IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice outlines the projected impacts of climate change on South African agriculture and the food system, highlighting increased temperature rises, water scarcity, and the disproportionate vulnerability of smallholder farmers and marginalized groups. It advocates for a 'just transition' based on agroecological practices and resource redistribution to mitigate inequality and food insecurity.

• South Africa is projected to experience temperature increases of up to 3.5°C over the next 40 years, a rate that is twice the global average. This warming will be accompanied by an increase in extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and heatwaves, as well as adverse environmental effects such as desertification, land degradation, and soil erosion.
• Climate vulnerability varies by region, with coastal areas and the eastern borders of Limpopo and Mpumalanga being the most vulnerable, while the Highveld is expected to be less so. General conditions are projected to be drier in the north and west and slightly wetter in the east, with an overall decline in water availability and quality.
• Agricultural production will be impacted through pressure on maize and wheat yields due to temperature rises and water scarcity, leading to shifts in suitable production areas for various crops, including soya, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, and tree plantations. Production is expected to become more concentrated in smaller, irrigated areas with higher yields.
• Climate change is expected to exacerbate social and economic inequalities. Smallholder and homestead farmers, women, children, and the elderly are at the greatest risk, while large-scale commercial farmers possess more resources to adapt. Farm workers are already facing precarious conditions and job losses, and consumers are likely to face rising food prices.
• To avoid intensifying inequality, the document calls for a 'just transition' of the food system. Key recommendations include the rapid redistribution of land and water, the adoption of agroecological practices to restore biodiversity and soil, the implementation of a universal basic income grant, and the setting of emission reduction targets for the commercial food system, particularly regarding land use change and the livestock sector.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (n.d.). IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-ENG-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM. n.d. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-ENG-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-ENG-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforeconomicjusticendimpacts, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FactS-04-ENG-Impacts-of-CC_WEB_fin.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }