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

Climate change in South Africa is projected to increase temperatures by up to 3.5°C over 40 years, leading to water scarcity, yield pressure for maize and wheat, and increased vulnerability for smallholder farmers and marginalized groups. The document argues that a market-led response will intensify inequality and instead advocates for a just transition involving resource redistribution, agroecology, and social support systems.

• South Africa is projected to experience temperature increases of up to 3.5°C over the next 40 years, which is twice the global average. This warming will be accompanied by an increase in extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and heatwaves, alongside declining water quality and availability.
• Climate vulnerability varies geographically, with coastal areas and the eastern borders of Limpopo and Mpumalanga being the most vulnerable, while the Highveld is expected to be less so. Environmental impacts include desertification, land degradation, soil erosion, and the loss of biodiversity, with grasslands and forests serving as the country's largest carbon sinks.
• Agricultural production will be affected by shifts in suitable production areas for crops such as soya, sugarcane, wheat, maize, fruit, vegetables, and tree plantations. Maize and wheat yields specifically face pressure from rising temperatures and water scarcity, leading to a trend where production becomes 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. Farm workers are already facing precarious conditions and job losses due to droughts, and food prices are expected to rise as production lowers and wealthier markets compete for scarcer crops.
• To avoid intensifying inequality, the document argues for a 'just transition' of the food system. Key recommendations include the rapid redistribution of land and water, the adoption of agroecological practices (such as water harvesting and the use of drought-tolerant crops), 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 livestock.

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} }