Victoria falls: Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States to urgently accelerate regional cooperation on food security, fertiliser regulation, and animal disease control amid mounting economic and climate pressures across the region. Addressing the SADC Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on Friday, 29 May 2026, Steenhuisen warned that fragmented agricultural systems and delayed reforms were increasing the vulnerability of Southern African countries to global shocks.According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister noted that the meeting took place during a period of considerable geopolitical and economic volatility. Steenhuisen highlighted disruptions to supply chains, rising input costs-particularly fertiliser prices-inflationary pressures, and growing competition over strategic resources, which are increasingly intersecting with clim ate-related disasters such as droughts, floods, and disease outbreaks affecting African agriculture and food systems.Regional assessments indicate some improvement in cereal production following last season's severe drought. However, Steenhuisen stated that an estimated 58 million people across SADC Member States still face acute food insecurity due to issues around access and affordability, underscoring the urgency of the situation.The three-day meeting, which commenced on 27 May 2026, focused on advancing food and nutrition security, and the blue economy in the SADC region. Steenhuisen chaired the meeting in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee of SADC Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture.Steenhuisen emphasised the need for the harmonisation of the Fertiliser Regulatory Framework across SADC, urging Member States to fast-track the proposed Memorandum of Understanding. He stressed that this harmonisation is crucial for food security, productivity, and strategic resilience in the region.The Minister also addressed the threat posed by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks across Southern Africa. Steenhuisen highlighted that 11 SADC member states have reported outbreaks, posing a major threat to livestock production, rural livelihoods, trade, and regional food systems. He supported the development of a regional coordination framework for FMD control, including stronger surveillance systems and coordinated vaccination efforts.Steenhuisen called for a stronger 'One Health' approach, integrating animal health, human health, ecosystems, and food systems into regional disease management strategies. He stressed the need for practical regional delivery under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Kampala Declaration, focusing on expanded agricultural trade, climate resilience, modernised sanitary and phytosanitary systems, irrigation investment, and greater opportunities for women and young people.