How South African Agriculture is Adapting to Global Pressures and Local Challenges
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Agriculture Under Siege: Rising Costs and Climate Challenges
South Africa’s agricultural sector faces mounting pressures from rising input costs, erratic weather patterns, and global trade disruptions. However, at Nampo 2025 in Bothaville, farmers are pushing back with practical solutions, bold ideas, and a renewed focus on resilience.
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Standard Bank Leads Agri-Innovation
Standard Bank is playing a central role in this year’s Nampo agenda, hosting a Pan-African dialogue and supporting real-world innovation with financial backing. Brendan Jacobs, head of AgriBusiness at Standard Bank, discusses whether South African agriculture is adapting quickly enough to global changes.
Bridging the Gap Between Global Innovation and Local Farming
Jacobs highlights the importance of focusing on local productivity before looking outward. “There’s a lot of high-level information—sometimes bordering on misinformation—that distracts farmers from focusing on what they can control,” he says.
Key Needs for Modern Farmers
Farmers today require practical tools, including:
- Financial planning and risk management
- Climate-smart cultivars to combat drought
- Advanced agritech solutions to optimize operations
“Nampo is a platform where the latest technology and best practices are shared. That’s why it’s so important for farmers to attend events like this.” — Brendan Jacobs
Agritech: A Challenge for Emerging Farmers
While agritech offers significant benefits for commercial farms, Jacobs acknowledges that emerging farmers still face barriers in accessing and implementing these technologies. “We’ve got a long way to go in exposing emerging farmers to available solutions and helping them integrate these into their businesses,” he says.
Agoa and the Future of Agri-Exports
With potential disruptions to the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), Jacobs reassures that only a small portion of South Africa’s agricultural exports (6-7%) go to the U.S. “Most exports (44%) go to Africa, and we’re exploring alternative markets like China,” he explains.
Cross-Border Agri-Trade Opportunities
Standard Bank is facilitating connections between African agribusiness leaders to boost cross-border trade. “These dialogues are unearthing amazing opportunities,” Jacobs notes, emphasizing the bank’s presence in 20 African countries.
Measuring Success Beyond Profitability
For Standard Bank, success in agriculture extends beyond financial metrics. “Ensuring food security and reducing unemployment are our higher purposes,” Jacobs states, highlighting the sector’s role in Africa’s growing population.
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