A JUST TRANSITION AGENDA FOR FOOD SYSTEM POLICY-MAKING IN SOUTH AFRICA: LEARNING FROM THE BEEF SECTOR

The document argues that South Africa's food system, specifically the beef sector, is characterized by high environmental impacts and deep socio-economic inequalities. It finds that current industry responses—focused on technological efficiency and market growth—fail to address the precarious conditions of farm workers, the concentration of power in large-scale feedlots, and the urgent need to reduce methane emissions. The authors recommend a transformative approach to adaptation and mitigation that prioritizes labor reform, gender justice, and the right to food over industrial expansion.

• The beef sector is a significant source of climate emissions in South Africa, with cattle contributing 6.7% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of agricultural methane in 2020.
• Beef consumption in South Africa is marked by extreme inequality; while the per capita availability of 18kg is similar to high-income nations, the richest 10% of the population spend over 14 times more on beef annually than the poorest 10%.
• Farm workers in the cattle sector face severe vulnerabilities due to a segmented labor market characterized by low wages, poor working conditions, and a dependence on farm owners for housing and transport.
• The beef industry is experiencing increasing economic concentration, with the 10 largest feedlots increasing their share of total beef production from 51% to 69% between 2015 and 2020.
• Current industry strategies for a 'just transition' are limited by a market-led growth approach that prioritizes export markets and technical efficiency over structural social reforms and holistic ecological regeneration.
• Gender inequality is prevalent in the agricultural labor market; for example, a 2022 study in the Eastern Cape showed permanent male workers earning R4,229 on average compared to R2,438 for seasonal women workers.

APA

Wegerif, M. (2024). A JUST TRANSITION AGENDA FOR FOOD SYSTEM POLICY-MAKING IN SOUTH AFRICA: LEARNING FROM THE BEEF SECTOR. Institute for Economic Justice. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IEJ-policybrief-BeefSector-Aug2024.pdf

Chicago

Wegerif, Marc. A JUST TRANSITION AGENDA FOR FOOD SYSTEM POLICY-MAKING IN SOUTH AFRICA: LEARNING FROM THE BEEF SECTOR. Institute for Economic Justice, 2024. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IEJ-policybrief-BeefSector-Aug2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wegerif |first1=Marc |title=A JUST TRANSITION AGENDA FOR FOOD SYSTEM POLICY-MAKING IN SOUTH AFRICA: LEARNING FROM THE BEEF SECTOR |publisher=Institute for Economic Justice |date=August 2024 |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IEJ-policybrief-BeefSector-Aug2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wegerif2024just, author = {Wegerif, Marc}, title = {{A JUST TRANSITION AGENDA FOR FOOD SYSTEM POLICY-MAKING IN SOUTH AFRICA: LEARNING FROM THE BEEF SECTOR}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IEJ-policybrief-BeefSector-Aug2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }