Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has announced the approval and funding of nine new research projects. Each project was developed through RMIS’s Field to Future framework, an industry-informed process to identify the real-world challenges faced by farmers, feedlots, abattoirs, and other value chain stakeholders.
Dewald Olivier, chief executive officer of RMIS, said their research strategy is built on listening, and every project was based on a practical challenge identified by the people who live and work within the red meat industry.
“This ensures our projects are relevant and positioned to deliver measurable results for the industry we serve,” he said.
Focus areas of the nine research projects
1. Evidence-based risk reduction for FMD virus persistence at slaughter
This project, led by Prof Armanda Bastos of the University of Pretoria (UP), investigates the persistence of the SAT-type foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus in cattle post-infection, particularly the risk posed by “carrier” animals during slaughter. It aims to detect, quantify, and eliminate virus persistence in high-risk tissues, guiding science-based revisions to current slaughter regulations.
The research directly supports RMIS’s strategic goals by addressing regulatory inefficiencies that impact competitiveness, trade, and sustainability. It provides scientific evidence to refine deboning, deglanding, and offal disposal requirements, which currently impose blanket restrictions and financial losses on producers.
By clarifying the actual risk of virus persistence and transmission, the project will reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, improve slaughter efficiency, and support international trade. It also enhances food and job security by minimising economic losses in feedlots and across the value chain.
2. Estimating the economic impact of FMD on the red meat sector
This study by Dr WA Lombard, project leader, Prof. Yonas Bahta, and Dr H.N. van Niekerk of the University of the Free State, aims to quantify the full economic impact of FMD outbreaks across South Africa’s red meat value chain. It will assess direct losses to producers, indirect effects on suppliers and processors, and broader macroeconomic consequences, including GDP, trade, employment, and income.
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The research supports RMIS’s strategic goals by providing evidence-based insights that justify investment in biosecurity, coordinated animal health systems, and resilience-building measures. It aligns with the industry’s need for data-driven policy and planning to mitigate systemic risks.
By revealing the scale and ripple effects of FMD disruptions, the study empowers producers, processors, and policymakers to make informed decisions. It strengthens the case for compensation mechanisms, targeted support, and improved preparedness for future disease shocks.
3. Policing livestock theft in rural SA: Community engagement and evidence-based strategies
Unisa’s Willie Clack investigates livestock theft in South Africa, focusing on farmer experiences, recovery rates, and the role of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NSTPF).
It aims to understand how farmers perceive and respond to theft, and to evaluate the effectiveness of current prevention and policing strategies.
The research supports the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2020 by addressing a critical threat to rural livelihoods and food security. It contributes to the strategy’s emphasis on skills development and rural safety by generating actionable insights into theft prevention and response mechanisms.
Livestock theft causes significant economic losses and undermines farmer confidence and safety. This study provides empirical data to inform policy, improve coordination between stakeholders, and strengthen rural security networks. It empowers industry bodies and law enforcement with evidence to refine interventions and enhance recovery rates.
4. Understanding farming approaches and land access systems to strengthen transformation support
This desktop study by OABS’s Dr Hamman Oosthuizen, project leader, Ryan Newborn, and Dr Johan van Rooyen investigates the farming approaches of emerging livestock farmers in South Africa, with specific reference to the land access systems they operate under: communal and freehold. It aims to understand how these systems influence production practices and the effectiveness of development support programmes.
The research aligns with the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030 by addressing the transformation and inclusivity goals of the sector. With 40–50% of the national herd in the hands of communal and smallholder farmers, understanding their realities is essential to designing effective support mechanisms that unlock growth and improve productivity.
The study provides a foundational baseline for improving transformation initiatives. By identifying governance structures, production systems, pain points, and knowledge gaps, it enables better programme design and implementation. This will help the industry move toward inclusive growth, rural development, and increased competitiveness.
5. Mapping the South African red meat value chain for strategic growth
Dr Hamman Oosthuizen aims to comprehensively map and update the South African red meat value chain, capturing the full spectrum of stakeholders, production systems, market flows, and governance structures.
The study addresses the current lack of integrated, up-to-date data that hinders effective planning, transformation, and market access, especially for emerging and communal producers.
The research enables data-driven decision-making across key focus areas: animal and public health, inclusive growth, market access, and competitiveness. It provides the analytical foundation to measure progress toward strategic targets such as expanding exports, implementing traceability systems, and integrating 250 000 additional weaner calves into the commercial chain.
By delivering a clear, visual framework of the value chain, the study will help identify bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities for value addition. It enhances transparency, supports inclusive market development, and strengthens resilience against regulatory, environmental, and health-related disruptions. The updated map will serve as a strategic tool for industry stakeholders and policymakers.
6. Farm-level vaccination planning and national strategy for the red meat industry
VNet’s Dr Danie Odendaal investigates the current status of farm-level vaccination and herd health planning across South Africa’s red meat sector. It aims to determine how many farmers have written vaccination plans, understand barriers to adoption, and develop practical tools and templates to support structured disease prevention.
The study will also explore electronic systems to enhance planning, monitoring, and reporting, ultimately delivering a phased National Vaccination Strategy.
The project will provide RMIS and stakeholders with a clear picture of vaccination planning at farm level, identify gaps, and offer implementable solutions. It will reduce preventable disease losses, improve herd health, and enhance both local production and international market access.
7. Vet Connect: A digital veterinary support platform for SA’s red meat sector
This project, led by David Malan of Gendac, proposes the development of a scalable, mobile-accessible veterinary decision-support platform designed to assist farmers – especially those in remote, communal, and small-scale systems – with timely and accurate disease diagnosis. The platform will offer symptom identification, triage advice, and escalation pathways via machine learning diagnostics, digital call centres, and on-site veterinary visits.
The initiative directly supports the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030 by:
- Addressing service delivery gaps for communal and small-scale farmers (Constraint 4)
- Enhancing disease reporting and integration with national traceability systems (Constraint 5)
- Enabling early detection and resource prioritisation to mitigate disease risks (Constraint 6)
By improving access to veterinary support and real-time field data, the platform will strengthen animal health outcomes, empower producers, and enhance the sector’s resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. It also bridges the gap between research and practical field application, especially in underserved areas.
8. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) roadmap for the SA red meat industry
The project by AgriFusion’s Frans van Wyk aims to develop a comprehensive ESG roadmap for the South African red meat industry. It builds on international ESG standards while addressing local realities, and is designed to align directly with the RMIS 2030 Strategy.
The research defines a sustainability framework that enhances long-term competitiveness, inclusivity, and resilience. It integrates existing compliance frameworks, identifies material sustainability issues, and proposes robust data governance and reporting mechanisms.
The roadmap will enable industry-wide alignment and transparency, helping RMIS communicate its environmental stewardship, social inclusion, and governance integrity to both domestic and global stakeholders. It positions the industry to meet evolving market and regulatory expectations while strengthening its reputation and operational sustainability.
9. Integrated market development framework towards a quality-based beef marketing strategy for SA
The research by BFAP’s Gerhard van den Burg and Prof Phillip Strydom of Stellenbosch University aims to develop a market- and consumer-focused strategic framework to guide beef marketing in South Africa. The project seeks to enhance transparency, competitiveness, and inclusivity within the red meat value chain by upgrading the country’s grading and classification system to better reflect both market requirements and consumer preferences.
Currently, South Africa’s carcass classification system does not adequately communicate quality attributes such as tenderness, marbling, and eating quality to consumers. This initiative will therefore assess the need for revision and develop a roadmap for the implementation of a quality-linked beef grading framework.
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