South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and Brazilian Vice Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Luiz De Alcantara Rua have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector. The agreement was concluded during the G20 Agriculture Working Group ministerial meeting in Somerset West, Western Cape.
Steenhuisen described the MoI as "a testament to our shared vision for a food-secure future," adding that combining the strengths of both countries would help unlock new opportunities, advance technological innovation, and support resilience in agriculture.
The agreement is non-binding and provides a framework for cooperation in sustainable agricultural production and food security. Areas of collaboration include information and expertise exchange, technical tours, training programmes, and joint conferences. Best practices in sustainable agriculture, livestock farming systems, and quality assurance will also be shared.
The MoI outlines provisions for trade facilitation, including trade missions and exhibitions aimed at developing new markets for agricultural products from both nations.
Bilateral trade between South Africa and Brazil has expanded over recent years. According to official data, total agricultural trade rose from 5.4 billion rand (US$289 million) in 2020 to 9.7 billion rand (US$520 million) in 2024, an increase of 80.5 per cent. South Africa's agricultural exports to Brazil grew by 92.8 per cent, from 142.6 million rand (US$7.6 million) in 2020 to 274.9 million rand (US$14.7 million) in 2024. Imports from Brazil increased by 80.2 per cent over the same period, from 5.2 billion rand (US$278 million) to 9.5 billion rand (US$509 million).
In 2024, South Africa's top ten agricultural exports to Brazil made up 92.3 per cent of the total, valued at 253.7 million rand (US$13.6 million). The main export was vegetable seeds for sowing at 88.7 million rand (US$4.8 million), followed by liqueurs and cordials at 62.4 million rand (US$3.3 million), wine at 43.9 million rand (US$2.3 million), and dried grapes at 17.3 million rand (US$925,000).
The MoI will be valid for five years and automatically renewed for additional five-year periods unless ended by either party. A Joint Working Group will be established to identify priority areas and prepare a work plan for implementation. The group will oversee planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the cooperation.
Source: SA News