The Grain SA (GSA) 2025 Congress, held on 12-13 March 2025 at NAMPO Park near Bothaville, concluded, marking the end of two days of heartfelt reflection, critical debate, and strategic planning for South Africa’s grain industry. As producers, policymakers, and stakeholders convened under the banner “From Surviving to Thriving,” several pivotal matters reached their conclusion—through resolution, recognition, or redirection. Here’s what wrapped up at this landmark event.
A Resilient Era Concluded with Celebration and Vision
The congress opened on Day 1 with a prayer and a moment of silence for farmers lost over the past year, setting an emotional tone before Derek Mathews, Grain SA Chairperson, took the stage. His 2020-2025 report, streamed live from NAMPO Park, celebrated 2024’s record grain yields despite drought and recounted a 2022 victory—securing tariff relief amid doubled fertiliser costs. Mathews shared a personal tale of his farm’s flood recovery, concluding a resilient era with a bold 2030 goal: doubling smallholder farmer participation in grain markets. A mid-day panel raised carbon taxes as a rising profitability threat, while Minister John Steenhuisen’s Q&A concluded ambiguity on policy, pledging fixes for water infrastructure and a 50% spike in grain export delays due to port bottlenecks, alongside land expropriation assurances.
Industry Insights
Day 2 dawned with the launch of the Grain SA Report, a cornerstone moment that concluded months of anticipation. Presented to a packed hall, the report projected a 10% rise in maize production costs for 2025, driven by fuel and fertiliser prices, and flagged climate variability as a looming risk. Producers left armed with data to navigate these challenges, marking the end of speculation and the start of informed action. The report’s unveiling underscored the congress’s shift from survival to strategic thriving, a theme echoed across the day’s sessions.
Commodity Challenges with Practical Steps
Breakaway sessions brought closure to pressing commodity debates. The Winter Grain Session saw wheat producers’ struggles—low yields, tariff disputes, and white wheat retention—conclude as mere grievances, evolving into actionable talks on recalibration and advocacy. The Maize Breakout Session tackled logistics head-on, concluding abstract woes with approvals for 51-ton grain trucks and calls to privatise rail lines and expand ports. These outcomes, grounded in real solutions, bridged the gap between complaint and progress, reflecting the industry’s maturing resolve.
A Gathering with Recognition and Renewal
The GSA 2025 Congress itself concluded as a vital, fleeting platform, wrapping up with more than just talk. Delegates witnessed the re-election of Derek Mathews as Chairperson, joined by two new vice-chairpersons—including a woman from the Free State—ensuring leadership continuity and fresh voices. An awards ceremony honoured three standout farmers with “Producer of the Year” titles for maize, wheat, and soybeans, celebrating innovation amid adversity. While issues like land policy and infrastructure linger, their airing at NAMPO Park concluded a phase of silence, thrusting them into focus for future action.
As NAMPO Park emptied yesterday, what concluded was not just two days of dialogue but a period of uncertainty, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose. From Mathews’ vision to the report’s warnings, from policy pledges to producer accolades, the GSA 2025 Congress closed one chapter and opened another—challenging South Africa’s grain industry to turn conclusions into thriving realities in the year ahead.