Food for Change: A Dive into the South Africa’s Agriculture and its Contribution to Climate Change

South African food is packed with rich flavours, made with vibrant colours and captivating aromas. As citizens of our multicultural country, we do not eat just to sustain ourselves but we indulge in the tastes of culture. The Bunny Chow, 7 colours, potjiekos, arguably the national favourite the shisanyama/braai.

These meals all have a special place in our hearts and tummies. However, have you stopped to wonder how your food is produced and how it impacts the environment comes from? In this article, I delve into the South Africa’s agricultural practices and how this may affect the environment.

Livestock Emissions

The biltong, tripe, biryani, potjiekos, and the 7 colours of course they are beloved shisanyama (Braai). To most, the thoughts of these foods could make mouths salivate however; there is something else they have in common - meat. The South African diet contains a lot of meat, specifically red and poultry (Unilever, 2016). However, what is enjoyable to the average citizen is a trigger to an environmentalist.

In order to maintain the demand for meat, farmers produce and raise cattle. Cows have been under scrutiny because of their contributions to greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. When cows eat, their food (consisting of grass and other plant material) is digested in the rumen. The rumen is a compartment in the cow's stomach responsible for digesting plant material.

While breaking down the plant material, methane is produced as a by-product and excreted in gas form, by the cow. It is said that a singular cow “belches 220 pounds (99.8 kgs) of methane yearly” (Quinton, 2025). The release of this amount of methane from cattle is problematic because Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are a significant contribution to global warming.

Now we are faced with a loop. Humans want more meat (increase in population yields an increase in demand). Farmers aim to meet demands, meaning more live cattle are needed. There is an increase in GHGs. Global Warming occurs, triggering environmental pressure and crises. Humans suffer from extreme heatwaves and droughts.

Land Use

A vital part of our diet, vegetables and fruits are needed to maintain optimal functions. However, it does come at a cost. Produce farming requires a great amount of land use. South Africa dedicates 100.6 million hectares of land to farming activities (Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development). Naturally, land is needed to farm and meet the demands of consumers. However, bad practices in land use leave a lasting impact on the environment.

Deforestation: deforestation is the clearing of trees in order to use the land or the trees. Deforestation results in the removal of Carbon sinks, which is detrimental to the fight against the accumulation of Greenhouse Gases. Trees use Carbon Dioxide (a greenhouse gas) for respiration, releasing Oxygen which is beneficial for human life. This process reduces the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a natural process of which mitigates climate change.
Soil degradation: Over use of a plot of land, without giving it time to recover from agricultural activities leads to the loss of nutrients in the soil and ultimately, the loss of biodiversity. A lack of biodiversity restricts the ecosystem for surrounding organisms.

Fertiliser

To keep up with the demands of consumers, local farmers resort to the use of fertilisers. Fertilisers are used to promote growth and to achieve the desired results of crops (fruits, vegetables and maize). The challenge comes in the type of fertilisers that are used. Some fertilisers contain Nitrous Oxide (NO2) which is a greenhouse gas (Manthiram & Gribkoff, Fertilizer and climate change 2021).

Future Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies

Vertical Farming: Vertical Farming is an indoor farming technique that uses structures to plant crops. It is an alternative to traditional agriculture that is outdoors and uses a large amount of land. It requires minimal land use and 95% less water than traditional farming (Piechowiak & Brandon, 2024) yet, still promises great results. Technology plays a central role in vertical farming, as it uses artificial light to grow crops all throughout the year. Despite the involvement of technology it is still more cost-effective.
Crop Rotation: To improve soil health by adding nutrients to used soil, farmers use crop rotation. Crop rotation is a strategic method that requires different crops to be planted one after another, on the same plot. For example, planting cabbage on a plot of land leaves the soil nitrogen deficient as cabbage consumes nitrogen. After the cabbage has been harvested, a legume (like beans) is planted in the same plot of land. This is because legumes add nitrogen back to the soil, offsetting the loss from planting the cabbage before (Crop rotations 2025). This is a smart alternative to nitrogen rich fertilisers that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainable Agriculture Education: The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has developed programmes such as the African Agricultural Development programme (AADP) which aims to give “technical assistance support in the field of agriculture” (DALRRD, 2022). Although such programmes exist, there is a space for sustainable farming education. That aims to give accessible solutions to agricultural setbacks like different and difficult climatic conditions and those solutions also be beneficial to the environment. Accessible education is a step towards achieving sustainable agricultural practices and it also considers cost effectiveness.
Reducing meat consumption: Farmers are not solely responsible for the state of agriculture as agriculture is heavily dependent on the demands of consumers. As consumers, it is our responsibility to be mindful of the food we eat and its source. We are a meat loving nation, meat based foods are part of our culture, such as braai. However, there is no need to be consuming so much meat. Joining initiatives such as “Meat-free Monday” can help our bodies and the agricultural systems to take a break from meat. And reduce the production rate for meat, hence alleviating the Methane gas emissions.

While South Africa’s agricultural sector has made significant contributions to the country’s food security and economy, it is important that the sector takes into account the environmental consequences. Ironically, agriculture is one of the industries that greatly contribute to the causes of climate change, yet the most affected.

The agricultural sector can play a critical role in promoting sustainable solutions for the benefit of consumers and farmers. By being mindful of the environmental impacts of our production methods and food choices we can work towards a more sustainable future for South Africa and our planet. Sustainability does not end in our city or just our nation but as citizens of the world it is imperative we do what’s best for our planet.

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