Agriculture

Cape Town Expo Showcased Strong Voices in Organic and Natural Products Sector (Image credit: Organic & Natural Products)

The Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa brought fresh energy to Cape Town, delivering one of its most engaging conference programmes to date

Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 17 to 19 April 2026, the event gathered industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers for three days focused on trade, insight, and collaboration.

With Standard Bank as the headline sponsor, the event reflected growing confidence in the sector. Deenash Pillay, Head of Small Business Segments for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank, said, “We are delighted to be a partner again this year, on a greater scale, as we believe in this sector’s potential to drive sustainable economic development that benefits communities across our continent. Our vision is to see Africa become a global leader in the organic and natural products space, not just as a supplier of raw materials, but as a hub for innovation, processing, and brand development,” says Deenash Pillay.

The programme opened on Friday with practical sessions aimed at small businesses. Experts from Standard Bank led discussions on financial health, followed by insights into the use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency. Conversations around conscious consumer behaviour and retail trends also drew strong interest, offering businesses a clearer understanding of changing market demands.

Saturday shifted attention towards innovation and export potential. Industry specialists explored the future of the mushroom sector, emerging technologies, and the role of wellness products in modern lifestyles. A panel of trade and development experts shared guidance on expanding into international markets, giving attendees realistic strategies for growth. There was also a focus on regional development, highlighting opportunities within agri processing and sustainable supply chains.

The final day centred on wellbeing and sustainability. Speakers shared personal and professional perspectives on health, skincare, and environmentally responsible building materials. Interactive experiences added a more human touch, allowing visitors to engage with products in a meaningful way.

Reflecting on the event, Warren Hickinbotham, co-founder of the expo, said, "Conversations on the show floor are shaping the future of how Africa grows, processes, and sells natural products. We have built a programme that meets our audience where they are and takes them further." He added, "From government trade bodies to AI innovators to wellness practitioners, the range of expertise on our stage this year is extraordinary. This is what happens when an industry matures and starts asking deeper questions."

The expo reached full capacity, with exhibitor space completely sold out, underlining the sector’s rapid growth and rising demand.

Ethiopia strengthens its place as Africa’s agricultural powerhouse (Image credit: ENA)

Ethiopia is steadily reinforcing its reputation as a major force in African agriculture, now recognised as the continent’s top wheat producer and the largest producer and exporter of coffee

This milestone was highlighted by Agriculture State Minister Professor Eyasu Elias during the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) meeting in Addis Ababa, marking the organisation’s 20th anniversary.

Professor Eyasu pointed to a clear and determined national strategy that has driven this transformation. Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office, Ethiopia has prioritised agriculture through strong leadership, coordinated policies, and sustained investment in farmers. These efforts have helped the country shift towards more climate resilient irrigation systems, particularly in wheat production, while maintaining its global reputation for high quality coffee.

He emphasised that these achievements closely reflect AGRA’s mission to improve seed systems, boost productivity, expand market access, and build resilient agricultural frameworks. The organisation has also played a key role in strengthening Ethiopia’s value chains across crops such as wheat, oilseeds, rice, and sorghum, alongside improving institutional and policy capacity.

AGRA Board Chairman Hailemariam Dessalegn, said, "This remains as relevant today as it was then as agriculture serves as the backbone of most African economies, and the continent's prosperity depends on the success of its farmers," the Board Chairman stressed. He further noted that Ethiopia stands out as a model, with agriculture contributing more than 30 percent of its GDP, supporting most of the population, and driving export growth.

AGRA President Alice Ruhweza, said, "We must continue to strengthen the systems that enable agriculture to deliver from policy, institutions, research, innovation, to markets that all function effectively. It also means ensuring that partners are not only working together, but aligned around clear priorities and tangible results."

South Africa boosts citrus trade with China through new export agreement

South Africa has taken an important step in strengthening its citrus trade with China following changes to export rules on cold treatment

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has welcomed the update, describing it as a positive move that will expand trade and reinforce an already strong relationship between the two countries. The change is expected to support South Africa’s standing as the leading exporter of citrus to China.

The revised approach to cold treatment is set to make the export process smoother and more efficient. Producers and exporters are likely to benefit from lower costs while ensuring that fruit reaches Chinese markets in better condition. This improvement is expected to help South African citrus maintain and grow its presence in a fast developing and competitive market.

China continues to be one of South Africa’s key agricultural partners. In 2025, citrus exports to China and Hong Kong reached about 11.5 million cartons, making up around 6 percent of total exports. With demand in the region continuing to rise, there is clear room for further growth.

The agreement also builds on recent progress in trade relations. South Africa has already gained access to the Chinese market for stone fruits such as apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and prunes. These developments show a steady expansion of opportunities for farmers and exporters across different sectors.

“South Africa places a high value on its relationship with China, which continues to create meaningful opportunities across our agricultural sector,” said Minister Steenhuisen. “These agreements are the result of trust, respect and sustained cooperation, and they are helping open doors for our producers at a time when diversification has never been more important.”

The citrus industry remains a vital part of the country’s agricultural strength. In 2025, exports from Southern Africa reached about 204 million cartons, with South Africa contributing the majority. Earnings passed 2 billion dollars for the first time, reaching around 2.47 billion dollars. The sector supports about 140000 direct jobs and many more across related industries, making it a key driver of rural livelihoods and economic growth.

South Africa raises alert as goss’s wilt spreads across maize regions

South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has issued an important update on the spread of Goss’s Wilt, a serious bacterial disease affecting maize

The announcement is directed at farmers, growers and the wider public, highlighting a change in the distribution of the disease and the need for continued awareness.

The disease was first identified in 2024 in four provinces, namely Free State, North West, Gauteng and Eastern Cape. After a detailed survey carried out in 2025, it has now been confirmed in additional regions including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape. At present, KwaZulu Natal remains the only province where no cases have been reported.

Efforts to manage the disease are ongoing, with the department working closely with research bodies and industry partners. Current work includes building a collection of local bacterial strains, improving testing and monitoring systems, and identifying maize varieties that can better tolerate or resist the disease. There is also a strong focus on sharing knowledge between farmers, scientists and policymakers, as well as developing practical guidance suited to different regions.

Goss’s Wilt is regulated under national agricultural laws, with measures in place to limit its spread. These rules are aimed at protecting unaffected areas by controlling the movement of plant material and farming equipment from infected zones. Maize remains the only crop of economic importance that is known to be affected.

The disease can spread in several ways. Within fields, it can move from plant to plant through direct contact. Over longer distances, it may travel through infected seeds, although this is considered rare. A more significant risk comes from farm equipment such as harvesters and planters, which can carry infected plant material between fields if not properly cleaned.

There are currently no chemical treatments available to control Goss’s Wilt. Farmers are therefore encouraged to rely on good farming practices, such as crop rotation, use of resistant varieties and careful handling of equipment. Strong hygiene and biosecurity measures remain essential to limit further spread and protect maize production across the country.