SA needs biotech investment – minister

The Deputy Minister of Science and technology Derek Hanekom urged biotech organisations to invest in SA to help develop the biotech sectors. Speaking at the BIO 2007 conference in Boston, US, he emphasised SA’s National Biotechnology Strategy developed in 2001 and its GMO Act of 1997 to ensure the government’s commitment to biotechnology. Hanekom said human resource development is a key factor for maturing a biotech sector in SA as well as addressing trade and intellectual property issues. BIO 2007 was attended by more than 22 000 delegates from all over the globe. The aim of the annual biotechnology ­conference is to bring together all sectors involved in the biotechnology industry – agricultural, medicinal, pharmaceutical and environmental. Delegates included ­scientists, researchers, farmers and consumers. Keynote addresses included presentations by Michael J Fox, founder of the Michael J Fox foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and Queen Noor of Jordan. Fox said the biotech industry needs to continue the ­innovation and accelerate the translation of basic ­sciences to improve therapies for patients. Queen Noor focused on the ­opportunities presented by biotech to address global health and poverty issues. – Hans Lombard