The future of the South African red meat industry isn’t just about breeding the best livestock; it’s about a crucial, often overlooked ingredient: unity. This was the powerful message from Dr. Philip Oosthuizen, COO of the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), during a recent discussion at Nampo Cape 2025. He highlighted that for three decades, the industry has been divided, with farmers and associations working in silos. This fragmentation, he said, has slowed progress on critical shared challenges like market access, disease management, and profitability, preventing the industry from reaching its full potential.
Oosthuizen’s call to action is simple but profound: to compete globally and grow locally, the industry must break down these silos. He clarified that collaboration doesn’t mean losing individuality but rather finding collective strength. A united approach can unlock shared opportunities that no single farmer or organization can achieve alone. These include gaining access to premium markets through collective compliance, improving biosecurity by coordinating disease control, and building stronger business linkages across the entire value chain.
The time for talk is over; it’s time for action. Achieving sustainability will require shared investment and a willingness to work together. “Together, we can compete internationally. Divided, we will all fall short,” he concluded. His message serves as a powerful reminder that in today’s complex global market, the strength of the collective efforts far outweighs the sum of its individual parts. By embracing unity, the South African red meat industry can secure a more prosperous future.
