NEWS & WORK


Find BFAP’s most recent research, baselines and publications here. Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the page to receive our news and work directly.

BFAP Baseline 2022

Access the Baseline 2022 publication through the BFAP Baseline Site. Click Here to download

Chicken or beef: evaluating factors driving meat price inflation in South Africa

Meat price increases were repeatedly highlighted in the  domestic food inflation statistics in 2022. In this brief, Dr. Tracy Davids explores the direct and indirect drivers of this phenomenon and the prospects for normalisation in future. Download here to read the full brief.

An Overview of a Breeding and Technology Levy Collection System for SA

October 23, 2018

Investment into seed research is vital for a sustainable and competitive agricultural sector. In this context, this overview looks at the importance of a breeding and technology levy for wheat, barley and soybeans in South Africa.  View the summary  report here

Sunflower Quality Report


BFAP has undertaken a study, funded by the Oilseeds Advisory Committee (OAC) to provide a deeper understanding of the key drivers affecting sunflower seed quality, the impact of varying (lower) oil content on the industry, and potential interventions to achieve an upgraded state of the value chain. Download the Full Report. In the September 2020 […]

Understanding the Factors That Have Impacted on Cane Production


This report constitutes the phase one report, shedding light on the factors that have impacted on cane production in the South African sugar industry. Cane production has decreased significantly since 2000/01 driven by both a decrease in area under cane and cane yield. A 51% or just over 47 000 hectare decline in small-scale grower area under cane was the main driver of area decrease.

Climate Change Adaptation


THE LONG-TERM ADAPTATION SCENARIOS FLAGSHIP RESEARCH PROGRAMME (LTAS) FOR SOUTH AFRICA. The LTAS (April 2012 – June 2014) aims to respond to the South African National Climate Change Response White Paper (2011) by undertaking climate change adaptation research and scenario planning for South Africa and the Southern African sub-region.

Farm-worker Sectoral Determination: An Analysis of Agricultural Wages in South Africa 2015


A new Sectoral Determination for the agricultural sector is due in 2016. The introduction of a minimum wage in the sector in 2003 and an increase in the minimum wage in excess of 50% in 2013 have had a substantial impact on the sector.

South Africa’s land resource in the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus context – May 2022

June 30, 2022

Competition for land and water, always present, is becoming more prevalent across all sectors of the economy. The sustainable management of these finite resources will ultimately determine the ability of South Africa to deliver against the increasingly interconnected and complex agenda around improved livelihoods, while maintaining and protecting the planet. Download here to read the […]

Land Reform in the Free State


The establishment of an “integrated and inclusive rural economy” has been identified by the National Planning Commission (NPC) as one of the key goals for achieving their vision 2030.

Small Scale Farmers Brief


Small scale farmer settlement and development is one of the key priorities in the National Department of Agriculture’s (DoA) Strategic Plan. A number of challenges related to the establishment and development of small farmers are, however, present. Amongst others, these challenges include a lack of access to land, financial services, mentorship programs and markets.

Climate, Energy and the Agricultural sector – May 2022

June 1, 2022

South Africa is exceptionally vulnerable to climate variability and changing weather patterns since it is highly dependent on rain-fed agriculture and limited in high potential cropping land. Governments, the private sector, donor organisations and the public worldwide are making firm commitments to accelerate mitigation and adaptation actions to address climate change, and the pressure for […]

Evaluating the Competitiveness of South African Pork Production within the Global Context


Modern agriculture has been exposed to an increasingly globalised society. Access to the global market has provided consumers with access to a wider range of products, at competitive prices. For the agricultural producer, competitiveness within the global context has become paramount, as increasing trade globally increases the level of competition faced by domestic producers.

Canola Yield Loss Calculator App


BFAP was appointed by the Oilseeds Advisory Committee (OAC) to develop a user-friendly App Customisation for a dedicated group of farmers and app-users who would use it to record Canola Yield Losses during the 2020 harvesting season. The app was designed to feed geo-referenced data directly into a database for effective reporting and sharing. The […]

Key drivers of quality of soybean products for feed use in South Africa

November 5, 2021

BFAP has undertaken a study, funded by the Oilseeds Advisory Committee (OAC) to provide a deeper understanding of the key drivers of quality of soybean products for feed use in South Africa. Dr. Wiltrud Durandt, Ms. Helga Ottermann, Ms. Louise Cloete and Mrs. Marion Delport authored a report unpacking the drivers of soybean product quality at farm-level, […]

Soybean Yield Loss Calculator App


BFAP was appointed by the Oilseeds Advisory Committee (OAC) to develop a user-friendly App Customisation and visited a dedicated study group of farmers who collaborated in measuring Soybean Yield losses during the 2021 harvesting season. The app was designed to feed geo-referenced data directly into a database for effective reporting and sharing. Download the report summarising outcomes […]

Competitiveness of the South African Broiler Industry


This report benchmarks the efficiency of  South-African broiler producers. It considers terms technical efficiency and production cost in SA relative to other leading producers globally. Read more here.  

The Impact of Coal Mining on Agriculture


South Africa has only 1.5% high potential arable soils (soils best suited for cash crop production).

Policy brief on the 2015/2016 drought


This report evaluates the impact of the 2015/2016 drought on the South African economy, on commercial and smallholder producers, and on consumers. Download.

Economic Impact of the 2017 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak in South Africa


The recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in South Africa had a notable effect on the poultry industry – one of South Africa’s largest agricultural subsectors.

Evaluating the South African Pork Value Chain


Following a period of extremely high feed costs, combined with stagnant producer prices for pork over the past few years, South African pork producers have found their profit margins under increasing pressure.

Quantifying the impact of reduced import tariffs on soya beans and soya bean meal in the South African soya value chain

June 2, 2021

Over the past 10 years (2010-2020) the South African soyabean industry has been one of the country’s biggest agricultural and agro-processing success stories. The area planted has more than doubled, production has nearly tripled and major investments in processing facilities have boosted total crushing capacity to 2.2 million tons (1.76 mil tons @ 80% utilisation) […]

Soybean yield loss calculator 2022


BFAP was appointed by the Oilseeds Advisory Committee (OAC) to repeat the soybean calculator app roll out first developed in 2021. The team visited a dedicated study group of farmers who collaborated in measuring Soybean Yield losses during the 2022 harvesting season, with special focus on higher moisture content harvesting. Download the report summarising outcomes here: https://old.bfap.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Soybean-Yield-Loss-App_Report-2022_final-template_review.pdf

An overview of derived soy products used for human consumption in South Africa


Soybeans and its related products are used in a multitude of forms in different food products. The main soy derivative products produced for the human food market are full-fat soybean meal, white flakes (also referred to as defatted soybean meal), textured vegetable protein (TVP), soy concentrates and soy isolates. Full fat soybean meal is mainly […]

Decarbonisation, Net Zero and Agriculture – October 2022

October 31, 2022

Agricultural has the ability to play a significant role in value chain decarbonisation and in reducing poverty by improving food security and creating sustainable jobs – all critical objectives within the Global Sustainable Development Goals. In this brief BFAP provides an overview to their systematic framework and approach to identifying and prioritising agricultural initiatives that […]

Evaluating the Competitiveness of the South African Broiler Value Chain


The South African poultry industry is an important subsector within South African agriculture. It is the single largest contributor to total gross agricultural production value and has significant up and downstream multiplier effects through its long, integrated value chain.

Adding Value in the South African Maize Value Chain


Maize is the most important grain crop in South Africa, being both the major feed grain for the animal feed industry and the staple food for the majority of the South African population.

Implications of the National Water Resource Strategy


On 11 November 2011, the National Development Plan 2030 of the National Planning Commission was released. The overall target is to reduce the number of households living below R448 per month per person from 39% to zero by 2030.

PPVC: Deep Dive Analysis on the Beef Value Chain in Kenya


These reports present findings from the Policy Prioritisation through Value Chain analysis (PPVC) methodology applied in Kenya. Three deep dive value chains were selected: Coffee, Aquaculture and Beef. To Read the executive summary, click here. And for the full report, click here.

South African adoption rate of GM maize

March 4, 2023

In this report, BFAP assesses the adoption trends of GM maize seed in South Africa. The main objective of this ongoing Maize Trust supported initiative is to estimate the most recent maize production season’s GM maize planting areas and GM trait adoption trends, as seed sales figures become available, in order to expand the historic database on […]

The Balance of Natural Resources


In the most recent State of the Nation Addresses (SONA, 2015a; 2015b) the President referred to a Nine Point Plan to revitalise the South African economy. Matters that took centre stage included agriculture in its role of promoting growth and food security and being one of the platforms through which increased equity can be achieved.

Modelling the Economic Impact of Climate Change on the South African Maize Industry


The aim of this report is to compile from the wealth of literature available, a comprehensive overview of the definitions and causes of climate change, incorporate the results of climate models into the BFAP sector model, and simulate the possible economic impacts of climate change on the South African maize industry.

The Potential Impact of the National Minimum Wage on the Agricultural Sector


The South African government is pursuing the dual goal of ensuring maximum employment and wages. The relevance of these goals cannot be disputed but they are often in conflict and hence a fine balance has to be struck between ensuring that workers receive a decent wage whilst ensuring the long term financial sustainability of agribusinesses, investment and ensuring a conducive environment for maximum employment.

The Profitability and Competitiveness of the Barley Industry


Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production in South Africa is restricted to specific areas in the Northern and Southern Cape as well as the North West Province.

Reflections on Mechanization Trends in Africa


This piece documents discussions on recent trends on mechanization in Africa held at a workshop session on agro-industrial transformation as a driver for employment generation, food security and rural development in Africa which took place at the 6th African Conference of Agricultural Economists in Abuja, Nigeria in September 2019. Read more.

Bio-ethanol Production in South Africa


High oil prices and uncertainties regarding future reserves as well as the phenomenon of global warming have led to countries considering alternative means of energy generation.

Trade Flow Patterns of Maize in South Africa


Before the maize market was liberalized, trade in South Africa was relatively simple. Under controlled marketing, maize prices were set by the Maize Board at levels that were in many years significantly higher than export parity levels.

The African Continental Free Trade Area: Realities of intra-trade in fresh produce

February 6, 2023

The African Continental Free trade Area (AfCFTA) was signed in 2018 and entered into force in 2019. Some aspects of the agreement still need to be finalised. It is expected to increase intra-Africa trade opportunities when fully implemented. The agricultural sector is expected to benefit from the trade opportunities as it is the mainstay of most […]

PPVC: Deep Dive Analysis on the Aquaculture Value Chain in Kenya


These reports present findings from the Policy Prioritisation through Value Chain analysis (PPVC) methodology applied in Kenya. Three deep dive value chains were selected: Coffee, Aquaculture and Beef. To Read the executive summary, click here. And for the full report, click here.

Integrated monitoring & evaluation – December 2022

December 12, 2022

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) should not be seen as something that is done at the end of an initiative or programme to report on historic performance but rather a tool to provide real time information and insights that enable efficient and effective decision making to drive future sustainability and impact. In this brief, BFAP introduces […]

Determining potato price drivers: a statistical modelling approach

February 6, 2023

Potato fresh produce prices on South African markets can vary significantly depending on seasonality and the specific market under consideration. Qualitative characteristics (like potato class, size and packaging size) and even the potato cultivar or variety offered can also play a role. BFAP undertook a hedonic price modelling study to inform industry stakeholders on the key […]

PPVC: Deep Dive Analysis on the Coffee Value Chain in Kenya


These reports present findings from the Policy Prioritisation through Value Chain analysis (PPVC) methodology applied in Kenya. Three deep dive value chains were selected: Coffee, Aquaculture and Beef. To Read the executive summary, click here. And for the full report, click here.

The South African Sunflower Complex


The objective of this study was to evaluate and analyse the South African sunflower value chain in order to assess the overall state of the industry. The study maps out the sunflower seed, sunflower oil and oil cake value chain, displaying the linkages between the various components within the South African oil seed industry.