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SA bioeconomy strategy launched

The Department of Science and Technology recently launched the science-based South African Bio-economy strategy

23rd January 2014

By: Creamer Media Reporter

  

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From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. The Department of Science and Technology recently launched the science-based South African Bio-economy strategy, that had been approved by Cabinet in November last year. Leandi Kolver has the story.

Leandi Kolver:
The Bio-economy Strategy will replace the National Biotechnology Strategy, which had been in place since 2001, positioning bio-innovation as essential to the achievement of government’s industrial and social development goals.

Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom explains.

Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom:
“The Biotechnology strategy and the work that was being done was somewhat project based. Taking biotechnology firms, trying to achieve the rapid commercialization of biotechnology firms at a regional level and of different sectors.

The bio-economy concept is a much broader one. It is saying let’s look at the entire value-chains in a range of areas of possibility and opportunity and areas in response to South Africa’s priority areas of need.

So in the Bio-economy Strategy we have pulled out the agricultural sector, which is going to be the largest sector of the economy that will benefit from and needs the application of biotechnology or various forms of biologically based processes in order to get maximum value out of the sector. 
OUT: 16:47:45

Leandi Kolver:
Other sectors also included in the strategy are the health sector and the industrial sector.

Also speaking at the strategy launch DST bio-innovation chief director Ben Durham adressed the way forward.

DST bio-innovation chief director Ben Durham:
It has been mentioned this is not the end, this is not the time to sit back and say “we’ve done it”, this is now the time that we need to start getting the process going.

 

We have learnt an enormous amount through the biotechnology strategy but we have come up with the bio-economy strategy and some of the fundamental differences here are the creation of coordinating committees.

These committees will make sure than that it is not just an academic idea that we are pursuing because it is interesting, we are making sure that any idea that is pursued is in the national interst. Whether it is the market, whether it is the national government, or whether it is industry that sees an opportunity, but that there is not just an academic interest but a real opportunity to have an impact in the bio-economy.

 

 

The second key point in relation to the way forward is the creation of implementation plans. These are going to be developed under the guidance of these coordinatinig committees that will come up with interventions, activities, programmes, requirements, needs, objectives for actually implementing the Bio-economy strategy.

 

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: A wind-tower manufacturing facility is on track for its February 2014 opening; and, the African market helps a local pipe manufacturer recover.

Engineering group DCD Wind Towers is on track to complete the construction of its R300-million wind tower manufacturing facility in the Coega industrial development zone, in the Eastern Cape, by February 3, 2014.

DCD Wind Towers GM Gerrit Viviers

South African plastic pipes manufacturer Pipeflo has been expanding its presence in the African market to recover from the financial downturn that resulted from the high incidence of labour unrest in the mining industry in 2012, which has been recurring since, says company founder and director Stefanus Oosthuizen.

Pipeflo business manager Lizl du Preez

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.

Edited by Shannon de Ryhove
Contributing Editor

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