As foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks continue to endanger South Africa’s livestock sector, a high-level national FMD Indaba concluded yesterday, 22 July 2025, after two days of intensive discussions and collaboration. The event, hosted by the Department of Agriculture (DoA) in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), University of Pretoria, and Onderstepoort Biological Products, was held at the ARC-Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plants Campus in Roodeplaat, Gauteng.
Uniting for a Common Cause
The Indaba marked one of the first occasions where South Africa’s top veterinary experts, researchers, government officials, and industry leaders gathered with a single goal: to draft a national, coordinated strategy to combat the growing threat of FMD.
In a statement, the DoA emphasised the urgency: “The recent outbreaks in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and most recently the Free State have imposed livestock movement restrictions and hampered the red meat trade both locally and internationally. This gathering was critical to ensure we are united in our approach.”
Strategic Objectives and Immediate Support
The Indaba focused on assessing existing measures and identifying gaps in FMD control. A central objective was the development of a comprehensive and actionable national FMD response plan.
The DoA reaffirmed its ongoing support for affected farmers, saying, “We continue to assist with vaccination, branding, and epidemiological services to trace the virus and understand its transmission patterns.” The department also acknowledged the substantial economic impact of FMD and confirmed that long-term policy and funding strategies were high on the agenda.
Breakthroughs in Vaccine Development
Dr Faith Peta, chief research technician for exotic diseases at the ARC, shared significant progress in local vaccine development.
“We have successfully developed a suspension production process for FMD vaccines using 20ℓ fermenters. This vaccine, registered under Act 36 of 1947, has proven effective against SAT 1, SAT 2, and SAT 3 strains—those most common in Southern Africa,” said Peta.
The vaccine is currently undergoing field trials in Limpopo and Mpumalanga to test its efficacy in real-world conditions.
Scale-Up and Future Production
With growing demand, the ARC, in collaboration with the DoA, is scaling up vaccine production. The current midscale, portable system—installed in an older facility—is expected to produce between 150,000 and 200,000 doses annually.
Plans are also underway to construct a cutting-edge, high-security vaccine production facility with a capacity of 2 million doses per year. Construction could begin in 2026, pending funding confirmation from the DoA and National Treasury.
“This new facility is a long-term solution,” said Peta. “But until then, the interim system will help plug the gap in production and ensure farmers have access to vaccines.”
Looking Ahead
As the Indaba concludes, delegates are expected to release a preliminary framework for the national FMD strategy, setting timelines and key responsibilities for implementation.
The livestock industry now awaits the rollout of tangible actions, built on the collaborative spirit and urgency demonstrated over the past two days.
