Keynote 30–45 min, Panelist, Policy Roundtable, Fireside Chat
Government officials, agribusiness leaders, investors, trade policy makers, and development institutions
Wandile Sihlobo is Chief Economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and a thought leader on African agriculture, food security, and trade policy. He serves on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Economic Advisory Council and is a trusted advisor to government, industry, and global organizations.
Wandile is the author of Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity & Agriculture and writes widely on the future of African agriculture, contributing to platforms such as Business Day, Financial Mail, and international journals. His expertise spans agribusiness, global trade dynamics, and inclusive rural development. He is a sought-after keynote speaker who translates data-driven insights into practical strategies for policymakers, investors, and industry leaders.
Wandile Sihlobo is the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and the author of “Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity, and Agriculture.”
Sihlobo is Senior Lecturer Extraordinary at the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University.
He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Fort Hare and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Stellenbosch University.
Sihlobo was appointed as a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Economic Advisory Council in 2019 after serving on the Presidential Expert Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture between 2018 and 2019.
He is also a member of the Council of Statistics of South Africa (Stats SA) and a Commissioner at the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC).
Sihlobo is a columnist for Business Day and Farmers Weekly magazine.
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Wandile Sihlobo outlines two main reasons why the US is important for South Africa’s agricultural sector. First, American investment plays a key role, particularly in agribusiness machinery and input supply chains, where US firms contribute significantly to growth and modernization. Second, trade is central.
South Africa’s agriculture is export-oriented, with nearly half of its products sold to global markets. Addressing criticism that exports fuel domestic hunger, Sihlobo clarifies that South Africa’s poverty challenge is not due to agricultural output but income poverty.
Millions of households lack sufficient income to buy food, making job creation and household empowerment essential for addressing nutrition gaps. He frames trade and investment as enablers of sector growth, while income policy is critical to solving food insecurity.
00:00 Question posed: is the US important for South African agriculture?
00:15 First theme: US investment in agribusiness, machinery, and inputs
00:50 Second theme: trade as South Africa is export-oriented
01:20 Addressing criticism: exports vs. domestic hunger
01:45 Clarification: food insecurity is income poverty, not food availability
02:10 Call for job creation and household empowerment to improve nutrition
02:30 End
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