Archive: Farming


News & Analysis Farm worker hands holding corn.

A new climate change impact synthesis report highlights the effects of climate change on South Africa and its impact on people’s lives.

News & Analysis

If it were not for the ingenuity of South African farmers who make alternative green energy plans, the entire agricultural sector would be under much more pressure.

Explainer Various bowls of seeds, grains and pulses

Climate change and supply chain disruptions impacted food availability and affordability in 2022, causing double-digit inflation for many key items.

Explainer Photo of parched landscape with sparse vegetation. Gully erosion, the most common form of soil erosion, has formed channels in the land

Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem in South Africa, affecting both land and water resources.

Explainer Photograph of a river where the water has an orange/red colour because of high iron content

The link between coal, gas and water pollution is clear, but the extraction and use of fossil fuels affect ecosystems in many less obvious ways as well.

Explainer Single story houses and trees in a rural South African community

Rural development is vital for South Africa’s sustainable economic future. The farming sector is perhaps the most important, as food security and poverty reduction depend on it.

Explainer Aerial photo of a herd of cows on grass

Livestock farming contributes to poverty reduction in rural areas. However, industrialised livestock farming is one of the greatest threats to planetary and human health.

Explainer Farm workers harvesting crops and hauling boxes of produce

The cascading effects of climate change impact our ability to produce food, leading to food insecurity and increased food prices.

Explainer Field of wheat crop in front of mountain

Agriculture is both a victim and culprit of climate change. The sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and is acutely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Explainer Dry, cracked soil due to drought

A drought refers to a period of time when an area experiences lower-than-average precipitation. South Africa faces an increasing risk from drought due to climate change.

Explainer Photograph of tree showing branches with green leaves and a thick network of roots. Sunlight coming through the branches.

Biosphere reserves are dedicated areas of ecological protection that promote solutions for sustainable development and human well-being.

Explainer Young crops growing from soil in a field

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas (GHG), more commonly known as laughing gas. While N2O rarely makes headlines, it is a dangerous driver of climate change.

Explainer Aerial view of crops being harvested by machine

Farming is a thriving, robust and diverse sector in South Africa, consisting of both commercial and subsistence farms.