Food security and agriculture were supported by 58% of companies in 2022, up significantly from 35% in 2010, due to lockdown-induced hunger relief. The sector received an average of 10% of CSI spend in 2022, up from 7% in 2010.
Within this sector there have been significant movements in the allocation of funds. Pre-pandemic levels of funding for food relief and feeding schemes were decreasing year on year (with a low of 24% of food security spend in 2010), and small-scale farming was seeing a year-on-year increase in share of spend.
These trends were abruptly disrupted when the pandemic hit, with 2021 seeing a 63% share of spend dedicated to food relief and feeding schemes, and a massive drop-off in support for survivalist and small-scale agriculture. In 2022, there has been a slight adjustment back, which we expect to continue as companies promote small- scale agriculture to reduce dependencies on feeding schemes.
Type of intervention
- Most of the CSI food security and agriculture spend continues to be allocated to food relief and feeding schemes (58%), though down from 63% in 2021. This is anticipated as the funding adjusts to pre-pandemic levels.
- The average spend on small-scale farming/commercial agriculture increased to 18% in 2022, from 15% in 2021.
- Funding on survivalist farming increased from 4% in 2021 to 16% in 2022.
- The average infrastructure, facilities and equipment spend decreased to 8% in 2022, from 15% in 2021.
The changing food and agriculture landscape in South Africa
Source details: Trialogue Business in Society Handbook 2022
