Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has concluded a high-level working visit to Argentina, securing key agreements aimed at strengthening South Africa’s response to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and safeguarding the future of the livestock sector.
At the centre of the visit was a Ministerial engagement with Argentina’s Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Sergio Iraeta.
The partnership is anchored in the 2026–2028 FMD Work Plan, a time-bound programme designed to translate existing bilateral agreements into coordinated action. It focuses on enhanced technical cooperation, targeted capacity building, and strengthened scientific collaboration, with a clear focus on improving prevention, preparedness, and rapid response capabilities.
Steenhuisen led a delegation of senior officials and stakeholders, including from the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and representatives of organised agriculture. The mission sought to align international expertise with domestic operational needs at a crucial moment for South Africa’s animal health system.
South Africa has already secured and distributed 2.5 million doses of FMD vaccines from Biogénesis Bagó, including one million doses of bivalent SAT-1 and SAT-2 vaccines and 1.5 million doses of trivalent SAT-1, SAT-2, and SAT-3 vaccines.
During the visit, the delegation inspected production facilities where a further five million doses are ready for export, pending approval by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority under Section 21.
The meeting resulted in a firm commitment to a structured cooperation framework that will intensify joint efforts against FMD, while deepening bilateral ties in agricultural trade, food security, and animal health resilience.
To ensure sustained vaccine availability, OBP and Biogénesis Bagó concluded a distribution agreement aimed at securing a reliable and continuous supply pipeline.
“Our immediate priority is to secure a stable and sufficient vaccine pipeline so that we can scale up vaccinations rapidly across the country. Speed is non-negotiable. We must get ahead of this disease to protect our national herd, our farmers, and the broader agricultural economy,” the Minister said in a statement on Wednesday.
He added that South Africa’s response carries regional significance, particularly within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“Our livestock sector is deeply interconnected with the economies and food systems of the Southern African Development Community. This partnership is about integrating science, production, and implementation to build a resilient animal health system capable not only of managing the current outbreak, but of preventing future crises,” he said.
The Minister also underscored the importance of private sector participation in vaccine distribution, noting that government is expanding distribution mechanisms to include the private sector, under the strategic coordination of government, to ensure that vaccines reach farms efficiently and at scale.
“This is about closing the gap between policy and practice and delivering real outcomes on the ground.”
Looking ahead, discussions also explored positioning South Africa as a regional vaccine distribution hub for the SADC region, leveraging the expertise and partnerships developed through this collaboration.
In parallel, the ARC renewed and extended its cooperation agreement with Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Argentina’s leading agricultural research institution.
Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021, the renewed partnership will deepen collaboration in research, technology transfer, and skills development, particularly in the fields of animal health and vaccine innovation.
The strengthened alliance reflects a shared commitment to advancing scientific excellence and practical cooperation in support of more resilient, competitive, and sustainable agricultural sectors in both countries.
The visit marks a significant escalation in South Africa’s war against FMD, reinforcing the country’s determination to protect its national herd, secure rural livelihoods, and restore confidence in its biosecurity systems.