SA joins global Agrarian Summit
Land reform and rural development minister Mzwanele Nyhontso is leading a high-level South African delegation to Cartagena, Colombia, for the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20) this week.
The ICARRD+20 conference marks 20 years since the inaugural summit held in Porto Alegre, Brazil. It convenes at a time of renewed global focus on agrarian reform, food sovereignty, and the democratic governance of natural resources.
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The summit, running from 24 to 28 February 2026, provides a strategic platform for governments, social movements, and international organisations to deliberate on pressing challenges, including land and water grabbing, climate change vulnerabilities, and the necessity for redistributive land reform.
The department of land reform said Nyhontso is expected to participate in several high-level bilateral engagements. These include consultations with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) regarding the launch of the Global Land Observatory and strengthened collaboration on rural development initiatives.
Nyhontso is also scheduled to meet with international leaders, including representatives from Brazil and other nations facing similar agrarian justice challenges, to exchange perspectives on land governance and climate justice. Nyhontso said the sessions will focus on the role of agrarian reform in fostering peace, democracy, and equitable development.
The South African delegation includes members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development and senior department officials. The delegation said they will participate in key plenaries, including:
Inaugural Plenary: "Earth: past, present and future: the struggle of the peoples for Agrarian Reform".
Thematic Sessions: Discussions on the geopolitics of resources, including control over land, oil, and minerals.
Global Commitments: The "10 years for Agrarian Reform" plenary, aimed at securing global commitments for structural transformation.
The department of land reform said it views this conference as an essential entry point for the African preparatory process, ensuring that the continent's priorities regarding land governance and dignified livelihoods remain central to the global agenda.
