To remain at the forefront of technological advancements in agriculture, the Department delivers timely and relevant research and technology development services across the six districts of the Western Cape. This ensures that all agricultural stakeholders in the province have access to advanced scientific and technical expertise.

Transforming research investments into practical information is a core priority – meaning that scientific knowledge is made accessible to both commercial and smallholder farmers at farm level, strengthening their sustainability and competitiveness in local, national, and international markets.

With industrial development placing increasing pressure on natural resources, the Department’s resource scientists and Geographical Information Centre play a key role in ensuring the optimal utilisation of scarce resources, including soil, water, and natural vegetation. Research and practices are therefore centred on achieving maximum resource-use efficiency. Identifying and prioritising research needs remain critical, and partnerships with industry organisations and other stakeholders are continuously expanded and reinforced.

The Programme is structured into the sub-programmes: Research, Technology Transfer Services, and Infrastructure Support Services. It operates through the Directorates: Animal Sciences, Plant Sciences, and Research Support Services. Within the latter, the sub-directorates Analytical Services and Farm Services are included.

While most research is undertaken in the Directorates of Animal Sciences and Plant Sciences, the Directorate: Research Support Services maintains a smaller but vital research portfolio. The Programme is also supported by seven research farms, functioning as open-air laboratories across the Western Cape.

The Directorate: Research Support Services, within the Programme for Research and Technology Development Services, provides essential decision support and analytical services to both internal research teams and external stakeholders. Its analytical laboratory offers soil, water, and plant analyses, alongside plant disease diagnostic services that are invaluable to scientists and producers. In addition, it delivers soil science expertise, climatological risk and potential assessments, crop estimates, and spatial analysis services (GIS) to a wide range of clients.