Working towards a sustainable future for agriculture

Theo Boshoff, the new CEO of Agbiz, says that despite the many challenges facing South Africa’s agriculture sector in 2022, opportunities for growth abound. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.

- Annelie Coleman.

Please tell us more about Agbiz’s mission and vision, and why an organisation such as yours is important to South Africa’s agriculture sector.

Agbiz’s mission is to negotiate and facilitate a favourable environment for businesses in South Africa’s agricultural value chains, so that they can operate competitively and sustainably. We’re a non-profit, membership-based organisation that acts as a link between agribusinesses and important stakeholders such as government, social partners and other regulators. We also have desks that cater for the specific needs of the grain storage and handling value chain, and the fruit and wine value chain.

Essentially, our role is twofold: to lobby for a business environment that enables agribusinesses, and to act as a thought leader and a trusted source of information on the sector.

What, in your opinion, are the biggest opportunities for the agribusiness sector in 2022 and the role that Agbiz can play in this regard?

Apart from the recent severe flood damage suffered in certain areas, the conditions for agriculture in South Africa are generally quite good for the second year in a row, and this is reflected in the optimism prevailing in the sector.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Agbiz/ IDC confidence index reached 74 points, its second-highest level since inception in 2001. The index is not based on sentiment alone; it includes metrics such as employment, capital investment, export volumes and the provision for bad debt by agricultural financiers.

The implication is that agribusinesses are investing and placing their faith in the economic opportunities provided by the local sector, be it for export or the local market.

And what are the challenges facing the sector?