• Partnership includes surveillance, vaccine research and diagnostic tool development

• Effort aims protect livestock trade amid regional import restrictions

South Africa and Germany signed a joint declaration of intent on agricultural development on March 11. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and promote trade in animal products, the South African agriculture ministry said in a statement on its website.

The new partnership identifies five areas of cooperation: sharing best practices on preventing and containing FMD outbreaks, wildlife surveillance, advanced research on vaccine development, the development of high-performance diagnostic tools, and risk management related to high-risk materials in slaughterhouses.

"This collaboration goes beyond immediate crisis management. It paves the way for long-term exchanges of expertise, trade development, skills enhancement, and the integration of cutting-edge technology and innovation in agriculture," Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said.

Germany has a strong reputation in animal health, backed by an effective veterinary system and advanced scientific capabilities. The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, a national and international reference center for research on animal diseases and biosecurity, plays an active role in developing innovative FMD vaccines.

A Timely Context

South Africa is the country hardest hit in southern Africa by the FMD outbreak that has affected both commercial and smallholder farms since 2021. In response to a resurgence of cases in 2025, the government launched a national vaccination campaign in January 2026, relying on both a growing domestic industry and imports to secure vaccine supplies.

In a statement published on Feb. 6, the agriculture ministry said it had taken steps to secure supplies from foreign partners, including the Botswana Vaccine Institute, Argentine veterinary pharmaceutical company Biogénesis Bagó, and Turkey-based firm Dollvet, to ensure a steady flow of vaccines for the campaign.

For Pretoria, strengthening and modernizing animal health safeguards carries significant economic implications, particularly regarding FMD. Since the start of 2026, several countries have already banned or imposed restrictions on imports of cattle and related products from South Africa, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mauritius, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. The situation is expected to weigh on export revenues for the South African livestock sector.

Data compiled on the Trade Map platform shows that South Africa exported nearly $200 million worth of fresh and frozen beef in 2024, along with approximately $23.2 million in live cattle during the same year.

Stéphanas Assocle