An overview of plant biotechnology in South and Sub-Saharan Africa

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Biotechnology Stakeholders Association
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Why was AfricaBio created?

• Provide biotechnology stakeholders with a
  platform for biotechnology in SA and Africa
• To address a strong misinformation campaign in SA
  media on modern biotechnology
• The information was European with no reference or
  relevance to African conditions
• Our experience had shown that there was relevance
  for biotechnology in Africa
• A moratorium would prevent South Africa accessing
  and testing relevant technologies

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AfricaBio was initiated by

• Academics
• Food retailers
• Life science and seed companies
• Food producers
• National research organisations
• (Focused on food and agriculture)
• until 2002

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Mission statement

• AfricaBio seeks to promote the enhancement of
  life through the safe,ethical and responsible
  development and application of biotechnology and
  the products derived from it.
• Non-profit, non-political, Section 21 Company
• Biotechnology Stakeholders Association

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AfricaBios role

• Make available accurate information.
• Encourage informed debate.
• Promote safe, ethical and responsible use of
• biotechnology.
  
  
• Interact with government and civil society.
• Interact with international bodies.
• Provide education and training.
• Stimulate new biotechnology development

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AfricaBios Structure

• Board of Governors
• 9 board members
• RepCongo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa
• Team of 8-12 staff
• Working Groups
• Public Awareness and Media
• Scientific Research
• Education Training
• Policy and Food Chain Working Group

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Current Membership August 2002

• 90 members
• Academics
• Educational institutes and schools
• Food retailers
• Food processors
• Food distributors and associated industries
• Food producers (farmers organisations)
• National RD institutes
• Biotechnology companies
• Invited guests
• Consumer organisations
• Government and regulators

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Information dissemination

• Web-site query option www.africabio.com
• Newsletter BioLines
• Press releases and media forums
• Workshops and Conferences e.g. WSSD planning
• Information brochures (local languages)
• Presentations industry, civil society

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Some Current Projects

• Communication
• Consumer research
• Education and Training e.g. industry, schools,
  communities
• Small-scale farmer research
• Support to policy development
• SMME support bioincubator
• Networking in Africa and internationally

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Public Awareness

• Consumers, Industry and Regulators agree that
  consumers have a right to know what they are
  eating
• Labels will assist a small percentage of African
  consumers, but are costly and give little
  information (CODEX)
• Awareness campaigns needed to reach the general
  public
• GOAL informed decision making

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A credible awareness campaign

• 75 South Africans do not know about
  GMOs(FEST-2001)
• Balanced and accurate information that addresses
  benefits and concerns
• Who should inform the public?
• 17 government
• 15 industry
• 32 nutritionist
• 31 biotechnology association
• (Pretoria Technikon , 2001)

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Networking

• AfricaBio recognised internationally
• Collaborate, dont duplicate
• Africa
• SARB
• ABSF
• SABRAD
• BTA
• BTZ
• FAO
• UNEP
• Rockefeller public awareness project
• Internationally
• Provide information on biotechnology needs and
  activities in Africa
• Initiate and develop partnerships

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Contact details

• E-mail africabio_at_mweb.co.za
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Web-site www.africabio.com