?The Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch 肆客足球, the oldest of its kind in South Africa, is proud to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025. As the global agricultural landscape continues to evolve, the Department reflects on a legacy of academic excellence, visionary leadership and deep-rooted impact across the agricultural value chain while setting an exemplary example for the future of agricultural economics in Africa.
Founded in 1925 under the leadership of Prof JFW Grosskopf, the Department has developed from its first graduating class in 1926 into a globally recognised hub for agricultural economics teaching, research and industry collaboration. Over the past century, the Department has produced more than 2 000 undergraduates and 400 postgraduates, many of whom are leaders in academia, policy, agribusiness and at research institutions.
The centenary celebrations reach their peak on Friday 12 September, with a series of events starting at 10:00 at the JS Marais Building in Victoria Street on the Stellenbosch campus. These events, which include speeches, presentations of research posters, and a centenary dinner, highlight the Department's heritage and its ongoing importance in a changing world. The day celebrates not only the Department's rich institutional history but also its continuing role in shaping the future of agricultural discourse.
Guest speakers include Prof Ferdi Meyer from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), who will reflect on “A Century of Growth: Agricultural Insights from the Past to Present", and Emeritus Prof Nick Vink, former department chair and international thought leader, who will discuss the Department's key achievements over the past century.
Agricultural economists have always played a crucial role in navigating the complex relationship between food systems, policy, trade, environmental sustainability and livelihoods. In the early years, this role mainly focused on understanding farm production systems and supporting agricultural policy in a post-colonial economy. The Department's leadership, through figures like Prof WE Kassier, Prof FR Tomlinson, Prof ASM Karaan, Prof Nick Vink and Prof TE Kleynhans, has helped shape agricultural reform, marketing legislation, land policy and rural development in South Africa.
Today, agricultural economists face urgent and interconnected challenges, including climate change, global supply chain disruptions, geopolitical volatility, environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance, food insecurity and rapid digital transformation. The Department hosts a diverse and dynamic team of scholars who actively address these global and regional issues through cutting-edge research, policy engagement and industry collaboration. With expertise rooted in robust quantitative and qualitative methods, it continues to inform policy, empower communities and drive innovation in agri-food systems. The Department's current expertise covers the following thematic areas:
- Food systems transformation, agricultural trade and policy modelling
- Land reform, smallholder development and institutional economics
- Environmental resource economics and water governance
- Farm systems modelling, climate risk and conservation agriculture
- Historical agricultural data, climate adaptation and spatial productivity
- Consumer behaviour, food safety and supply chain governance
- Digitalisation and informatics in agri-food systems
- Youth in agriculture, skills development and employability
Initiatives such as the Stellenbosch AgroInformatics Initiative, the long-standing collaboration with BFAP, the recently-established Agricultural Economics Postgraduate Association, and a strong cohort of extraordinary professors supporting the Department's research and teaching activities demonstrate a dedication to innovation, policy relevance and student development.
Moving into the next century, the agricultural economist will become increasingly important, not just as an analyst or academic but also as a systems thinker, policy shaper and sustainability strategist, driving the agricultural sectors around the world towards the future. The Department aims to remain a continental leader in agricultural economics education, fostering a generation of economists who can lead just transitions, design resilient food systems and champion inclusive growth across the Global South.
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