South Africans know all too well how quickly a water crisis can reshape daily life. Nearly a decade after Cape Town’s Day Zero drought captured global attention, concerns around water security remain firmly on the national agenda as climate change, ageing infrastructure and unpredictable rainfall continue to put pressure on communities.
Those challenges will take centre stage at Food Indaba 2026, a two-week programme running from 20 July to 2 August, where experts, farmers, policymakers, chefs, researchers and community leaders will examine one pressing question: how can South Africa build a food system that can withstand an increasingly water-scarce future?
Rather than treating water and food as separate issues, this year’s event places them firmly in the same conversation under the theme Water Systems and Food Systems – Rivers, Oceans, Aquifers and Rainfall (ROAR).
Looking beyond Day Zero
According to organisers, the programme will revisit the lessons learned during Cape Town’s Day Zero crisis while asking whether South Africa is better prepared for future water shortages.
The discussions will explore how disruptions to water supplies affect far more than agriculture, influencing food prices, nutrition, public health, livelihoods and the way cities function.
Kurt Ackermann, CEO of the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust, says the Day Zero drought exposed just how closely food security depends on reliable water systems.
While South Africa has made progress in areas such as water conservation and public awareness, he believes major challenges remain, particularly around infrastructure, inequality and access to affordable, nutritious food.
A wider conversation about resilience
This year’s programme arrives as droughts, flooding, pollution and erratic weather continue to place increasing strain on water resources across South Africa and many other parts of the world.
Organisers say the event aims to encourage longer-term thinking around resilience instead of waiting for the next crisis before taking action.
Topics expected to feature include:
- Whether South Africa is prepared for another Day Zero-type event.
- The impact of climate change on food production.
- The role of cities in strengthening food resilience.
- How consumers, farmers and policymakers can help protect the country’s food system.
- Why rivers, groundwater, rainfall and healthy oceans all play a role in feeding communities.
More than conference discussions
Building on last year’s programme, Food Indaba 2026 will once again combine expert discussions with community-focused experiences.
Alongside the flagship conference, visitors can expect guided food walks through parts of Cape Town, Tea with a Farmer experiences at urban farms, workshops for children and young people, community gatherings and food-focused events designed to connect people with local food systems.
Why it matters
Food security has increasingly become part of broader conversations about climate resilience in South Africa. While public attention often turns to water restrictions during droughts, experts continue to stress that water shortages can have ripple effects throughout the economy, influencing everything from grocery prices to public health and local livelihoods.
Food Indaba 2026 aims to keep that conversation going by bringing together voices from across the food system to explore practical solutions for a more resilient future.
Tickets and programme updates are available through the Food Indaba website.
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Picture: Markus Spiske / Unsplash
