Bio-Economy Strategy.

This document lays down the Bioeconomy Strategy, which is applicable at the national level. The term bio-economy encompasses biotechnological activities and processes that translate into economic outputs, particularly those with industrial application. Within the South African context these include technological and non-technological exploitation of natural resources such as animals, plant biodiversity, micro-organisms and minerals to improve human health, address food security and subsequently contribute to economic growth and improved quality of life. In this context, this strategic instrument provides a high-level framework to guide biosciences research and innovation investments, as well as decision-making as South Africa adapts to the realities of global transition to a lowcarbon economy. Designed to have a technology-push and market-pull approach, the strategy addresses the country’s developmental goals and needs, as well as its industrial and agricultural competitiveness. The following three sectors are identified as crucial: 1) Agriculture; 2) Health; 3) Industry and the environment.
One of the strategic objectives of this document is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.
Further it seeks to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. The Bio-economy Strategy’s objective with regard to agriculture is to strengthen agricultural biosciences innovation to ensure food security, enhance nutrition and improve health, as well as enable job creation through the expansion and intensification of sustainable agricultural production and processing. Short- to medium-term strategic interventions to enhance the sector’s competitiveness are outlined ; they include the following: a) establish a coordinating committee to advise, guide and monitor agricultural innovation; b) establish a network of agro-innovation hubs that enhance technology transfer and extension; c) crop and livestock improvement for biotic and physical stresses associated with climate change (including indigenous crops); d) agroprocessing initiatives; e)an integrated food nutrition research programme; f) animal vaccine capabilities; g) energy crop initiatives; h) biocontrol and biofertilizers; i) aquaculture; j) soil conservation; k) water resource management; l) build high-value skills and capacities to enable agro-innovation.
The Bio-economy Strategy’s key objectives with regard to industry and the environment are to prioritize and support research, development and innovation in biological processes for the production of goods and services, while enhancing water and waste-management practices to support a green economy. Strategic intervention in this sector encompass strategic industrial biotechnology programmes; development integrated biorefineries from biobased feedstocks; strenghtening solid waste research, development and innovation.