gekoppelde skeepsvaart sal handhaaf totdat ’n breër ooreenkoms bereik word, insluitend oor Teheran se kernprogram. Iran se weermag het gesê die seestraat is nou onder streng beheer en het gewaarsku dat deurgang beperk sal bly terwyl Amerikaanse maatreëls voortduur.
South African chicken imports have reversed recent years of decline, with bone-in portions (direct competitors to local frozen chicken) surging 136% in the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
The global pineapple market currently shows surface stability, but underlying conditions are becoming more complex and uneven. While demand remains steady in most regions and volumes are moving, the supply chain is increasingly shaped by logistics challenges, rising costs, and irregular shipments.
Approximately 100,000 cattle on dairy farms in KwaZulu-Natal that have not yet received their first foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination will be inoculated within the next ten days.
VN Handel en Ontwikkeling sal as sekretariaat van die projek dien wat tydens die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds-Wêreldbank se Lentebyeenkomste bekend gestel is. VN-sekretaris-generaal, António Guterres, noem dit 'n deurbraak aangesien die platform ten doel het om koördinering, deursigtigheid en volhoubaarheid te verbeter.
More than 30 civil society organisations from 25 countries have called on the World Bank Group to immediately stop financing industrial livestock production (factory farming) and redirect the funds toward sustainable, small-scale, and agroecological food systems.
Meer as 150 boere het onlangs die Sandgrond-ontwikkelingskomitee se inligtingsdag op die plaas Springboklaagte by Kroonstad bygewoon. Die hoofboodskap was eenvoudig: Boerdery kan nie meer lyk soos tien jaar gelede nie.Met duurder insette, laer pryse en hoër risiko’s moet boere vandag baie meer kennis van hul grond hê.
The annual China Nuts and Dried Fruits Exhibition in Hefei has grown into one of the largest and most influential food industry trade shows in the world.Held every year from 16 to 19 April, the expo attracts thousands of participants from across the global value chain — including producers, exporters, processors, retailers, and technology suppliers.
Die nuwe handelsbeperkings wat Namibië, Botswana en Mosambiek onlangs op Suid-Afrikaanse landbouprodukte ingestel het, plaas die plaaslike landboubedryf onder groot druk.Die beperkings raak veral groente, vrugte en sekere pluimveeprodukte. Dit skep ernstige onsekerheid vir produsente en bedreig duisende werksgeleenthede in landbou en logistiek
South Africa’s red meat exports, particularly lamb to the Middle East, have effectively ground to a halt due to the implementation of stricter regulations under Veterinary Procedural Notice 59 (VPN-59) and its Addendum D, which came into effect on 1 April 2026.
Tongaat Hulett has secured a temporary lifeline after its liquidation hearing was postponed, following a R200-million increase in funding from the Industrial Development Corporation.
Die inentingstrategie teen bek-en-klouseer (BKS) begin vrugte afwerp. Volgens Minister John Steenhuisen is daar tans geen nuwe uitbrekings in troppe wat reeds ingeënt is nie. Dit is ’n duidelike teken dat die entstof werk en die nasionale kudde beskerm.
Petrol price increases for May 2026 will be lower than initially expected, according to the latest mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF).The current projections show petrol prices rising by between 262 and 299 cents per litre in May. This is a significant improvement from earlier forecasts at the beginning of April, which predicted increases of up to 469 cents per litre
President Cyril Ramaphosa sê hy sien bemagtigingswette as deel van die regstelling van die wanbalanse van die verlede, nie as rassistiese wetgewing nie. Hy het gereageer op miljardêr Elon Musk se bewering dat sy satelliet-internetdiens, Starlink, 'n lisensie in Suid-Afrika geweier is omdat hy nie swart is nie.
Petrol price increases for May 2026 will be lower than initially expected, according to the latest mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF).The current projections show petrol prices rising by between 262 and 299 cents per litre in May. This is a significant improvement from earlier forecasts at the beginning of April, which predicted increases of up to 469 cents per litre
Meer as 18 000 suikerrietboere, hoofsaaklik kleinskaalse produsente, het tans geen ander keuse as om hul suikerriet by Tongaat Hulett se meule te laat verwerk nie.Indien die maatskappy voorlopig gelikwideer word, kan talle plase onleefbaar raak en duisende werkgeleenthede in landelike gebiede verlore gaan.
South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has partnered with a company called Immobazyme to produce a key growth factor (FGF-2) using genetically modified bacteria in 50-litre bioreactors.
Meer as 18 000 suikerrietboere, die meeste kleinskaalse produsente, het tans geen ander opsie nie as om hul oeste by Tongaat Hulett se meule te laat verwerk. Indien die maatskappy egter voorlopig gelikwideer word, kan talle plase hul ekonomiese lewensvatbaarheid verloor, met die moontlike verlies van duisende werkgeleenthede.
South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has partnered with a company called Immobazyme to produce a key growth factor (FGF-2) using genetically modified bacteria in 50-litre bioreactors.
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These headlines highlight the dominant themes of geopolitical disruption (especially the Middle East conflict), input cost volatility, technological transformation, climate and weather risks, and food security challenges shaping global agriculture right now.
WATCH OUT- NEW program on the way - exclusive to CRA MEDIA and the FARMERS of South Africa - 2026
50 Key Global Agriculture & AgriTech Headlines 17th April 2025
Global Markets & Food Security
- Global agricultural prices forecast slight decline amid ongoing volatility
- Fertilizer markets remain unstable due to geopolitical tensions
- Food security concerns rise as over 40 countries require external aid
- Grain markets fluctuate with ongoing Black Sea export uncertainty
- Biofuel policies continue to influence crop demand worldwide
- Supply chain resilience becomes a top priority for governments
- Global food demand expected to rise significantly toward 2030
- Agricultural trade tensions persist across major economies
- Input costs remain a major pressure point for farmers globally
- Livestock sectors face margin pressure due to feed costs
AgriTech, AI & Digital Transformation
- AI-driven predictive farming shifts agriculture from reactive to proactive
- Robotics and automation address global farm labor shortages
- Precision agriculture drives efficiency and profitability gains
- Connected farm data ecosystems become industry standard
- Digital platforms integrate entire agri-food value chains
- Mobile-first farm management expands globally
- Autonomous machinery adoption accelerates in developed markets
- AI-powered crop and livestock monitoring becomes mainstream
- Cloud-based farm management systems gain traction
- Satellite and sensor data reshape decision-making in agriculture
Sustainability & Climate Pressures
- Climate change continues to reduce crop yields and increase risks
- Soil health emerges as a major investment and policy focus
- Regenerative agriculture gains momentum globally
- Carbon measurement becomes a key competitive advantage
- Water scarcity drives innovation in irrigation technologies
- Climate-smart agriculture becomes essential for resilience
- Extreme weather increases risk of simultaneous crop failures
- Governments push sustainability compliance across supply chains
- Investors prioritize environmentally responsible farming systems
- Agricultural emissions reporting becomes more standardized
Innovation, Investment & New Technologies
- Precision farming market approaches $280 billion globally
- Venture capital flows into sustainable agri-tech startups
- Water-efficient farming technologies gain traction (up to 95% savings)
- Biological crop protection products move into the mainstream
- Indoor and controlled-environment farming expands
- Drone technology adoption increases across emerging markets
- Smart irrigation and nutrient management systems scale globally
- Blockchain use rises for food traceability
- Agritech platforms focus on measurable ROI, not hype
- Innovation shifts toward practical, scalable farm solutions
Policy, Geopolitics & Industry Shifts
- Governments reassess energy-agriculture links amid supply crises
- Agricultural land use faces pressure from infrastructure expansion
- Debate grows over big tech influence on global food systems
- Policy focus shifts toward “supply assurance” and resilience
- Trade disruptions continue to impact global grain flows
- Farmer income pressures spark political debates worldwide
- Agricultural policy increasingly tied to climate commitments
- Labor shortages accelerate mechanization and automation
- Local food systems gain attention as global risks increase
- Agriculture enters a new era of data-driven decision-making
Big Picture (What This Means)
Across the world, agriculture in 2026 is being shaped by three dominant forces:
- Technology: AI, robotics, and data are becoming central to farming decisions
- Climate & sustainability: No longer optional—now a business requirement
- Resilience: Supply security and independence are replacing “efficiency only” models
The industry is moving away from experimentation into practical, scalable, and measurable solutions that directly impact productivity and profitability.
These headlines reflect the dominant themes as of 10 April 2026: geopolitical shocks and fertilizer/fuel price surges, planting adjustments in major producers, agritech acceleration, and export resilience amid volatility. Markets remain highly sensitive to developments in the Middle East and the next USDA WASDE report.
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📢 ICYMI | Important Update for the Livestock Sector.
— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA) April 14, 2026
Minister John Steenhuisen has announced the intention to publish the Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot and mouth disease (RVS-FMD).
🐄 This draft scheme, developed under the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984),… pic.twitter.com/aptVl4D09L
@NeasaNews is saying it as it is pic.twitter.com/26iVckA5IY
— Theo de Jager (@TheoDJager) April 18, 2026
