Food Security

This chapter explores the role of agriculture, particularly precision agriculture, in enhancing food security in South Africa amidst the challenges posed by climate change. It addresses the country’s current state of food security, emphasizing the importance of agriculture as the foundation of the economy. Despite being foundational, agriculture tends to be overlooked in priority lists. The chapter highlights a shift in rural households’ food production to market purchases, leading to significant expenditures. Smallholder agriculture could mitigate these costs, emphasizing the need to boost their productivity through sustainable intensification and improved farming methods. The chapter underscores the need for regulatory authorities to provide guidelines for genome editing, expressing concerns about the potential stifling of research due to funding constraints and regulatory barriers. Drawing attention to the importance of a “product” rather than a “process” approach, the chapter urges regulators to align decisions with scientific parameters, citing Argentina as an example. The conclusion stresses the pivotal role of agriculture in South Africa’s economy and food security, urging the government to prioritize and acknowledge its significance. A call is made for collaboration between the Department of Science and Innovation and provincial departments to promote the agricultural sector, particularly in rural areas, addressing poverty, unemployment and inequality challenges.