Call For Research Proposals

 RMIS invites researchers, industry partners, and consortia to submit a research proposal that tackles priority challenges in South Africa’s red meat value chain. Your research proposal should outline a practical problem, expected outcomes, and partners. Shortlisted projects move through expert review and RMIS Board approval to funded implementation—driving measurable innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across the sector. Submit yours to help future-proof the industry.

Deadline: 31 August 2025 Submit your proposal

Call for Research Proposals: Field To Future 2025

Help shape the future of South Africa’s red meat industry.

The RMIS Field to Future process is a collaborative R&D pathway that turns on-the-ground industry priorities into funded action. We’re inviting you to submit a research proposal that addresses real constraints and opportunities across South Africa’s red meat value chain—so insights don’t sit on paper, they become projects with measurable outcomes.

Built on national workshops with producers, experts, and industry leaders, this call seeks research proposals aligned to the priority themes identified through that engagement. A strong research proposal should define the problem and stakeholders, outline methods and deliverables, indicate partners and timelines, and show the expected impact on productivity, profitability, biosecurity, and sustainability. Shortlisted proposals progress through expert review and RMIS Board approval to implementation and reporting.

Deadline: 31 August 2025 Submit your proposal
1. Strategies to Reduce Wastage of the 5th Quarter from FMD-Affected Carcasses

Problem Statement:  Current South African FMD control regulations require the disposal of the entire fifth quarter — including head, feet, tongue, and offal — from animals slaughtered under controlled conditions after FMD infection or exposure. This precautionary measure, largely based on international standards and limited local evidence, results in significant economic losses, food waste, and reduced protein availability, especially for vulnerable populations.

There is a lack of empirical data on the presence and viability of the FMD virus in these tissues post-vaccination, post-holding period, and after 24-hour carcass maturation, particularly for locally circulating SAT serotypes. Without such evidence, risk-based policy revision is not possible, and wastage will continue to burden the red meat value chain.

Empirical research:  RMIS is seeking innovative, practical, and compliant solutions that can safely reduce wastage and enhance the recovery, processing, or repurposing of the 5th quarter from FMD-affected animals in line with biosecurity protocols and value chain sustainability goals.

Problem Statement:  South Africa currently lacks a standardised, consumer-facing meat quality grading system that reliably communicates product attributes such as tenderness, flavour, marbling, or eating quality across diverse production systems. While a carcass classification system exists, it is largely producer- or processor-facing and not consistently understood or valued by end consumers. Multiple stakeholders, including producers, processors, researchers, and retailers, recognise the need for a more transparent and scientifically grounded quality framework — one that can support consistency, improve consumer trust, and unlock market access including emerging farmers, feedlots, abattoirs and exporters. However, divergent expectations exist within the industry: some advocate for a voluntary marketing tool to highlight eating quality and origin, while others seek a formal pricing mechanism to reduce penalties for certain carcass classes. International benchmarks such as Australia’s MSA system offer guidance, but South Africa requires a locally contextualised, phased roadmap that builds on existing classification protocols, consolidates available research, and defines an implementable quality control system suitable for our unique market dynamics. Without this, producers face market confusion, consumers lack reliable indicators of quality, and the value chain remains fragmented around inconsistent grading practices.

Desktop analyses:  Evaluate the current meat classification and grading systems in South Africa and globally, and develop a practical roadmap toward an integrated, quality-based grading framework that improves consistency, enhances market transparency, and meets evolving consumer and industry needs.

Problem statement:  While various research efforts have explored aspects of meat quality in South Africa, these studies are often limited in scope, fragmented across institutions, or focused on specific breeds, production systems, or geographic regions. As a result, there is no consolidated, nationally representative dataset that provides a comprehensive view of the physical and sensory characteristics of South African red meat under diverse production and processing conditions.

To support the development of a credible, locally relevant meat quality grading system, a broader and more integrated evidence base is required. This includes empirical data on key meat quality parameters — such as pH, tenderness, marbling, juiciness, and overall eating quality — across multiple breeds, farming systems (including emerging and communal producers), and processing environments.

Phase One of the project will therefore focus on a structured meat science sampling initiative, incorporating laboratory and sensory analysis, to benchmark these parameters. The outcomes will serve as a scientific foundation for defining quality descriptors that are reliable, transparent, and aligned with consumer expectations. Ultimately, this will enable the development of a grading framework that enhances consistency, market confidence, and value differentiation across the red meat value chain.

Empirical research:  Meat Science Sampling and Analysis.

Problem statement:  While various studies and industry-led surveys have explored consumer preferences for red meat in South Africa, the findings remain fragmented, context-specific, and often disconnected from practical grading or labelling systems. There is currently no consolidated national understanding of how consumers interpret carcass classification codes, what quality attributes they prioritise (e.g. tenderness, fat content, origin, animal welfare), or how these preferences influence purchasing decisions across different market segments.

Desktop Analysis:  A meta-analysis is needed to systematically review and synthesise existing consumer perception research, including formal academic studies, retailer data, and industry reports. This will provide a robust evidence base to inform the design of a consumer-facing meat quality grading system that is responsive to actual market expectations and can guide effective communication, labelling, and marketing strategies throughout the red meat value chain.

Problem statement:  South Africa’s current carcass classification system plays a limited role in supporting differentiated market access or functioning as a reliable pricing mechanism across the red meat value chain. There is a lack of clarity on how classification/grading grades influence price formation, particularly for smallholder and non-feedlot producers, and how quality-linked value is (or isn’t) transferred to producers through abattoirs, processors, and retailers. Without a consistent, transparent link between carcass characteristics, consumer expectations, and financial returns, producers — especially emerging and communal farmers — are often penalised rather than rewarded for their product quality. A scenario-based analysis should be done to assess the impact of a grading system as a price mechanism.

Desktop analysis:  A desktop analysis is required to map existing market pathways, pricing practices, and incentive structures, and to assess how these align (or misalign) with grading/classification systems. This will help identify practical entry points for a quality-linked grading model that improves fairness, transparency, and competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

Problem statement: Farmers in remote, communal, and small-scale production systems across South Africa face persistent challenges in accessing timely, affordable, and accurate veterinary support. The shortage of state veterinarians and uneven coverage of animal health services have created significant diagnostic delays and gaps in disease reporting, particularly in the early stages of outbreak detection. Despite existing knowledge and research on major animal health risks, this information often fails to reach producers in practical, actionable formats. The lack of real-time data from the field also hampers the ability of authorities to proactively manage animal disease risks. There is an urgent need for a scalable, user-friendly digital solution that empowers farmers to identify basic symptoms, access triage advice, and refer serious cases to veterinary professionals — either through Artificial Intelligence, a digital call centre staffed by retired vets or via escalation to on-site support. A tiered decision-support tool, such as a mobile app or chatbot interface, would bridge the gap between producers and animal health experts, enhance disease surveillance, and improve response times — especially in under-served rural areas.

Desktop analysis for the development of an animal health application:  To map existing veterinary support platforms, review global and local best practices for animal health decision-support tools, assess user requirements, and define the technical and institutional design parameters for a mobile application or chatbot. The aim is to lay the groundwork for a cost-effective, scalable tool that can provide tiered diagnostic guidance, escalate serious cases to digital veterinary centres, and improve disease reporting and response, particularly in under-served rural areas.

Desktop study on content development and packaging for a veterinary support application:  The successful implementation of a digital veterinary support tool hinges not only on technological design but also on the availability of relevant, accurate, and context-specific content that speaks directly to the needs of South African livestock farmers. At present, there is no consolidated repository of animal health guidance tailored to different production systems, species, and regional disease risks. Farmers often lack access to clear, actionable information on common diseases, basic biosecurity measures, symptom recognition, and treatment thresholds. To ensure the application delivers real value on the ground, there is a critical need to develop structured, multilingual content — including symptom checklists, images, videos, audio prompts, and automated diagnostic decision trees — that can guide farmers in early detection, basic care, and when to escalate to a veterinarian. This content must be scientifically accurate, easily understandable, culturally appropriate, and designed to function under conditions of limited connectivity and literacy.

The recent FMD outbreaks have underscored the urgent need for improved biosecurity practices, movement control, and disease risk awareness across all segments of the red meat value chain. Despite the existence of protocols and technical guidance, implementation remains inconsistent — particularly in communal and smallholder systems where understanding of biosecurity is limited, and cultural or social practices often override regulatory controls. Movement of livestock for rituals, ceremonies, or informal trade frequently occurs outside the scope of monitoring frameworks, increasing disease transmission risks.

Discussions during the Field to Future Prioritisation Meeting highlighted that while knowledge and protocols exist, there is a lack of grassroots-level awareness, practical training, and stakeholder buy-in. Strengthening biosecurity and animal movement control must therefore go together with communication campaigns, tailored risk education, and the development of realistic, context-appropriate strategies that account for human behaviour and socio-economic dynamics. Without such measures, national disease surveillance and emergency response efforts will remain reactive and fragmented.

Problem statement: Effective biosecurity is a cornerstone of animal health management, yet its implementation across South Africa’s diverse livestock production systems remains uneven and poorly understood. While commercial producers may have access to structured protocols and training, smallholder and communal farmers often lack awareness, resources, or contextualised guidance on practical biosecurity measures. In many cases, biosecurity is either misunderstood or reduced to superficial practices — with little appreciation for disease transmission risks associated with shared equipment, uncontrolled animal movement, or poor quarantine practices. The lack of consistent, accessible, and farmer-friendly messaging contributes to weak compliance, fragmented disease control efforts, and persistent vulnerability to outbreaks such as Foot and Mouth Disease.

Desktop study:  To assess existing biosecurity guidelines, education materials, and communication strategies, both locally and internationally. This will inform the design and packaging of a targeted awareness campaign — including multilingual content, visual tools, and culturally appropriate messaging — that can be effectively deployed across production systems to improve understanding, adoption, and risk mitigation at farm and community level.

Problem statement:  Effective stakeholder engagement is critical to the successful implementation of transformation and research programmes in the red meat industry. However, current engagement practices often lack a structured model for building long-term trust, transparency, and mutual accountability — especially across diverse stakeholder groups ranging from communal farmers and traditional leaders to veterinarians, retailers, processors, academics, and regulators. The Field to Future discussions revealed that misalignment of expectations, siloed communication, and inconsistent feedback loops undermine collaboration and  compromise the integrity of collective efforts. Moreover, the absence of robust stakeholder profiling impedes targeted engagement, and the limited use of modern digital communication tools restricts timely information sharing, particularly with younger or more remote participants. There is a pressing need to develop a stakeholder engagement model that includes clear principles of trust-building, identifies role-player profiles across the value chain, and leverages digital platforms — such as apps, messaging tools, and virtual forums — to enhance dialogue, transparency, and coordinated action. This model must also recognise varying levels of access, literacy, and connectivity to ensure inclusion while protecting the credibility and effectiveness of industry-led initiatives.

Desktop study:  Stakeholder engagement model for implementation.

Problem statement:  The effectiveness of inclusive growth and communal livestock development projects within South Africa’s red meat sector is significantly influenced by the complex, diverse, and often informal community governance systems that shape decision-making, livestock management, and resource allocation in communal areas. These systems — encompassing traditional leadership, grazing committees, farmer cooperatives, and kinship-based networks — vary widely across provinces and play a pivotal role in determining participation, adoption, benefit distribution, and project sustainability.

Over the past two decades, multiple interventions have been initiated by government, NGOs, and industry partners to support communal farmers. While several initiatives have demonstrated success in areas such as herd improvement, mentorship, and market access, the outcomes, contextual drivers, and long-term sustainability of these projects remain fragmented and poorly documented. There is no comprehensive, cross-regional synthesis of how community structures impact development interventions or a consolidated repository of best practices and lessons learned from past initiatives.

This lack of a unified knowledge base has resulted in weak alignment between programme design and local realities, duplication of failed approaches, and missed opportunities to replicate scalable, high-impact models. To avoid these pitfalls and ensure that future inclusive growth interventions are evidence-based and strategically aligned, a consolidated understanding of both governance dynamics and proven development models is urgently required.

Desktop study to:

• Review existing literature, project reports, case studies, and academic research on communal livestock development and inclusive growth initiatives in South Africa;
• Identify and categorise the different types of community governance structures and their influence on livestock management, project uptake, and sustainability;
• Extract and analyse best practices, success factors, implementation barriers, and lessons learned from past and ongoing projects across various provinces;
• Assess the scalability and replicability of successful models within the context of the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030.

The study will provide an evidence base to support the design of context-specific, community-aligned, and scalable inclusive growth models. It will also offer practical guidance for future interventions by government and industry partners seeking to achieve sustainable transformation in South Africa’s communal red meat production landscape.

Problem statement: Recurring outbreaks of priority animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), brucellosis, lumpy skin disease, and Rift Valley Fever continue to undermine livestock health, producer profitability, and market access across South Africa — particularly in communal and smallholder farming areas. Despite the known efficacy of vaccines for many of these diseases, the country faces serious challenges related to vaccine availability, inadequate production capacity, poor coordination of vaccination campaigns, and uneven coverage across regions and production systems.

The recent FMD crisis highlighted systemic weaknesses in the national vaccination framework, including delays in response, lack of clear prioritisation, and insufficient integration of veterinary infrastructure with farmer-level outreach. Furthermore, local epidemiological realities — including SAT serotypes and mixed livestock systems — are not always reflected in vaccination protocols.

There is a critical need for a coordinated, evidence-based approach to the development and refinement of vaccination programmes for priority diseases. This includes identifying gaps in current coverage, improving vaccine supply chain reliability, and tailoring delivery strategies to accommodate the needs and constraints of communal producers. Without this, disease control efforts will remain fragmented and ineffective, posing continued threats to both animal health and the broader red meat value chain.

Desktop research 1:  Designing and strengthening vaccination programmes for priority livestock diseases in South Africa: Gaps, coverage, and delivery models for communal and commercial Systems.

Desktop research 2:  Development of a National Vaccination Strategy and Implementation Framework for Priority Livestock Diseases: A phased action plan for scalable roll-out in communal and commercial production systems.

Problem statement:  The South African red meat industry operates within a complex and fragmented value chain that includes diverse production systems, informal and formal market routes, varying consumer demands, and evolving risk factors. Despite this complexity, there is no integrated, up-to-date mapping of the value chain that captures the full spectrum of stakeholders, value chain nodes, transaction flows, production typologies, or consumer-facing preferences.

This lack of structured data impedes effective planning, transformation, market access, and risk mitigation — particularly for emerging and communal producers who remain disconnected from higher-value markets. Furthermore, limited insight into consumer trends, informal market dynamics, and environmental or regulatory risks weakens the industry’s ability to adapt to shifting demand, ESG pressures, and disease or climate-related disruptions.

This research proposes a comprehensive value chain mapping and profiling exercise, combining stakeholder interviews, existing datasets, and systems analysis to identify key actors, production and marketing pathways, decision-making points, consumer expectations, and vulnerability hotspots. The outcome will inform targeted interventions, improved data-driven decision-making, and strategic alignment with inclusive growth, sustainability, and market resilience objectives under the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030.

Desktop research:  Mapping and updating the South African Red Meat Value Chain: Designing an understandable and accessible framework for strategic planning and inclusive market development.

Problem statement:  Stock theft remains a persistent threat to livestock producers across South Africa, with particularly severe consequences for smallholder and communal farmers. Although the issue was acknowledged during the Field to Future Prioritisation Meeting, it was noted that while the need for technological solutions—such as camera systems, satellite tracking, or biometric identification — holds promise, implementation is often complex, underfunded, and lacking multi-stakeholder coordination. The feasibility of rolling out such tools at scale is constrained by infrastructure limitations, fragmented jurisdictional enforcement, and a lack of harmonised protocols across regions. Moreover, stock theft is intricately linked to broader challenges in animal movement control, traceability, and farmer trust in formal systems.

Participants agreed that while some proof-of-concept initiatives exist, a clearer strategy is required to assess what is realistically implementable and how technology can be adapted to rural and communal contexts. Without a coordinated approach, stock theft will continue to undermine producer confidence, erode farm-level profitability, and destabilise efforts to formalise value chain participation.

Research study:  This study aims to critically assess the current structures, interventions, and community-based responses addressing stock theft in South Africa, with a focus on their effectiveness, challenges, and adaptability across different production systems.

The findings will be used to develop a comprehensive roadmap that highlights gaps, constraints, and opportunities for strengthening rural security mechanisms. The goal is to generate a practical, evidence-based strategy that can inform future implementation — one that is contextually feasible, scalable, and responsive to the needs of both commercial and communal farmers. This foundational research will ensure that any future interventions are rooted in a clear understanding of on-the-ground realities and guided by a coordinated, well-informed approach to livestock theft prevention.

Desktop study:  Formulating a recommended stock theft prevention strategy, informed by the research findings of phase 1, and assessing its feasibility for implementation across varying production systems and regions. It will include a practical roadmap outlining key actions, institutional responsibilities, and resource considerations. The phase will require the submission of quarterly progress reports, accompanied by the interpretation of relevant statistics and trends to guide evidence-based decision-making and stakeholder engagement.

Problem Statement: Public debates and consumer perceptions around red meat consumption are increasingly shaped by global narratives, particularly from the European Union and North America, which often portray red meat as a health risk and environmentally unsustainable. However, these views do not always reflect the socio-economic, nutritional, and health realities of South Africa. Despite red meat being a critical source of high-quality protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins—especially for lower-income and nutritionally vulnerable populations—there is a lack of locally relevant empirical research that quantifies its nutritional contribution and health outcomes within the South African context. The absence of national dietary data specific to local red meat consumption patterns, population health profiles, and dietary deficiencies limits the industry’s ability to counter negative messaging, engage in evidence-based advocacy, and design targeted consumer education strategies. A research gap exists in assessing the nutritional value and health impact of red meat for diverse South African population groups, including its role in addressing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Without such evidence, industry and public health efforts remain reactive and disconnected from ground realities, leaving the sector vulnerable to misinformed policy and market shifts.

Empirical research:  Meta analysis evaluating the nutritional value and health impact of red meat consumption among diverse population groups in South Africa.

Problem statement:  The South African red meat industry faces growing pressure to align with global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, yet lacks a unified national framework that defines what sustainability means in its specific production and market context. While fragmented research and initiatives exist around emissions, land and water use, invasive species, social equity, and market trust, these efforts remain siloed and insufficiently coordinated. Globally driven ESG expectations—particularly from export markets—are rapidly intensifying, but South Africa currently lacks reliable baseline data, context-relevant metrics, and a clear industry position on issues such as carbon footprint, methane emissions, and inclusive development. Without this, the sector risks being locked out of future trade opportunities, facing compliance burdens it cannot meet, or responding reactively to externally imposed standards. Moreover, dualism within the value chain — between large-scale commercial and smallholder or communal producers — further complicates sustainability commitments, as many lack the resources, capacity, or infrastructure to comply. There is an urgent need to define a shared understanding of sustainability, consolidate existing research, and develop a phased roadmap or ESG framework that is implementable, locally relevant, and inclusive across the entire value chain.

Desktop study: A Contextualised ESG Position Paper towards a Sustainable Framework for the South African Red Meat Industry: Enabling Inclusive, Resilient, and Responsible Growth

What We’re Looking For in Your Research Proposal

We’re seeking practical, structured, and impactful research proposals that align with the priority topics identified by industry stakeholders. This is more than academic work—it’s an opportunity to deliver real-world change and strengthen South Africa’s red meat value chain.

Whether you’re a researcher, academic, institution, or industry expert, submit a research proposal that clearly defines the problem, stakeholders, method, and expected outcomes. Your ideas can directly shape the future of livestock development in South Africa.

Not every challenge requires new empirical studies. In some cases, the strongest research proposal may be a desktop synthesis, policy review, or implementation-focused roadmap—especially where knowledge exists but isn’t widely accessible or embedded in practice.

Each topic includes a short description and guidance on the most suitable approach. Many themes cut across multiple focus areas, reinforcing the integrated nature of the sector’s challenges and the need for collaborative, high-impact solutions.

Do you have an idea for research in the industry?

Share Your Research Ideas with Us, your insights matter!