This was amongst the topics at G20 Agriculture Working Group and Food Security Task Force meeting held in the city of Durban, in SA’s KwaZulu-Natal province. The three-day meeting focused on investments towards improved food and nutrition security. SA’s Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen delivered the key note address at the event, saying scientific insight and innovation is fundamental.

The meeting come at a time where SA is trying to nurse the its trading relations with United States (US), following the latter’s imposed trade tariffs on the former’s goods. Steenhuisen says the SA government has forged trade relations with other countries including Japan, Philippines in case, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is scrapped.

“We have adopted two prong approach, one is to trying to do a deal with the US to grant us access. The second one is to look at alternative market where we can re-direct South African goods and that is why we have in Japan and open citrus fruits to Thailand, table grapes to the Phillipines and we continue to look out for the new market so that when AGOA is cancelled it won't come as a major shock,” Steenhuisen said.

Steenhuisen added that technology and innovation are an effective tool to improve food security and inclusive economy.

“Food security, climate vitality and systematic exclusion continue to threaten the stability of our global food systems. Neighbours has scientific insight, such technological advancement and capacity and shared platforms like these to do something about it. We dealing with rising into costs, unpredictable climate shocks, lying in these challenges there is also lies real opportunities. To build resilience, and to connect innovation with impact at scale an speed that the moment demands. We are committed to the four priorities inclusive market participation,” Steenhuisen said.

The province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is facing the challenge of damaged infrastructure and Steenhuisen says this impacts negatively on farmers as they cannot transport their produce to the market.

“The issue of infrastructure is a huge concern and the ability to move goods and products is important but the farmers cannot move their products to the market and it makes it difficult to be sustainable,   viable and profitable. So, we have a lot of infrastructure especially in KZN and we are going to find ways to build more resilient infrastructure and manage the clear facts around of climate vitality,” Steenhuisen said.

KZN Premier, Thami Ntuli also attended the meeting, adding that security is a challenge that needs a collective approach.

“Food security is affected by logistics and the global pricing logic, geopolitics, climate change and other related issues. Food security is a function of the complex interaction between multiple factors. If we are to  achieve the fairer world, food insecurity is a problem and challenge that we must continue to confront. This G20 will resolve some contradictions of some food being available in one part of the world and being scarce in other parts of the world. I have no doubts that the gathering serves as a building blocs climate resilience for sustainable agricultural production and a foster innovation and technology transfer in agriculture and Agri-processing,” Ntuli said.

The province’s Agriculture and Rural Development leader, Thembeni Madlopha, added that the country must focus on the importance of empowering women, youth and people with disabilities.

“We have set a clear mission that will leave no behind to alleviate poverty, we are prepared to develop women, youth and people with disabilities as they deserve the social protection and support of the state. We are therefore clean resolve to drive comprehensive and equitable agricultural growth, food security and the advancement of rural communities through sustained scientific and digital technology practices,” Madlopha said.

---Reuters---