South Africa and Italy are looking to strengthen agricultural trade, investment and technology cooperation, as both countries move to deepen economic ties through a new partnership aimed at unlocking opportunities in the agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the opening of the South Africa-Italy Agribusiness Forum currently running in Cape Town, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said relations between the two countries have evolved beyond traditional trade and are entering a new phase focused on investment, innovation, agro-processing and job creation.
Steenhuisen said relations between the two countries are built on an already strong commercial foundation. Agricultural trade between South Africa and Italy currently exceeds R650 million annually, with South Africa maintaining a positive agricultural trade balance and horticulture exports alone valued at approximately R190 million.
“These figures tell an important story. They demonstrate that Italian consumers and businesses already recognize the quality of South African agricultural products. But they also suggest that we are only scratching the surface of what is possible.
“The real opportunity lies not just in exporting more fruit, nuts and other agricultural products, but in combining South Africa’s production strengths with Italy’s world-renowned expertise in processing, packaging, technology and branding, to create greater value across the entire supply chain,” Steenhuisen said.
The two-day forum, to be held on 9 and 10 June 2026, brought together business leaders, innovators and policy makers from both the countries to explore new opportunities for investment, technology exchange and market access.
Held under the theme: “South Africa and Italy Building Resilient, Value-Added Agri-Business Partnerships: From the Soil to the Shelf”, the Forum aims to advance economic growth through international cooperation and promote sustainable development within the agricultural sector.
Steenhuisen said South Africa's strategic position as a gateway to African markets, combined with the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), makes the country an attractive partner for Italian investors seeking access to one of the world's fastest growing consumer markets.
He said South Africa and Italy have complementary strengths that can support the development of integrated agricultural value chains spanning production, processing, logistics, technology and retail.
The Minister highlighted opportunities for cooperation in several provinces. In the Western Cape, he said partnerships could be expanded into wine production, citrus and fisheries industries, food processing and packaging technologies.
He said in Limpopo, where avocados, citrus, mangoes and nuts are driving agricultural growth, there are clear opportunities to work with regions such as Sicily, Calabria and Campania, which have developed sophisticated industries around fruit processing and Mediterranean cropping systems.
“Whether through avocado oil production, fruit pulp processing, citrus value addition or export partnerships, there is immense scope for creating integrated value chains that create greater value on both sides,” the minister said.
He also said Mpumalanga's macadamia and horticulture industries can benefit from Italian expertise in orchard technologies, precision agriculture, smart irrigation systems and advanced packaging solutions.
Similar opportunities exist in the dairy and livestock industries of the Eastern Cape, the grain-producing provinces of the Free State and the North West, and the sugar, forestry and subtropical fruit sectors of KwaZulu-Natal.
“What emerges from this picture is not just a trade relationship. It is the potential to create integrated value chains that connect farms, processors, logistics providers, researchers, technology companies and retailers from both countries. This is exactly the kind of economic partnership we should strive for,” Steenhuisen said.
The forum also focused on enhancing cooperation in agricultural research, biosecurity and innovation. Steenhuisen said stronger collaboration between South Africa's Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and Italy's Agricultural Research and Economics Council (CREA) could help accelerate innovation, improve plant and animal health systems and strengthen resilience against emerging agricultural threats.
Framework for Long Term Cooperation
A major outcome of the Forum is expected to be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between South Africa and Italy. The agreement will provide a framework for long-term cooperation in areas including agricultural mechanization, digital agriculture, agro-processing, technology transfer, extension services, seed development, soil health and sanitation and phytosanitary measures.
The MoU will also establish a Joint Working Group tasked with ensuring that the commitments made by both countries are translated into practical projects and measurable outcomes.
Steenhuisen said the partnership will support South Africa's objective of increasing value addition in the agricultural sector and help create jobs by expanding agro-related processing and manufacturing opportunities.
“This forum is about more than increasing trade volumes. It is about building commercial ties, investments and technology exchanges that will enable both our countries to move up the value chain,” the minister said. – sanews.gov.za