After South Africa’s G20 chairship: What it means for agriculture and food security

SOUTH Africa has now concluded its tenure as Chair of the G20, an extraordinary opportunity for a country that often sits at the intersection of global economic ambition and the lived realities of a developing agricultural sector.

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As the chairship winds down, one thing is clear: South Africa did not simply occupy the position; it shaped it. At a time when global food systems are strained by climate pressures, geopolitical conflict, erratic markets, and the lingering aftershocks of economic instability, South Africa's leadership managed to push agriculture higher up the G20 agenda than it has been in years. And it did so with a deliberate focus on the Global South, reframing longstanding questions around food security, climate-smart farming, and inclusive growth. As we reflect on what this means for the sector as we advance, three outcomes stand out.

A Rebalanced Global Conversation on Agriculture

First, South Africa successfully widened the lens through which the G20 views agriculture.

For far too long, global agricultural conversations have been dominated by the priorities of industrialised economies — emissions reduction, biosecurity, standards harmonisation, and advanced technologies.

These priorities matter, but they are only part of the story.

South Africa used its chairship to elevate the concerns of regions where the majority of farmers are smallholders, where climate change is not a future risk but a daily reality, and where food security remains one drought or one cyclone away from collapse.

The 2025 G20 Ministerial Declaration reflects this shift. It places stronger emphasis on climate adaptation, resilience, and targeted support for developing countries.

It acknowledges the centrality of Africa in future global food security. And it situates climate-smart agriculture not as a luxury but as an imperative. This reframing is a quiet but meaningful victory.

A Concrete Push for Climate-Smart Agriculture

Second, the chairship unlocked new momentum on climate-smart agriculture (CSA). South Africa’s message was simple: global food systems cannot survive without protecting the farmers who feed them.