Our Strategy

Our Strategy

The red meat industry in South Africa stands at a turning point – with the potential to grow by over 20% and add more than R12 billion annually to our agricultural GDP by 2030.

But growth like this doesn’t just happen. It takes vision, coordination, and execution.

At RMIS, our strategy is clear:

We exist to enable and implement the industry’s collective plan for a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive future. Our mandate supports the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030 which has four strategic focus areas.

A strong strategy needs a strong structure. That’s why the industry is reviewing and refining how we work together – from forums to service delivery models. RMIS plays a central role in enabling this shift.

Talk is not enough. Our strategy is backed by clear interventions with timelines, responsibilities, and funding frameworks. RMIS helps drive these interventions, track impact, and adapt as the industry evolves.

THE STRATEGY WAS WRITTEN TO ADDRESS 6 HIGH PRIORITY CONSTRAINTS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY:

1. Restrictions in growing a unified voice within the industry, to government and to the larger agricultural sector
2. Under-financed industry: The red meat industry’s statutory levy is the lowest (% share) of all the agricultural sectors
3. Limited dedicated implementation bodies. There are many red meat organisations but few with an actionable mandate.
4. Lacking strategy and implementation towards rural economies. With 40-50% of the national herd in the informal sector.
5. Identification and Traceability initiative not fully implemented.
6. Limited capacity and co-ordination in State Veterinary Services.

In Short

RMIS is the engine room of implementation:

  • Turning strategy into service.
  • Turning plans into action.
  • Turning possibilities into prosperity.
Strategic Focus Areas
Animal and public health

Creating a credible national animal health and meat safety standard

  • A Model which continuously drives & executes National Animal Health Credibility 
  • Meat/Product Safety – Inspections & SPS compliance at all required nodes in the value chain
  • Maintenance/Regain FMD-free status or OIE compliance, ensuring secured access to lucrative international markets (particularly for high-value cuts) & supporting One Health
  • Implemented compartments in the Beef & Sheep sector
Inclusive growth

Empowering farmers to thrive

  • Overall beef production grows by 35%
  • Emerging / subsistence farmers:
    • Increase female herd composition from avg. of 41% to 47%
    • Increase weaning rate from avg. of 40% to at least 50%
    • This overall gain of 8% in productivity already translates to a 44% (155 000) increase in weaners calves produced for auction.
  • Medium to large scale black producer support:
    • At least 1,4 mil Ha targeted for production support
    • 250 000 additional weaner calves targeted from these producers over the next 10 years
    • Enough Animal Handing facilities in the highest production & animal health risk areas
Market access

Growing the national commercial value chain and increasing beef exports

  • Phase 1 of a Livestock Identification and Traceability System for Beef – Trade security & continuity to grow from this foundation
  • Growing total international market share & relevance since local demand is flat and can dampen industry profitability & stagnation in the industry
  • Growing the export share of production from 4% to at least 24%, adding R 8.3 billion in additional revenue
  • Growing the export of live slaughter stock
Competitiveness and sustainability

Improving production productivity towards an international benchmark

  • Market Quality – an industry-led grading system that is internationally recognised and benchmarked, thereby increasing the competitiveness in international markets
  • Grow Local consumption (even though fairly flat) but still realise an additional revenue of at least R 800 million (local meat prices remaining consumer conscious, supported by a balanced carcass being exported)
  • High productivity in the commercial sector – coupled with high-quality breeding material. Growth in breeding material to support overall herd productivity, adaptability & product quality

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