Pretoria—South Africa’s agricultural sector, a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, is reeling from a relentless wave of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks, prompting an urgent, high-level intervention by the government and leading scientific institutions. The disease, which has brought the country’s lucrative red meat trade to its knees on international markets, continues its merciless march across provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and now the Free State bearing the brunt.
In a decisive move to stem the bleeding, the Department of Agriculture, in a powerful alliance with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the esteemed University of Pretoria, and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), is set to host a pivotal national FMD Indaba. The critical two-day summit, kicking off on Monday, 21 July 2025—a mere four days from now—will convene at the ARC-VIMP Campus in Roodeplaat, just northeast of Pretoria.
Leading the charge will be Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and his deputy, Nokuzola Capa. They will preside over a gathering of the nation’s brightest veterinary scientists, agricultural experts, and key industry stakeholders. Their collective mission: to meticulously dissect the crisis and forge long-term, sustainable solutions to combat the devastating livestock disease.
“Having already inflicted significant damage to the multi-billion-rand livestock sector, the disease continues to threaten South Africa’s broader economy,” a stark statement from the Department of Agriculture read. “Therefore, the Indaba presents a vital opportunity to unite expertise and resources to effectively eradicate this devastating disease.”
Indeed, the stakes could not be higher. The FMD scourge is not merely a farming issue; it’s an economic quagmire threatening livelihoods, food security, and South Africa’s standing in global agricultural markets. The Indaba, therefore, is being hailed as a crucial advancement in the ongoing, often frustrating, battle against the highly contagious viral disease.
The department further emphasised that the Indaba will “convene a range of multidisciplinary specialists to develop a coordinated and comprehensive approach to controlling and ultimately eradicating Foot and mouth disease.” Discussions will zero in on three critical pillars: strengthening biosecurity measures at farm level, enhancing vaccination programmes, and, crucially, reinforcing animal movement controls – an area often identified as a major vulnerability in previous outbreaks.
The Department of Agriculture, in unwavering collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council, underscored its “committed to identifying and implementing sustainable solutions to FMD.” This sentiment echoes a growing recognition that piecemeal interventions are no longer sufficient.
By “cultivating strong partnerships between government entities, academic institutions, and industry leaders,” the Department of Agriculture aims to develop “precise and effective measures that will eradicate the disease and safeguard the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s agricultural sector.”
The nation watches with bated breath as these top minds converge, hoping that this Indaba will mark a turning point in South Africa’s arduous fight against FMD, paving the way for a healthier livestock sector and a more resilient economy.
