THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR A JUST TRANSITION

The South African food system is characterized by concentrated corporate ownership, policies favoring large-scale commercial agriculture for export, and high levels of food insecurity, with at least one in five households regularly food insecure. The current industrial model causes significant environmental damage through toxic chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions, while WTO-mandated open markets lead to a dependency on cheap, subsidized imports that undermine local production. The document proposes a just transition centered on the right to food, the implementation of a universal basic income grant, and the adoption of agroecology to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation.

• The South African food system is marked by concentrated corporate control and policies that prioritize export markets over domestic food security, leading to the export of scarce water and soil while profits remain in private hands.
• Food insecurity is widespread in South Africa, affecting at least 20% of households, with black women and people in rural or informal settlements being the most impacted.
• WTO policies force markets open, allowing subsidized, low-quality food imports that undermine South African domestic production and create a cycle of dependency.
• Industrial food production in South Africa causes significant environmental harm, including greenhouse gas emissions and the use of toxic chemicals, while remaining highly vulnerable to climate change.
• A just transition would replace the current industrial model with agroecology and a system based on the right to food, incorporating a universal basic income grant and redistributed resources.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (n.d.). THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR A JUST TRANSITION. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-02-ENG-SA-food-system-just-transition_Web_fin.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR A JUST TRANSITION. n.d. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-02-ENG-SA-food-system-just-transition_Web_fin.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR A JUST TRANSITION |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-02-ENG-SA-food-system-just-transition_Web_fin.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforeconomicjusticendsouth, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR A JUST TRANSITION}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-02-ENG-SA-food-system-just-transition_Web_fin.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }