DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 5th August 2026, As South Africa assumes the Chairship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and hosts the 2026 SADC Summit, regional leaders, policymakers, development partners, researchers, private sector representatives and agricultural experts will convene for the High-Level SADC Food Systems Transformation Policy Dialogue. This critical side event will take place on 14 August 2026 at the Southern Sun, Elangeni and Maharani Hotel in Durban, KwaZulu Natal.
Held as an official side event of the SADC Summit, the Dialogue will provide a strategic platform for advancing regional collaboration and accelerating implementation of practical solutions that strengthen food security, nutrition, climate resilience and inclusive agricultural growth across Southern Africa.
Responding to a Region at a Critical Crossroads
Southern Africa is at a critical juncture in its development trajectory. The region continues to face a convergence of challenges that threaten agricultural productivity, livelihoods and economic resilience. Increasing climate variability, characterised by prolonged droughts, devastating floods, and extreme heatwaves, has intensified pressure on already vulnerable food systems. These challenges are compounded by rising and volatile fertiliser prices, declining soil health, limited access to quality agricultural inputs and recurring outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that disrupt livestock production, regional trade and rural incomes.
At the same time, Southern Africa possesses enormous potential to transform its food systems into drivers of sustainable economic growth, job creation, improved nutrition and climate resilience. Unlocking his potential will require stronger regional cooperation, evidence-based policies, increased investment and coordinated action among governments, development partners, research institutions, the private sector and farming communities.
The High-Level Policy Dialogue seeks to catalyse this transformation by promoting practical, scalable solutions that support implementation of regional and national agricultural priorities while strengthening the resilience, sustainability and competitiveness of Southern Africa’s food systems.
Strategic Focus Areas
The Policy Dialogue will focus on four strategic pillars that are central to transforming the region’s agrifood systems:
- Scaling Indigenous and Underutilised Foods for Food and Nutrition Security
Participants will explore strategies for promoting indigenous and underutilised crops, livestock and fisheries as pathways to improving dietary diversity, nutrition, climate resilience and rural livelihoods. Discussions will highlight the importance of nutrition-sensitive agriculture, local food value chains, traditional knowledge and innovation in strengthening regional food sovereignty.
- Scaling Proven Climate-Smart Technologies for Agricultural Resilience
The Dialogue will showcase proven climate-smart technologies and practices that can be scaled across the region to improve agricultural productivity while building resilience to climate change. Discussions will cover climate adaptation pathways, sustainable land and water management, nature-based solutions, digital agriculture, weather and early warning services, and innovative financing mechanisms for climate-resilient agriculture.
2. Strengthening Access to Quality Agricultural Inputs and Productive Resources
Recognising that productivity depends on farmers’ access to quality inputs, the Dialogue will examine practical pathways for implementing the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (2024–2034). Discussions will focus on harmonising regional regulations, strengthening seed systems, improving soil health management, expanding soil testing services, promoting sustainable fertiliser use and enhancing access to quality inputs for smallholder farmers.
3. Advancing One Health for Livestock Resilience and Regional Trade
Building on the One Health approach, participants will discuss coordinated regional responses to transboundary animal diseases, with particular emphasis on Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The session will explore opportunities to strengthen surveillance systems, improve biosecurity, enhance cross-border collaboration, operationalise a regional FMD coordination framework and establish a SADC FMD Vaccine Bank to safeguard livestock production and facilitate safe regional trade.
Expected Outcomes & Regional Impact
By bringing together a diverse coalition of government ministries, regional institutions, development finance institutions, farmers’ organisations, research institutions and the private sector, the High-Level Dialogue is expected to culminate in the adoption of a SADC Food Systems Transformation Communiqué, setting out a shared regional agenda for accelerating resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems.
The Dialogue will generate concrete policy and investment recommendations to strengthen regional agricultural transformation, deepen policy harmonisation, mobilise strategic investments and operationalise coordinated commitments on agricultural productivity, food security and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) prevention and control.
Importantly, against the backdrop of forecasts pointing to a potentially severe 2026/27 El Niño season, the Dialogue will provide an opportunity for the region to reflect on collective preparedness and agree on priority actions to minimise the anticipated impacts on food systems and rural livelihoods. Discussions are expected to inform a coordinated regional preparedness framework centred on anticipatory action, strengthened climate and early warning services, strategic food and seed reserves, climate-resilient farming systems, water resource management, livestock protection, disaster risk financing and enhanced cross-border coordination. By acting early, SADC Member States can reduce the humanitarian and economic costs of climate shocks while protecting agricultural production, trade and food security across the region.
CONVENING PARTNERS
Convened by the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Republic of South Africa, and the SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate, the Dialogue is supported by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), FANRPAN South Africa Node, Kagiso Trust, FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) South Africa, CARE Southern Africa, the Africa Climate Foundation, the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), Trust Africa, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) South Africa, reflecting a strong multi-stakeholder commitment to advancing resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems across the SADC region.
