Food Biotech AgricinSouthAfrica

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South Africa Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology Food Safety and Quality (FP6 Theme 5) Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology (FP7 Theme 2) Europe, March 2006 Ms Cristina Pinto for Dr Geoff Meese EC-SA FP6 NCP Theme 5 food.ncp@esastap.org.za gmeese@csir.co.za www.esastap.org.za

Overview of Presentation: 

Overview of Presentation Research capacity in South Africa Research and development Some comparative advantages Successes in FP6 Theme 5 “Food safety and quality” The future South Africa in FP7 NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) Support measures for cooperation

Research Capacity in South Africa (1): 

Research Capacity in South Africa (1) Universities Research Councils Private and Public Sectors Industry, SMEs, NGOs Government (national, provincial, local) Links on www.esastap.org.za

Research Capacity in South Africa (2): 

Research Capacity in South Africa (2) University of Cape Town University of the Free State University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University University of Pretoria Rhodes University Stellenbosch University Tshwane University University of the Western Cape University of the Witwatersrand Universities Examples of universities with international experience:

Research Capacity in South Africa (3): 

Research Capacity in South Africa (3) Research Councils ARC (Agricultural Research Council) CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) HSRC (Human Sciences Research Council) MRC (Medical Research Council) NRF (National Research Foundation) Mintek SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) Water Research Commission

Research Capacity in South Africa (4): 

Research Capacity in South Africa (4) Private and Public Sectors Limited R&D capacity (multi-nationals, trusts, fledgling sector) Primarily support of development work, little basic research Seeking to becoming more international and linking up with South African partners; international companies looking for R&D partners SMEs – limited research capacity in the food industry; slowly growing in biotechnology (aided by the Biotechnology Regional Innovation Centres and GODISA incubators) NGOs – key role at community level Government departments

Research and Development: 

Research and Development “South Africa has a solid history of engagement with traditional biotechnology. It has produced one of the largest brewing companies in the world, makes wines that compare with the best, has developed many new animal breeds and plant varieties, some of which are used commercially all over the world, and has competitive industries in the manufacturing of dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt, maas, baker's yeast and other fermentation products” However, South Africa has failed to extract value from the more recent advances in biotechnology, particularly over the last 25 years with the emergence of genetics and genomic sciences.” South African National Biotechnology Strategy

Key Biotechnology Issues and Challenges: 

Key Biotechnology Issues and Challenges Institutional arrangements Human resource considerations Funding of research and development Commercialising biotechnology Policy and legal instruments Ethics Public’s understanding of biotechnology

South African Agriculture: 

South African Agriculture A dual economy; a well-developed commercial sector and a subsistence-oriented sector in rural areas Primary production is 2.6% of GDP 9% of the employment in the formal sector Agri-industry is 15% of GDP Agricultural exports are about 8% (15% from deciduous fruit) of total SA exports

Challenges facing South African agriculture: 

Challenges facing South African agriculture Rural, small-scale indigenous farming population Increasing population Urban areas growing rapidly No net change in marine fish production Increasing damage to the ecological foundations of agriculture Environmental, social, economic and agricultural implications of biotechnology advances

Agricultural Biotechnology Research Priorities: 

Agricultural Biotechnology Research Priorities Improving crop production Improving the nutritional value of food Animal health and production Support for suitable industrial development

Examples of SA Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture: 

Examples of SA Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture

Agricultural Research Activities: 

Agricultural Research Activities Agricultural engineering, soil, climate and water Plant crops and products - fruit, grapes, grain, vegetables, ornamental plants and industrial crops Plant protection - Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) Animal Improvement Veterinary and animal health and nutrition (Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute - top veterinary institute in Africa; produced animal vaccines such as anthrax, botulism and blue tongue virus; also developed diagnostic tests. Innovations are manufactured and marketed by Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), which supplies veterinary vaccines to the international market.

Biotechnology Research Activities: 

Biotechnology Research Activities Human health biotechnology Animal health biotechnology Plant biotechnology - Pharmaplanta, Gates Fdn SuperSorghum, Resurrection plant Environmental and mining – BioSure, BioMine Industrial biotechnology

Food Research Activities: 

Food Research Activities Cereal expertise - especially key cereals for Africa Logistics and cold chain technology Packaging - strong export link Shelf-life extension e.g. INCO-DEV 2002-2005 “Combination of osmotic and microwave drying for production of high quality shelf-stable fruits” Partners: Ireland, Mozambique, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uganda, Zambia Value addition to waste e.g. REPRO (www.repro-food.net ) Rural community food security initiatives e.g. value addition to indigenous foods Nutrition Mycotoxins Food microbiology Bench, lab and scale-up facilities in food, chemicals and fermentation

Regulatory Considerations : 

Regulatory Considerations Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997) Regulates all activities with regard to genetically modified organisms. Specific permits are issued for the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms. Risk assessments are conducted prior to the deliberate release of any genetically modified organisms. Biodiversity Act, 2004 Gives effect to international agreements affecting biodiversity binding on South Africa, and secures conservation of the biological diversity of South Africa sustainable use of biological resources, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use and application of genetic resources and material. Regulations under Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972) Govern the labelling of foodstuffs obtained through certain techniques of genetic engineering. The Patents Act, 1978 (Act No. 57 of 1978) Animal Improvement Act, 1998 (Act No. 62 of 1998) Plant Breeders' Rights Act, 1976 (Act No. 15 of 1976)

Some Comparative Advantages: 

Some Comparative Advantages Strong export industry Especially fruit Shelf-life extension – packaging, coatings etc. GM technology, allied to good biosafety protocols Biodiversity - novel foods and novel genes Indigenous Knowledge Systems e.g. traditional foods and medicines Source of genetic material

Successes in FP6 Theme 5Food quality and safety : 

Successes in FP6 Theme 5 Food quality and safety Safe Foods (IP) - Food safety through risk analysis EU-SOL (IP) - High quality solanaceous crops REPRO (STREP) - Value addition to waste from the food industry PARASOL (STREP) - Control of nematodes in ruminants EAGLES Food Forum (SSA) - Network between EU and developing countries (DCs) to consider food safety Food-N-Co (SSA) - Theme 5 NCP cooperation between EU and Developing Countries

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (1): 

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (1) FP7 Theme 2 (Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology) is anticipated to be much broader, thus potentially enlarging the capacity and research areas. The challenge is to consider the EU priorities and the activities, and determine where SA can add value that is aligned to SA’s needs and long term strategy.

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (2): 

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (2) Activity 1: Sustainable Biodiversity Established “omics’ facilities such as the National Bioinformatics Network Value addition to the biodiversity - 26 000 indigenous plants, plus fungal and microbial resources

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (3): 

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (3) Activity 2: Fork to Farm Traceability for the export market International standards (e.g. HACCP) in food industry Innovative food processing Nutrition - South Africa is developing the diseases of the West, plus other major problem areas such as HIV/AIDS

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (4): 

The Future: South Africa in FP7 (4) Activity 3: Non-food Products Forestry - a major industry in South Africa Biofuels - increasing interest Value addition to waste

The Future : NEPAD (1) (New Partnership for Africa’s Development): 

The Future : NEPAD (1) (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) The Africa Biosciences Initiative (ABI) seeks to harness regional capacity in biosciences A regional network comprises a Hub and a Network of nodes throughout the region

The Future : NEPAD (2): 

The Future : NEPAD (2) Four Hubs identified: North Africa Biosciences Network (NAB, based at the National Research Centre in Egypt) Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa Network (BECA, based at ILRI in Kenya) West Africa Biosciences Network (WAB, based at ISRA in Senegal) Southern Africa Biosciences Network (SANBio, based at the CSIR in South Africa)

The Future : NEPAD (3): 

The Future : NEPAD (3) SABH / SANBio will comprise 12 countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe The Hubs and Networks will serve as a way into the regions and the continent in the biosciences

Slide27: 

www.ESASTAP.org.za Ms Cristina Pinto For: Dr Geoff Meese EC-SA FP6 NCP Theme 5 food.ncp@esastap.org.za gmeese@csir.co.za Presentation photographs courtesy of SA Tourism