Over two-thirds of South African agribusinesses implemented innovative activities during 2019–2021, despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges

The Weekend View

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) says over two-thirds of South African agribusinesses implemented innovative activities during 2019–2021, despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. The South African Agricultural Business Innovation Survey (2019–2021), conducted by the HSRC's Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), shows that 63.6% of agribusinesses had process innovations, while 38.5% had product innovations. Agri SA says however there are still key issues that the new government must address. It says government must create an enabling business environment, ensuring investor confidence, and maintaining policy certainty through stable economic policies, secure property rights, and a supportive legal framework.