About SAFSI

South African Food Security Index - A comprehensive framework for measuring and monitoring food security across South Africa's agricultural value chain.

Executive Summary

The challenge and our solution

The Challenge

South Africa faces a critical paradox: while being a net food exporter, 23.1% of households experience inadequate food access. Current monitoring systems are fragmented, retrospective, and lack the granular insights needed for effective decision-making.

Our Solution

SAFSI is a groundbreaking national framework that measures, monitors, and manages food security across South Africa's entire agricultural value chain. Built on six interconnected pillars—from production and processing to access, nutrition, resilience, and infrastructure—SAFSI provides dynamic, auditable insights for policymakers, investors, and agricultural stakeholders.

Real-time

Dynamic monitoring vs. static annual reports

Comprehensive

Value chain-centric approach covering field crops, horticulture, and livestock

Granular

Subnational insights enabling provincial and district-level analysis

Global

Aligned with global standards (GFSI, FAO SOFI, IPC) while locally contextual

Strategic Foundation

Built on AgricultureSA.io platform capabilities

The project builds on AgricultureSA.io, South Africa's most integrated agricultural intelligence platform, which already hosts:

  • Comprehensive rural safety monitoring
  • Real-time trade and consumption tracking
  • Critical infrastructure databases
  • Legal and regulatory frameworks
  • Extensive stakeholder networks through AgriSA and organized agriculture

Why AgricultureSA.io?

Strategic advantages of our platform foundation

Centralized Data Hub

Established data relationships with key agricultural stakeholders and proven technical infrastructure already handling complex datasets.

Interactive Analytics

API-ready architecture enabling seamless integration and scaling with real-time visualization capabilities.

Network Reach

Credible stakeholder network ensuring adoption and validation across government, private sector, and civil society.