South Africa to Dish up Zebra to Boost Jobs and Conservation

Picture Courtesy: (Enca) Good news for meat lovers and a great plan to help reduce the unemployment rate in South Africa is the addition of Zebra Meat to local and international dishes.

(The Post News)- Good news for meat lovers and a promising plan to help reduce the unemployment rate in South Africa is the addition of zebra meat to dinner dishes.

Officials argue the underutilised industry could create employment and aid in wildlife conservation, all while satisfying the taste buds of those conscious of climate and health when consuming meat.

“We aim to introduce a new element to your dinner plate by offering you organic game meat from the wilderness,” Khorommbi Matibe, the environment ministry’s biodiversity economy head, conveyed to AFP.

South Africa, a prominent destination for wildlife tourism, produces around 60,000 metric tonnes of game meat annually, equivalent in mass to about 60,000 giraffes.

However, only a fraction of this meat finds its way to butcheries and grocery stores. The government reports that 90% is hunted and consumed informally, with even less being exported.

In 2019, slightly more than 3,000 metric tonnes of ostrich, crocodile, and zebra were dispatched to the European Union, China, and the UAE, according to reports. Officials aspire to dish out considerably more.

In March, they expressed intentions to expand the sector from 4.6 billion rand ($250 million) in 2020 to 27.6 billion rand by 2036, embracing a strategy unveiled the previous year.

With national unemployment at 32.9%, this initiative could spawn jobs in rural, economically challenged regions.

Reduced methane

Game animals emit less methane, a greenhouse gas, compared to cattle, whose belches are a significant source of global warming emissions in farming. Foraging in the wild: game meat is free-range and low-fat.

A 2023 investigation by researchers at Stellenbosch University determined that zebra flesh was highly nourishing and extremely low in fat content. Consuming more could further aid conservation efforts, the government argues.

South Africa has historically embraced a commerce-driven approach to conservation, based on the belief that landowners are more motivated to protect wildlife if it yields financial benefits.

Some critics argue that this framework exploits and commercialises animals. Nonetheless, it has been largely effective.

The nation’s wildlife population has surged from roughly 500,000 in the 1960s to over 20 million presently.
Approximately 80% reside within private game reserves that lure tourists and hunters.

With minimal equipment required, the game presents “exceptionally low” startup costs, a boon for industry entrants, noted Darren Horner, proprietor of Aloes Meat.

The government suggests that portions of the meat may come from the culling of herbivores annually to maintain populations at sustainable levels.

It plans to convert one million hectares of communal land into game meat production zones, aiming to increase black ownership in an industry where, three decades post-apartheid, over 94% of proprietors are white men, as mentioned by Matibe.

Challenges in the meat industry
Nevertheless, in a nation passionate about barbecues, locally termed braai, scant amounts currently make it to the barbecue.

This is partly attributed to the perception that the game is tougher than beef and possesses a distinctive flavour, as per the strategy, which anticipates promotional efforts to elevate consumption.

“Our grandmothers used to soak the game meat in red wine for three days, wrapped in bacon, to mellow out its strong, wild flavour,” said Charl de Villiers, leader of Game SA, a trade association.
Additional obstacles exist.

The authorities intend to establish quality norms so that all meat can be pinpointed to its origin and earn the confidence of supermarkets and eateries.

However, these standards must not be overly rigorous, lest they deter casual producers, Horner advised.

Concurrently, exports of hoofed species to Europe have faced prohibition for an extended period as South Africa battles to manage foot and mouth disease outbreaks, which farmers attribute to subpar border oversight.

Producers argue that national laboratories for meat testing are small and outdated, further limiting export capabilities.

De Villiers currently must transport his ostrich meat to Britain for analysis, inflating expenses.

Significant letdown

The slaughter facility in Bela Bela, north of Johannesburg, ranks among a select few in the nation devoted to game meat.

Stephen Nel, the owner of Camo Meat Abattoir in Bela Bela, revealed that he attempted to secure an export license in 2017 but ultimately gave up on the endeavour.

“It was an immense letdown for me. The authorities let us down,” Nel expressed, clad in khaki attire within his chilled establishment.

Annually, about 4,000 animals are flayed, measured, deboned, processed, and packaged there. Nearly all are supplied by hunters eager to consume a portion of their catch.

To broaden production for supermarket distribution necessitates investments, but these are scarce, given the scepticism surrounding the industry’s prospects, Nel said.

The state has discussed expansion for over a decade, yet “nothing materialises,” Nel observed.

Still, Matibe remains optimistic that the strategy will soon yield dividends and stay on course even after the May elections compelled the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to establish a coalition government.

“Within the next three years, we predict a significant increase in this product entering the market,” concluded Matibe.