Amid widespread foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks, South Africa’s pork industry has also felt the impact. Although the effects have not been as severe as in other industries, the long-term consequences are expected to emerge over time.
At a media day in Cape Town, the South African Pork Producers Organisation (Sappo) chief executive officer, Dr Marlene Louw, said the current disease outbreaks – not only FMD – are risking expansion for producers.
“Locally, the FMD outbreak is the biggest threat to the industry, and globally, the geopolitics are also having a severe impact as the industry now operates in a high-risk environment.
“Also, locally, consumer spending power is still a challenge based on the financial stress the country faces. Consumers still look for meat cuts in terms of spending, so there are a lot of pressures that the industry is navigating,” she said.
Pork producers tackle disease and market pressures
However, Louw said the resilience of the industry has not gone without notice, and despite global tensions, the industry’s value growth grew by 14%.
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“Profitability is good at this point. South Africa is doing well compared to other countries, because currently, we are the third most effective pork producer in the world. So we are doing many things great.
“On our responsiveness to FMD, we are way better than where we were in November 2025. Now we are more prepared and able to respond to the disease effectively, and producers are also coming to the party,” she explained.
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Louw noted that the focus now needs to go to preserving the industry and saving thousands of jobs, which is the industry’s top priority, as there is more room for growth.
She also stated that the industry has had 16 outbreaks, with North West and KwaZulu-Natal. The collaboration between the organisations and farmers has been extremely critical in combating the spread of FMD, with provinces like the Western Cape being free of FMD outbreaks in pig farming.
Head of consumer assurance at Sappo, Dr Thandi Chiappero, said the organisation has been working on vaccinations, and agile coordination has been the order of the day.
“As we have had limited vaccines, we had to only vaccinate where needed; however, our coordination has been excellent so far. Everyone is coming to the table to get the industry working,” she said.
Ensuring traceability and quality pork
Chiappero explained that the organisation has started an app called Pork 360, which entails traceability and ensures all stakeholders, producers, retailers, chefs, and consumers track the pork they eat or sell.
“Pork 360 needs to be known by all stakeholders. It has become a game-changer for us, and it forms part of a strategic plan for us at Sappo,” she said.
Louw added that while there is a threat of imports, there is no need for consumers and the industry to hit the panic button as yet. There is enough meat for the country, and there are no concerns over quality and food security.
“Despite all this, it’s not all gloom and doom. Moving forward, efficiency will be the new order of the game to sustain this industry and livelihoods,” she said.
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