Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen
By Lerato Mpembe
Durban, South Africa – Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen will host the G20 Agriculture Working Group (AWG) and Food Security Task Force Meetings in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, from 23 to 25 April 2025. These high-level discussions, part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, aim to advance global collaboration on food security, agricultural innovation, and climate resilience, aligning with the principles of “Ubuntu” that promote collective action and shared responsibility.
Durban Hosts Pivotal G20 Agriculture Meetings
The three-day meetings, organised by the Department of Agriculture, form a critical step toward the G20 Summit in November 2025. Held under the themes “Data-Driven Approaches to Addressing Food Security” and “Promoting Inclusive Agricultural Investment and Market Access,” the sessions will bring together G20 member states, invited guest countries, and international organisations to address pressing global agricultural challenges.
Steenhuisen, who opened the first AWG meeting on 3 and 4 March 2025, emphasised the need for strengthened global cooperation to support farmers facing challenges such as climate change, market access barriers, and food insecurity. “The challenges facing farmers worldwide are immense, but through collective action, mutual respect, and shared responsibility – the essence of Ubuntu – we can build a more resilient and food-secure future,” he said.
Key Priorities for Global Agriculture
The Durban meetings will focus on four key priorities identified during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, which received overwhelming support at the March AWG meeting:
- Promotion of policies and investments that drive inclusive market participation to improve food and nutrition security, ensuring smallholder farmers and marginalised groups access global markets.
- Empowering youth and women in agrifood systems to foster economic inclusion and innovation in farming and agro-processing.
- Fostering innovation and technology transfer in agriculture and agro-processing to enhance productivity and sustainability.
- Building climate resilience for sustainable agricultural production to mitigate the impact of extreme weather and environmental changes.
These priorities reflect South Africa’s commitment to transformative agricultural policies that promote inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience. The department noted that the AWG is now poised to pursue policies that increase investment in sustainable farming and ensure equitable access to food.
Building on March Discussions
The March AWG meeting laid the foundation for the Durban sessions, allowing G20 members to engage with South Africa’s priorities and deliberate on actionable solutions. Discussions highlighted the importance of data-driven strategies to address food insecurity, with a focus on leveraging technology to monitor and respond to global hunger crises. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, underscoring the urgency of these efforts.
The Durban meetings will advance these discussions, with a focus on drafting a forward-looking declaration to be adopted by G20 Ministers of Agriculture later in 2025. This declaration is expected to outline commitments to inclusive agricultural investment, youth and women empowerment, and climate-smart farming practices.
South Africa’s Leadership in Global Agriculture
South Africa’s G20 Presidency, themed “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” places agriculture at the heart of global development. The Durban meetings will showcase South Africa’s agricultural expertise, including its advancements in agro-processing and climate-resilient crops. For instance, the country’s investment in drought-resistant maize varieties has bolstered food security in the region, a model that could inspire global adoption.
The inclusion of guest countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, and the African Union reflects South Africa’s commitment to amplifying African voices in global agriculture. Steenhuisen noted, “Africa has the potential to feed the world, but we need policies and investments that unlock this potential while empowering our youth and women.”
Addressing Local and Global Challenges
The meetings come at a time when South Africa faces its own agricultural challenges, including prolonged droughts and rising input costs. In 2024, the Agricultural Business Chamber reported a 15% increase in fertiliser prices, straining smallholder farmers. The Durban discussions will explore solutions such as public-private partnerships to subsidise inputs and improve market access for local farmers.
Globally, the meetings will address the impact of climate change on agriculture. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects a 10-20% decline in crop yields by 2050 due to rising temperatures, making climate resilience a top priority. Innovations like precision farming and digital platforms for market access, already piloted in South Africa, will be central to the discussions.
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