Davos, Disinformation and Droughts: What Global Shockwaves Mean for South Africa’s Food Security — Join Thriving Thursday…

Tomorrow on Radio Bop Africa’s This Is It (06:00–10:00), our Thriving Thursday will interrogate five urgent intersections of global politics, domestic policy and food security. We lay out the facts, the stakes, and the hard questions for our resident economists — and invite listeners to call in with evidence, experience and solutions.

1) Minister Godongwana leads SA’s Davos 2026 delegation — what’s the mandate?

- Context: South Africa’s finance minister heads the delegation to the World Economic Forum amid calls for investment, trade deals and sovereign risk management.

- Focus for economists: What concrete financial and trade outcomes should South Africa realistically seek at Davos to shore up agricultural value chains (investment in cold chain, concessional finance for irrigation, seed-R&D partnerships)?

- Questions to ask on air: Which Davos commitments would have the fastest measurable impact on food security and farmer resilience at home? How should SA package sovereign guarantees or PPP incentives without worsening fiscal risk?

2) Trump’s “White Genocide” rhetoric resurfaces at Davos — implications for AGOA and SA trade ties

- Context: Extremist rhetoric headline-grabs can shift US political priorities and influence Congressional sentiment towards trade programmes. AGOA (the African Growth and Opportunity Act) renewal and preferential access depend on US domestic politics.

- Focus for economists: Could hard-right narratives in the US translate into protectionist or conditional moves that hurt AGOA continuity or enforcement? What contingency plans should South Africa and regional exporters prepare?

- On-air probes: If AGOA access tightens, which South African agriproducts are most at risk and what alternative markets or value-chain adjustments can be pursued quickly? How should SA diplomatically insulate trade policy from polarising US rhetoric?

3) Food inflation steady at 4.4% in December — reading between the lines

- Context: Food inflation at 4.4% signals moderation, but headline figures hide distributional burdens and regional variation. Staples, transport costs, and energy-driven processing costs matter more to poorer households.

- Discussion points: Which food items drove December inflation and which household groups remain most exposed? Is headline stability masking rising input costs or supply constraints that could spike prices later?

- Questions for economists: What monetary or fiscal measures (targeted subsidies, buffer stocks, tariff adjustments) are appropriate now without creating long-term market distortions? How should policy balance short-term relief with incentives for producers?

4) Minister of Agriculture forms Industry Coordination Council to strengthen FMD response — enough or too late?

- Context: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) threatens livestock exports, farmer livelihoods and regional trade. Coordinated response between state, industry and neighbours is critical.

- Key scrutiny: Will the council have operational capacity, clear mandates, rapid funding, and cross-border coordination (veterinary surveillance, vaccination, movement control)?

- On-air challenges: What timelines and metrics should the Council publish in 30/90/180 days? How will smallholder and communal farmers be included in surveillance and compensation plans? Should emergency funds and indemnities be ring-fenced?

5) Trade disruption with Mozambique after flooding — resilience of cross-border food flows

- Context: Flooding in Mozambique disrupts transport corridors and seasonal trade with South Africa, affecting staple flows, input supplies and export logistics.

- Issues to unpack: Which corridors and commodities are most affected? How integrated are supply chains (grain, fruits, livestock) and what are immediate mitigation options (alternative routes, temporary storage, subsidised transport)?

- Questions for the panel: Should SA activate regional disaster-trade protocols or emergency import/export relaxations? How can both countries coordinate rehabilitation to protect traders, smallholders and export markets?

Synthesis: A coordinated policy checklist for immediate action

- Short-term (0–3 months): Rapid assessment of vulnerable value chains; cash transfers or targeted food support to affected households; tariff and SPS flexibilities for emergency trade; immediate funding for FMD emergency measures.

- Medium-term (3–18 months): Davos-driven investment pledges funnelled into irrigation, cold chains and seed-R&D; rebuild regional transport corridors; strengthen public breeding and extension; formalise a regional disaster-trade compact.

- Governance and accountability: Public, time-bound targets for the Industry Coordination Council; transparent publication of Davos outcomes and investment terms; independent monitoring of relief funds and FMD response performance.

Questions we’ll put to our resident economists — be ready to be precise

- If AGOA weakens, which three export sectors must be prioritised for market diversification and why?

- What is the one fiscal instrument the Treasury can deploy now to stabilise smallholder incomes without igniting long-term subsidy dependence?

- For the FMD council: what are the three non-negotiable operational capacities it must demonstrate within 30 days?

- How should flood-affected cross-border traders be supported to resume trade quickly while preserving biosecurity and market integrity?

How listeners can join the debate

- Call with first-hand reports from farms, markets and transport routes. Share specific local impacts and practical solutions you’ve seen work.

- Ask our economists exactly one focused question—short, localised and evidence-based—to get a direct response on air.

Final Provocation

Global rhetoric, extreme weather and regional shocks are colliding with long-standing structural weaknesses. Will South Africa use Davos to attract the right capital and diplomacy, or will rhetoric and short-term politics leave our food systems exposed? Tune in to Thriving Thursday tomorrow, bring your evidence, and demand policies that turn risk into resilience.