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The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters rudely declined our invitation to participate in this month’s webinar on boosting chicken exports.

The South African government has a few days to register for oral hearings on new United States tariffs, and a few weeks to lodge written objections.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird says the South African government should investigate the level of state subsidies enjoyed by Chinese businesses competing with local producers.

Frustration and hope. These were the reactions of South African poultry producers to the problems being faced in expanding the country’s chicken exports.

Francois Baird calls on the government to get behind proposals to produce aviation fuel from sugar cane.

The climate predictions for the end of this year and into 2027 are getting worse. Scientists are warning of the possibility of extreme heat and low rainfall for southern Africa which would affect crops, national economies and regional food security.

South Africa’s food inflation is likely to remain low this year, but to rise into 2027, stoked by hotter weather and high fuel, fertiliser and electricity prices, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) predicts.

Thirty children die from malnutrition every day in South Africa. This horrifying statistic was published by the Daily Maverick in a report on the campaign by Union against Hunger during last month’s Food Justice Week.

In this new regular column for the FairPlay Bulletin, FairPlay’s founder Francois Baird sets out an urgent government action plan to protect farmers and consumers from rising energy costs.

Astral Foods, South Africa’s leading poultry producer, warns that chicken prices might increase because of the impact of the Iran war on inputs such as diesel.

The slow, steady increase in South Africa’s poultry imports continued into its seventh month in March this year.

The continuing rise in South Africa’s unemployment rate has led, once again, to dire warnings about the country’s future.

The drive to expand poultry exports is no longer just an industry goal, but a vital national imperative. By scaling international trade, the government can unlock a sustainable stream of foreign currency, promote large-scale job creation, and fortify national food security through a more resilient and globally integrated agricultural value chain.

The South African poultry industry is taking the government to court in an attempt to force it to suspend the annual duty-free quota which allows 72 000 tonnes of dumped chicken imports into South Africa from the United States.

When the United States decided to formalise its trade support for African countries, it called the enabling legislation the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However, the Trump administration has made it so focused on benefits to the US that it is becoming the American Growth and Opportunity Act.

South Africa’s poultry master plan has been revised, and aims to continue the expansion of the local poultry industry that followed the adoption of the original plan in 2019.

Two government departments are giving conflicting statistics about South Africa’s chicken exports.

The master plan’s commitment to VAT-free chicken comes at a time when millions of poor South Africans are struggling to afford a healthy diet.

Astral, South Africa’s largest poultry producer, is anticipating a stunning start to its 2026 financial year.

America’s trade deal benefiting African countries – the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – is going to be “reformed” before it is renewed again, the United States congress has been told.

Last week, the FairPlay Bulletin highlighted the gloomy prospects for South Africa’s agricultural producers and consumers resulting from the combination of war (the Iran conflict) and weather (the possibility of lower rainfall and even drought because of a looming El Niño weather pattern).

While the Trump administration has begun the process that would enable the refund of $166 billion in tariffs that have been declared illegal, United States importers are still not sure of a quick repayment

Britain is testing a vaccine that would protect humans from a potential bird flu pandemic.

South Africa’s fight against dumped chicken imports is far from over.

Without the protection of readily-available vaccination against avian influenza (HPAI or bird flu), poultry farmers must look after their flocks through the strongest possible biosecurity measures.

The focus of the South African poultry industry will have to shift from competing against chicken imports on the local market to competing for exports with other large national producers on the global market.

Chicken importers keep repeating the claim that South Africa can’t produce enough chicken, but the facts show imports distort the market, not support it.

High-level talks between South Africa and neighbouring states are required to address trade frictions, according to agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

France’s programme to vaccinate all ducks against avian influenza (HPAI or bird flu) had contributed to a significant lowering of bird flu outbreaks in French poultry flocks, according to an official assessment of the vaccination success.

The nutritional advantages of chicken are highlighted in the latest food inflation brief from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP).

A company using satellites to monitor terrestrial changes believes its programme to support Ukraine’s agricultural sector would also be applicable across Southern Africa.

As the war in the Middle East pushes up fuel prices, concerns are rising about agricultural costs, profitability and food […]

Iran’s offer to include South Africa on its list of “friendly” countries allowed to export oil through the Strait of Hormuz is something of a poisoned chalice.