In a recent interview with Plaas Media’s Lise Roberts, the HSRC’s Dr Moses Sithole shared details and insights from the South African Agricultural Business Innovation Survey 2019 – 2021. The survey found that 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), on behalf of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), shows that 63.6% of agribusinesses had process innovations, while 38.5% had product innovations.

The survey, which covered animal and crop farming, forestry, and fisheries, aimed to measure the extent to which commercial agribusinesses in South Africa introduced new or improved products and business processes.

The report, its sectoral briefs, and previous surveys can be viewed here.

Watch Dr Sithole’s interview with Plaas Media below: