Climate change is no longer affecting only farms—it is increasingly disrupting South Africa’s food processing industry, threatening food security, employment and economic growth.

A new study conducted in Gauteng Province has found that agri-processing businesses are struggling to cope with the growing impacts of droughts, floods, heatwaves and unreliable water and energy supplies. Researchers say greater investment in climate adaptation, education and infrastructure is essential to build a more resilient food system.

Agri-Processing: The Link Between Farms And Consumers

While climate discussions often focus on crop and livestock production, the agri-processing sector plays an equally vital role in the food value chain.

Agri-processors transform raw agricultural products into consumer-ready goods through activities such as milling, food manufacturing, packaging, preservation, storage and distribution.

In South Africa, the sector contributes approximately 25% of the country’s manufacturing output and supports more than 300,000 direct jobs, making it a cornerstone of the national economy.

However, because processors rely heavily on a consistent supply of agricultural commodities, they are particularly vulnerable to climate-related disruptions affecting primary production.

Study Highlights Growing Climate Risks

Researchers surveyed 113 agri-processing enterprises across Gauteng, South Africa’s industrial and food manufacturing hub, to assess how businesses are responding to climate change.

The study covered businesses involved in grain milling, dairy processing, meat production, poultry, fruit and vegetable processing, bakeries and food manufacturing.

Participants identified several major climate-related challenges, including:

• Water shortages.
• Rising temperatures.
• Irregular supplies of agricultural raw materials.
• Increasing production costs.
• Unreliable electricity and municipal services.

These disruptions not only affect individual businesses but also have broader implications for food availability, pricing and supply chains across South Africa.

Education Drives Climate Adaptation

One of the study’s strongest findings was the importance of education in helping businesses respond to climate risks.

Researchers found that business owners with university education were more likely to implement effective climate adaptation strategies than those without formal higher education.

By contrast, traditional business training programmes had limited impact because they focused primarily on production and business management rather than climate resilience.

The study concludes that climate education should become an integral part of enterprise development programmes.

Businesses Are Already Adapting

Many agri-processing businesses have begun implementing measures to reduce climate risks.

These include:

• Improving water conservation.
• Investing in energy-efficient technologies.
• Expanding production of longer shelf-life food products.
• Improving storage and cooling facilities.
• Adjusting working hours during extreme heat.
• Diversifying suppliers of agricultural raw materials.

While these initiatives have strengthened resilience, many businesses reported that limited financial resources and technical expertise prevent them from implementing larger adaptation projects.

Funding And Infrastructure Remain Critical

The research highlights access to finance as one of the biggest barriers to climate adaptation.

Businesses require investment to modernise equipment, improve water management systems, strengthen cold storage capacity and adopt technologies capable of withstanding increasingly frequent climate shocks.

Researchers also emphasise that reliable public infrastructure is essential.

Stable electricity, dependable water supplies and efficient municipal services provide the foundation upon which climate adaptation investments can succeed.

Without these basic services, even well-prepared businesses face significant operational risks.

Greater Support Needed for Women Entrepreneurs

The study found that women-owned agri-processing businesses face additional challenges in adapting to climate change.

Female entrepreneurs often experience greater difficulty accessing finance, technology, climate information and market opportunities, limiting their ability to invest in resilience measures.

Researchers recommend targeted support programmes that improve access to funding, technical assistance and climate-focused training for women-led enterprises.

Building More Resilient Food Systems

The findings reinforce the need for stronger collaboration between government, industry associations, financial institutions and development partners to strengthen South Africa’s food value chains.

Integrating climate adaptation into existing business support programmes, expanding climate education and improving access to finance will help agri-processing businesses prepare for future environmental challenges.

As climate-related disruptions become more frequent, protecting the agri-processing sector will be essential not only for safeguarding food supplies but also for preserving jobs, supporting rural economies and strengthening South Africa’s long-term food security.