RMIS completed its first full year of operations in 2024 and successfully implemented its project portfolio to achieve impactful results across the red meat value chain. These initiatives have laid a strong foundation to continue RMIS’s mission to foster inclusive growth, enhance market access, and address critical industry challenges, laying the foundation for continued advancement within the industry during 2025.
Key milestones from 2024 include:
1. RMIS Traceability Platform Launch: Successfully implemented phase 1 of the RMIS traceability platform, issuing internationally recognised unique numbers to production units, forming the cornerstone of a comprehensive system.
2. Interactive Dashboards: Deployed statistical dashboards to the RMIS website monitoring national disease occurrences with input from over 200 veterinarians, national slaughter data, meat prices, and import/export data.
3. Mobile Processing Unit (MPU) Pilot: Processed over 2,000 cattle at diptanks and communal and LDS farm settings, developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and integrated an ERP system for centralised MPU management in preparation for national scaling of the project.
4. MeatMENTOR Program: Developed a comprehensive enterprise growth solution, including the MeatMENTOR program with 12 technical and business modules to support red meat industry stakeholders.
5. Meat Safety and Classification: Ensured comprehensive audits on meat safety and classification.
6. Capacity Building Initiatives: Conducted 19 accredited training courses with 514 attendees, facilitated 18 study group sessions with 488 participants, organised 27 farmers’ days attended by 3,411 individuals, hosted 9 webinars with a total of 5,389 views, and conducted 50 farm visits.
7. DALRRD Land Development Support Programme: Evaluated 45 farms and developed a comprehensive business plans for each as part of DALRRD’s Land Development Support Programme. Currently, 9 projects are in the implementation phase, with livestock already delivered to 3 of these projects.
8. E-Learning Platform for Grade 12 Educators: Launched a comprehensive online support platform in collaboration with MyLife and Sagritex to support Grade 12 Agricultural Sciences educators. This programme helps educators prepare engaging lessons and integrate video resources for an effective blended learning approach.
9. Consumer Education Campaigns: Recurring social media campaigns such as weekly “Recipe Trios” and “Facts and Hacks,” as well as YouTube Shorts showcasing beef and lamb cuts through the “Know Your Bits” series. Highlights also featured the Women’s Wellness Month Educational Campaign, focusing on topics like Vitamin B, Iron, Protein, and Hormone Residues. Additionally, the programme developed techniques videos on butchery and carcass processing in collaboration with Tuks Animal Science and Culinary Science and included key events such as Workshops.
Building on the momentum of 2024, RMIS is proud to introduce its 2025 Project Portfolio, supported by a R50 million budget spanning 10 strategic initiatives aligned with the 2030 Red Meat Vision.
Aligned with RMIS’s mission to advance the primary red meat industry, the 2025 portfolio includes a mix of ongoing and newly emphasised initiatives that leverages technology and strategic partnerships to overcome critical challenges and unlock new opportunities. New initiatives include the deployment of biosecurity marshals and the appointment of a Red Meat Industry Animal Public Health (RMI APH) official to enhance industry standards.
RMIS PROJECT PORTFOLIO 2025:
1) Data sharing and communication platform (Traceability) R 6 000 000 12%
The continuation of Phase 1 of the industry-driven Traceability Platform which was launched on 1 November 2024. It focuses on identifying production units within the value chain, including farms, communal lands, auction houses, feedlots, abattoirs, and processing facilities and linking a certified global number that is unique to the location. The next phases will focus on developing the traceability data platform and integrating independent recordkeeping systems to enable seamless data sharing. Key elements such as minimum traceability data requirements, data sharing standards, tag accreditation, and a unified numbering system will be established to ensure compliance. The traceability platform is designed to address critical issues, including disease management and stock theft prevention, while enhancing trade opportunities through improved data transparency and expanding market access to both the commercial value chain and export markets.
2) Inclusive Growth R 10 000 000 20%
Mobile Processing Units & Training: Supporting farmers with essential livestock management practices directly on their farms, diptanks or in communal areas. These state-of-the-art units are fully equipped with a body crush, neck clamp, electronic scale and a variety of animal handling tools to facilitate tagging, branding, dehorning, and vaccinations efficiently and humanely. Operated by a qualified production specialist who will also facilitate comprehensive training based on gaps identified. The focus for 2025 will be on the practical implementation of the mobile units to ensure that animals are vaccinated, treated and tagged to enhance productivity, profitability, and market access through traceability. Land Development Support Programme (Self-funded) RMIS has been appointed as the implementing body for the LDS programme on behalf of DALRRD, overseeing a five-year initiative in all nine provinces. The programme aims to commercialise small-scale farmers through enterprise development, practical implementation and mentorship. Since the launch of the LDS program, RMIS has evaluated 45 farms and submitted comprehensive business plans for each. Out of these, 16 have been approved, with 9 already in the implementation phase. The current project value stands at R350 million.
3) Industry Animal Health Recording System R 800 000 1%
In 2024, a statistical dashboard was developed and integrated into the RMIS website to share veterinary data on national disease occurrences, in collaboration with Veterinarian Network, providing a comprehensive view of animal health trends across the country. The continuation of this project in 2025 focuses on maintaining data collection processes, improving data accuracy, and enhancing analysis and communication. These advancements aim to empower producers and veterinarians with actionable insights, enabling proactive treatment strategies to mitigate the impact of diseases effectively.
4) Industry Meat Safety R 6 600 000 13%
The Red Meat Industry Animal Public Health (RMI APH) services will continue to ensure meat safety and training in abattoirs. Meat classification and safety audits will also continue to uphold processes to deliver quality and safe meat. Furthermore, new software development and the creation of Standard Operating Procedures are underway to digitise the collection of meat safety and residue data. These advancements aim to enhance efficiency in tracing non-conformances and addressing meat safety issues.
5) Certified South African Red Meat R 1 000 000 2%
This project focuses on enhancing quality assurance across the entire value chain while ensuring compliance with international standards and regulations. A key initiative is the international benchmarking of industry standards through ISO accreditation for various regulations within the value chain. Additionally, the project aims to integrate certifications for farms, feedlots, and abattoirs into a unified certification stamp. This consolidated stamp will provide consumers with assurance of traceability, biosecurity, animal welfare, and meat safety, reinforcing confidence in South African red meat products.
6) Stock Theft R 2 000 000 4%
This project focuses on establishing an industry digital stock theft reporting strategy to streamline the reporting and tracking of incidents. A key objective is to collect, share, and display relevant data, enabling stakeholders to make informed, data-driven decisions. Additionally, it aims to identify and prioritise effective interventions to prevent stock theft, safeguarding livestock and supporting the livelihoods of producers within the red meat value chain.
7) Producer/Production Development through communication R 5 500 000 11%
A significant communication gap within the red meat industry has been identified, prompting an increase in the project’s focus and budget allocation. This undertaking aims to enhance communication around industry initiatives while fostering production development through targeted support. It seeks to empower producers by providing the knowledge, resources, and communication channels needed to drive sustainable growth and innovation throughout the red meat industry. Exciting initiatives for 2025 include the launch of a podcast series, interactive data accessibility, digital national disease alerts integrated with WhatsApp, and the rollout of the industry digitisation roadmap.
8) Consumer Education R2 500 000 5%
Beef and Lamb SA: This initiative aims to promote red meat consumption by engaging directly with consumers through strategic collaborations with social media influencers. By sharing scientific insights and intriguing facts, the project seeks to educate the public about the nutritional benefits, sustainability, and versatility of red meat, fostering informed consumption choices and strengthening consumer confidence in the industry. An additional focus area for 2025 will include addressing the skills gaps of butcheries and blockmen and to promote product development.
Agricultural Educators E-Learning program: In collaboration with the Department of Education, this initiative is designed to support secondary school agricultural teachers with an e-learning platform tailored specifically to the livestock component of their curriculum. The platform offers valuable resources to aid in lesson preparation and ongoing professional development. Following the successful establishment of the platform in 2024, the 2025 phase focuses on its implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement. By ensuring educators have access to high-quality, practical tools, this program aims to enhance their classes and play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of agricultural professionals.
9) Research & Development R 9 000 000 18%
This initiative emphasises the implementation of a Functional Research Structure within the red meat industry. Recognising the vital role of research in maintaining industry competitiveness, RMIS is committed to ensuring that all research efforts deliver significant contributions to the industry’s advancement. By prioritising impactful and innovative studies, this project aims to prevent stagnation and drive continuous improvement across the red meat value chain. Current research includes beef grading and ESG framework and calculator for the red meat industry. 10) Biosecurity Marshals & RMI APH R 7 000 000 14%
This initiative aims to strengthen biosecurity defences within the livestock industry by introducing the concept of biosecurity marshals. The 2025 focus will centre on developing and piloting this innovative approach, while fostering critical public-private partnerships (PPPs) to enhance its effectiveness. Additionally, a dedicated Red Meat Industry Animal Public Health (RMI APH) officer will be appointed to oversee all animal health initiatives, ensuring comprehensive management and coordination of industry-wide health efforts.
Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS)
The RMIS is a not-for-profit company responsible for the execution of the Red Meat Vision 2030 across the primary red meat value chain from the farmer to the abattoir. Established in 2022 by the Red Meat and Livestock Primary Cluster compromising of the Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMAA), the South African Feedlot Association (SAFA), the Red Meat Producers (RPO), and the National Emerging Red Meat Producers (NERPO). The cluster provides visionary and strategic support to RMIS.
The RMIS operates at the intersection of innovation and tradition leveraging government approved statutory levies to drive impactful projects and services throughout the sector. The implementation of the coordinated strategic plan is to propel the red meat industry from a marginal surplus-producing sector to grow towards a sustainable and competitive industry inclusively. The strategy is written to align with the Agro-processing master plan (AAMP).
In pursuit of this vision, RMIS focuses on four strategic pillars: addressing animal and public health constraints, expanding market access, fostering inclusive industry growth, and ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of the red meat industry. The comprehensive strategy roadmap is available for download on RMIS’s website: www.rmis.co.za
