Cross-Border Alignment Critical to Defeating Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Says Agriculture Minister

BOTHAVILLE — Regional collaboration across Southern Africa remains the cornerstone of efforts to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and unlock frozen livestock trade corridors, Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp told agricultural leaders at a public meeting in Bothaville in the Free State.

Addressing growing concerns over strict border closures and halted cattle movements, Aucamp emphasized that South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana must present a unified front to manage biosecurity threats across shared borders.

“It simply makes sense to work together. It would be counterproductive to try to combat the disease in isolation,” Aucamp said. Highlighting regional solidarity, he revealed that South Africa had already supplied 50,000 FMD vaccines to Namibia, Eswatini, and Lesotho to assist neighboring biosecurity operations.

Unlocking Cross-Border Red Meat Trade

The regional outbreak has dealt a heavy blow to livestock markets, leaving red meat exports from Botswana and Namibia entirely suspended. According to Aucamp, lifting these restrictions hinges on establishing mutually agreed-upon biosecurity protocols.

“We have already submitted protocols to that effect to Botswana and are awaiting an official reaction,” he noted. “The compartmentation of FMD-free zones in Botswana is one option that could be considered for the recommencement of imports from that country.”

Aucamp added that discussions with Namibian authorities remain ongoing and constructive. “I am also in constant communication with my counterpart in Namibia, and from South Africa’s side, we remain committed to assist in any way we can,” he said.

Expanding Vaccine Production Capacity

On the domestic front, South Africa is ramping up its defense against FMD, though significant supply gaps remain. The national cattle herd stands at approximately 15.2 million head, requiring millions of doses to achieve widespread immunity. However, state capacity at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) currently yields just 20,000 vaccine doses per month.

To bridge this shortfall, the government is leaning heavily on private sector partnerships. The ARC has resolved to license its vaccine manufacturing intellectual property to commercial producers a strategic move expected to scale production rapidly while generating dedicated revenue streams for state research.

Aucamp commended the quality of the ARC’s research and confirmed that royalties generated through private licensing agreements would be strictly ring-fenced to fund ongoing vaccine development.

A Call for Unity Across the Agricultural Value Chain

Reflecting on the friction between industry bodies and government officials following the initial FMD outbreak, Aucamp cautioned against operational fragmentation. He stressed that much of the tension could have been mitigated through proactive dialog and transparent engagement.

“The time has come for role players in the sector to talk with each other and not about each other,” Aucamp stated, urging all stakeholders across the red meat value chain to prioritize shared solutions over public division.