The brown locust (Locustana pardalina) is a major agricultural pest in much of southern Africa. It has been described as the most important agricultural pest in South Africa (SA) where its main outbreak areas are in the semi-arid Karoo region. The recent brown locust outbreak in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State provinces is indicative of the need to find long-lasting measures to control and mitigate against the negative effects inflicted on the livelihoods and agricultural value chains. This advisory note presents the implications of brown locust outbreaks on agriculture production and marketing with special emphasis on the South African context. It further proposes some recommendations on how to reduce effects of the current outbreak and to better prepare for future outbreaks.