SOUTH AFRICA: AFRICA'S BIOTECH POWERHOUSE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PRETORIA 001324 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/TRASTOGI, OES/PCI/ESHAW STATE FOR OES AND EB USDA FOR FAS/BIOTECH GROUP/BSIMMONS, GIPSA, APHIS STATE PASS USTR TOFAS: 19 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD SENV TBIO TSPL SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: AFRICA'S BIOTECH POWERHOUSE PRETORIA 00001324 001.2 OF 004 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (U) Summary. South Africa leads the African continent in the adoption, acceptance and advancement of biotech knowledge. It has a vibrant and productive biotech community that produces far more scientific articles and patents than any other Africa country. Funding for biotech grew 360% between 2000 and 2004. Growth in related fields of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, genetic engineering and biotechnology exceeded 46% for the same time period, totaling about R 260 M (USD 43 M). -------------- -------------- SOUTH AFRICA ACCEPTED BIOTECH IN 1992 -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) South Africa has a long history of acceptance of biotech crops, beginning with its first field trials of GMOs in 1992 and with the first permits issued only 5 years later. Today South Africa is one of only four countries in the world (USA, Canada, and Argentina) that produces more than two biotech crops. The scope of research at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) extends across plant tissue culture, molecular biology, recombinant DNA and diagnostics. Three ARC institutes conduct research on the development of transgenic crops - the Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute (Gauteng),the Fruit, Vine and Wine Research Institute (Western Cape) and the Grain Crops Institute (North West). -------------- -------------- TODAY THE SOUTH AFRICA GOVERNMENT CONDUCTS LEADING EDGE RESEARCH -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) BioTech scientists at the Veterinary Institute of the University of Pretoria completed the first genome to be sequenced in Africa. The bacterium that was sequenced, Ehrlichia ruminantium, is spread by ticks and causes the economically devastating heartwater disease in livestock and wild ruminants. Scientists will now use this data to develop a vaccine. ¶4. (U) South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is one of the leading scientific and technology research and development organizations in Africa. CSIR provides science and technology services including skills in biosciences, material science, manufacturing, natural resources and the environment. CSIR has assisted in the development of genetically superior trees and is continuing efforts to improve breeding techniques to design trees with improved wood properties and improved resistance to alien invasion. CSIR has also aided the successful commercialization of the manufacturing of beta-carotene from algae. CSIR is a key player in research into use of micro- organisms to remove toxins from industrial waste and in aiding soil remediation. ¶5. (U) CSIR has been a key researcher into the use of indigenous plants since the early 1960's. A research breakthrough by CSIR scientists relating to the isolation and structure elucidation of a new chemical entity (P57) extracted from the indigenous succulent Hoodia has led to a new treatment for obesity. CSIR licensed a UK company in 1997 to further develop and commercialize this discovery. A contact for mass production was signed with Unilever in ¶2004. The agreement between CSIR and the San People, an indigenous group, whose knowledge was used as the basis for the preliminary research provides that CSIR will pay the San 8% of all milestone payments it receives once the product becomes fully commercialized. ¶6. (U) CSIR also collaborates with traditional healers in the study of indigenous plants with mosquito repellent properties. A community-owned mosquito repellent candle factory has been launched in Limpopo where this plant is being cultivated and distilled. ¶7. (U) The Medical Research Council (MRC) focuses on local health priorities, playing a key role in furthering health research within South Africa. A leading MRC program is the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) which is PRETORIA 00001324 002 OF 004 working with key national and international partners to produce a locally affordable vaccine. Local participation in this project includes over 250 scientists at ten national institutions with funding coming primarily from MRC, the South African government and Eskom. SAAVI collaborates on product development and clinical trials with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. In 2004, the SAAVI group included the only accredited laboratory outside the U.S. to perform clinical immunological studies and testing within the HVTN. ¶8. (U) The National Research Foundation (NRF),the national agency responsible for promoting and supporting basic and applied research, is another active player in the biotech field. Two NRF-created Centers of Excellence are biotechnology based, including the Center of Excellence for BioMedical TB Research, and the Center of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology. NRF also manages the Innovation Fund that invests in technological innovations. Funds allocated to the Innovation Fund have increased from approximately R329 million (USD 54 million) in 2000 to R714 million (USD 119 million) in 2004. ¶9. (U) Launched in 2001, BioVentures is South Africa's first and only niche biotechnology venture capital fund. It invests in seed and start-up stage biotech companies. Investments to date have been in fields as diverse as drug discoveries to medical devices to waste water bioremediation. Since 2001 BioVentures has invested more than R50 million (USD 8.3 million) in 8 South Africa start- up companies. ¶10. (U) Under the National Biotechnology Strategy adopted in 2001, South Africa has developed several other initiatives, programs and centers. Six Biotech Regional Innovation Centers have been established, including the Biotech Partnerships and development (BioPAD),Cape Biotech trust, LIFELab (the East Coast BioTech Center),PlantBio Trust, the National BioInformatics Network and Public Understanding of BioTech (PUB). Each regional center has a specific mission and vision. ¶11. (U) BioPAD establishes companies that use biotech in the fields of health (animal and human),industrial, mining and environmental biology. Working with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC),the Water Research Commission, Rhodes University, CSIR, the University of Pretoria and other partners, BioPAD has helped develop: -- Innovative bio processes that reduce the acidity of drainage water, a serious problem in mining, -- A novel method for extracting active ingredients in aloe plants, -- Production of a pro-biotic range of koi fish, and -- A new diagnostic kit for use against animal diseases spread by ticks such as corridor disease. ¶12. (U) Cape BioTech Trust has focused upon cluster interventions benefiting the broader biotech community and industry. It has several pending projects including a micro array platform at the University of Cape Town, BioCareers Portal, and Genecare Molecular Genetics. Three other projects are in the development and funding stage. ¶13. (U) LIFELab in the Eastern Coastal region has concentrated on projects that improve human health. It currently provides venture capital for bioprocess and biotech projects focusing on infectious diseases such as malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS. One key project is the development of a Liquid Fermentation Lab south of Durban which will set up an incubator for commercialization of processing requiring liquid fermentation and cell cultures. ¶14. (U) PlantBio focuses on food security and biofertilization. One key project located in a rural area south of Durban with a population of 50,000 assists small scale organic farmers. PlantBio recently invested R10 million (approx USD 1.6 Million) is a plant multiplication facility that uses tissue cultures to produce plants for PRETORIA 00001324 003 OF 004 local and international sales. ¶15. - (U) The National BioInformatics Network (NBN) and the Public Understanding of Biotech (PUB) are both information dissemination organizations. NBN's goal is to ensure that molecular and high throughput biology information is centralized and available to the South African biotech community. PUB develops school-based resources, hosts biotech workshops and training courses and provides biotech information to mass media. -------------- -------------- PRIVATE BIOTECH INDUSTRIES IN SOUTH AFRICA - AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE -------------- -------------- ¶16. (U) Beyond the official South African government umbrella, a National Biotechnology Survey in 2003 found that South Africa had 622 research groups engaged in 911 biotech research projects, involving about 4300 researchers. Key private companies include Synexa Life Sciences which has developed a proprietary bioprocessing technology for production of natural and recombinant products from microbial hosts. Aspen Pharmacare is Africa's largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer. Aspen pioneered the production of low-cost generic anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs under voluntary licenses from GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingelheim, among others. Aspen's ARVs are manufactured at its oral solid dose facility which has been accredited by the US Food and Drug Administration, as well as by the World Health Organization. -------------- -------------- -------------- AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH - A SUNNY PICTURE -------------- ¶17. (SBU) The South African Government generally supports biotechnology: transgenic varieties of cotton, corn and soy are approved for commercial planting and account for approximately 90 percent of South Africa's cotton, 20 percent of corn, and 70 percent of soybeans. South Africa can play a vital role as other countries in Africa develop biotechnology policies because it has the most resources, such as scientific expertise and financial support, as well as a progressive regulatory system. Without the South African Government's leadership role in this region, future progress in biotechnology can be stifled by anti-technology groups. ¶18. (SBU) South African farmers can be divided into two categories. Large-scale, commercial farmers, usually white, are modern businessmen who often have more in common with their American counterparts than with their fellow, more traditional Africans. Small-scale farmers, sometimes growing only for their subsistence needs, are usually black and have smaller plots of land planted to grains and vegetables. GM products have a wide appeal with both groups. Each group appreciates that GM crops use fewer inputs and have higher yields, both in quantity and in quality. In fact, small-scale farmers find some GM crops easier to manage than traditional varieties. ¶19. (SBU) Seed companies have found that small-scale growers are an important market for GM crops, and they promote their new seeds extensively by hosting Farmer Field Days at company test plots throughout the country. Distributors are from the local area, speak the local language, and take the time to explain to the people the benefits of using modern seeds. Most important, the seed companies of South Africa visit each of their customers' farms several times each season for after-sales service to give advice and to try to ensure satisfied customers. The seed companies in essence perform the extension service function that was formerly performed by the South African Department of Agriculture. In recent years, the Provincial Departments of Agriculture have taken on the extension function, and it is difficult to find a farmer, large or small-scale, who has anything positive to say about their performance. When care is taken by the seed company representatives, both large and small-scale growers are generally receptive to new technologies. This has led to significant increases each year in the area planted to biotech seeds in South Africa. ¶20. (SBU) A good example of products under development is PRETORIA 00001324 004 OF 004 the USAID-funded transgenic potato project, in cooperation with Michigan State University and South Africa's Agricultural Research Council (ARC) (the ARC is a UNESCO biotechnology training center for Africa). The project is in the third year of contained field trials with projected commercialization time frame of 2008. Before petitioning for commercialization, a "socio-economic impact" questionnaire will be completed in order to gain the views of farmers and their communities about the use of the genetically engineered potato. The chief researcher told post that the ARC is working closely with the GMO Registrar's office to ensure that trials are on the right track, and she believes that they will need another year of field trials before submitting a formal application for commercialization to the GMO Registrar. ¶21. (SBU) The potato contains a Syngenta-developed gene in South African cultivars engineered to resist the tuber moth, which is particularly important for small-scale farmers storing their potatoes after harvest. The contained trials are taking place in six regions, representing different ecological areas of South Africa. Five of the six planting trials are completed. Recent storage trials show 100 percent control of the moth. ¶22. (U) The ARC is also working on a drought-resistant soybean, which is locally produced with a gene licensed from Belgium. The earliest that the soybean could be commercialized would be 2009 as they still need two more years of multi-locality field trials. The group is also working on a virus-resistant ornamental plant, which has shown some success; a virus resistant sweet potato that has not been successful due to weevil problems; and virus resistant tomatoes. It also is working on gene mining projects on cow peas, sorghum and potatoes to locally develop genes that will help resource-poor farmers. -------------- -------------- -------------- FUTURE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH IN SOUTH AFRICA - BEYOND POTATOES AND CORN -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶23. (SBU) The South African Parliament is currently debating proposed amendments to the GMO Act. ARC researchers believe that rules under the Cartagena Protocol of Biosafety will be more restrictive to research, development and commercialization of new products than the proposed amendments. ARC remains hopeful that the new amendments will not be too restrictive or expensive. ¶24. (SBU) Comment. Agricultural biotech is well-entrenched in South Africa. While a few, vocal but limited membership groups still question the safety of GMOs, the ordinary consumer in South Africa pays little attention. GMO crops that are in place will be difficult, if not impossible, to dislodge. Farmers appreciate the vale added by GMO seeds and crops and will be reluctant to return to non-GMO products. Meanwhile, biotech is exploding into other fields of research and activities. The government is actively encouraging the expanse of biotech research, positioning South Africa as a biotech leader not only for Africa, but for the developing world. The government would be hard- pressed to now begin decrying the folly of biotech, and we see no sign that is disposed to do so. TEITELBAUM