What's Happening?
South Africa is experiencing significant economic challenges due to widespread outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) affecting its livestock sector. According to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), the disease has led to substantial
losses in both the dairy and beef industries. The number of FMD cases surged in 2025, reaching a record high of 24,406 cases, impacting eight of the country's nine provinces. The dairy sector has been hit particularly hard, with over 210,000 dairy cattle affected and losses estimated at R1 billion. The beef industry faces long-term exposure, with potential losses in gross production value reaching R11.3 billion by 2030 under a high-burden scenario.
Why It's Important?
The FMD outbreaks have far-reaching implications for South Africa's agricultural economy, affecting trade, rural employment, and food security. The loss of FMD-free status in 2019 has intensified disease pressures, leading to a high-burden disease scenario. The dairy and beef industries are central to the country's agricultural economy, contributing an estimated R68 billion in annual gross production value. The outbreaks threaten to disrupt production, trade flows, and recovery timelines, with potential knock-on effects for rural communities and employment. The situation underscores the need for urgent intervention to protect the livestock sector and the broader economy.
What's Next?
Free State Agriculture and other agricultural organizations are pursuing legal action to compel government intervention. The FMD crisis is being recognized as a national economic and trade emergency, requiring coordinated efforts to address the disease's impact. The government and industry stakeholders are likely to focus on implementing measures to control the spread of FMD, support affected farmers, and restore market access. The situation may also prompt a reevaluation of biosecurity measures and disease management strategies to prevent future outbreaks and protect the livestock sector.
