South Africa secures Argentina partnership to strengthen FMD response

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has secured a new cooperation framework with Argentina to strengthen its response to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), as part of efforts to protect livestock production, stabilise feed demand and safeguard the wider agricultural economy.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen concluded a high-level visit to Argentina, where he held talks with Sergio Iraeta, the country’s Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. 

The discussions resulted in a structured cooperation agreement focused on disease control, animal health resilience and agricultural trade.

At the centre of the partnership is the 2026-2028 FMD Work Plan, which aims to translate existing bilateral agreements into coordinated action. 

The programme prioritises technical cooperation, capacity building and scientific collaboration to improve prevention, preparedness and rapid response systems.

South Africa has already secured 2.5 million doses of FMD vaccines from Biogénesis Bagó, including bivalent and trivalent formulations targeting multiple virus strains. 

During the visit, officials inspected facilities where an additional five million doses are ready for export, pending regulatory approval.

To stabilise long-term supply, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) signed a distribution agreement with Biogénesis Bagó to ensure a consistent vaccine pipeline.

“Our immediate priority is to secure a stable and sufficient vaccine pipeline so that we can scale up vaccinations rapidly across the country. Speed is non-negotiable,” Steenhuisen said. 

“We must get ahead of this disease to protect our national herd, our farmers, and the broader agricultural economy.”

The minister stressed that the impact of FMD extends beyond animal health, affecting livestock productivity, market access and feed demand across the value chain.

“Our livestock sector is deeply interconnected with the economies and food systems of the Southern African Development Community,” he said. 

“This partnership is about integrating science, production, and implementation to build a resilient animal health system.”

The government is also expanding vaccine distribution through private sector participation to improve delivery efficiency and reach farms at scale.

Regional hub ambitions and research collaboration

South Africa is exploring plans to position itself as a regional vaccine distribution hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), leveraging the new partnership to support neighbouring countries and strengthen regional biosecurity.

Alongside the vaccine agreements, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) renewed its cooperation with Argentina’s Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), expanding collaboration in animal health research, vaccine innovation and technology transfer.

The move builds on a 2021 memorandum of understanding and is expected to accelerate knowledge exchange and scientific development in both countries.

“This is about closing the gap between policy and practice and delivering real outcomes on the ground,” Steenhuisen said.

The strengthened alliance comes at a critical time for South Africa’s livestock sector, as authorities seek to contain outbreaks, restore confidence in animal health systems and protect rural livelihoods.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.