Food security’s fragile framework
The violence and looting that paralysed parts of South Africa last week showed the vulnerability of our food supply chain and reminded us that we cannot take food security for granted.
The violence and looting that paralysed parts of South Africa last week showed the vulnerability of our food supply chain and reminded us that we cannot take food security for granted.
Should food safety regulations be scrapped to accommodate chicken imports hobbled by riots?
South Africa is implementing six industry master plans, and all will have been set back by the violence and destruction, and the disruption of supply chains.
Sugarcane worth R300 million has been destroyed, jeopardising the recovery of South Africa's fragile sugar industry.
Statistics show that Brazil – a country under investigation for chicken dumping – is now the leading supplier of chicken imports to South Africa.
South Africa's local poultry industry has partnered with Chefs with Compassion to proceed 67 000 litres of chicken soup for Mandela Day.
Since the deadly listeriosis outbreak in 2018, FairPlay has been calling for a national food safety agency to give South African consumers increased protection against contaminated or sub-standard food.
The poultry master plan has created nearly 1 300 jobs over the past 18 months, helping to counter the massive job losses due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Even before the poultry master plan, South Africa's poultry producers had focused on providing food security and thousands of jobs in the country.
Importers are committed to supporting master plan objectives such as reducing chicken imports and an overhauling of the import tariff system.
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