Sustainable agriculture: a review of challenges facing the South African agricultural sector

Abstract

This review paper considers the various challenges facing the South African agricultural sector against the background that agricultural sectors globally are pressurised to provide food security for the estimated nine billion people in 2050, while simultaneously addressing climate change. The use of agricultural land to produce crops for the production of biofuels and the impact of land redistribution in South Africa on food security are contemplated. It is recommended that the South African government should develop an integrated strategy to address these challenges. Furthermore, sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic and conservation agriculture, should be considered as alternatives to conventional agricultural practices.