Finland and South Africa to support the development of biosciences in southern Africa
Press release 460/2008
10 December, 2008
On 10 December, Finland and South Africa signed a three-year agreement on support for bioscience networking via the BioFISA programme. BioFISA (The Finnish-Southern African Partnership Programme to strengthen the Southern African Network for Biosciences) is a co-operation programme with the Ministry of Science and Technology of South Africa and Nepad, the Economic Partnership for Africa's Development.
The aim of the programme – the first tripartite project in southern Africa – is to build up a co-operation network in the field of biosciences between universities, research institutes and NGOs in 12 southern African countries. The programme is based on Nepad’s SANBio network and it supports the exchange of information in the field of biosciences and the utilisation of indigenous plants and their access to global markets, for instance, through commercialisation of research results.
In order to support bioscience research, Nepad has launched a research programme, including biodiversity research, biotechnology, and harnessing of the indigenous knowledge and technologies. For the purpose of this project, Nepad has established four research networks in Africa, of which the Southern African Network for Biosciences is called SANBio.
Data technology is utilised to support the operation of the network. In the support of the research network, one of the key goals is the development of public-private cooperation. The project will be launched at the beginning of 2009.
BioFISA will support the research activities and utilisation of the results of SANBio in the following fields of biosciences: the development of anti-inflammatories for the treatment of HIV with reasonable user prices, the research of the biodiversity of inland freshwater fishes in southern Africa, and the development of mushroom production.
On the African continent, agriculture constitutes 35 per cent of the gross national income, 40 per cent of the exports, and offers employment to 70 per cent of the labour force. However, agriculture has failed to respond to the increased demand resulting from population growth. In addition, agricultural production is further burdened by natural catastrophes, overgrazing, and the impacts of climate change. Consequently, the African nations are now investing in scientific research in the field of biosciences.
Biosciences form an extensive area of research, hoped to help in efforts to develop, for instance, more durable crops with higher yields, cattle with higher resistance to diseases, more advanced disease diagnostics, and more accurately targeted medicines and vaccines. Many African countries suffer from lack of research funding for biosciences and qualified researchers.
Additional information: First Secretary Hanna Väänänen, Unit for Southern Africa, tel. +358 9 1605 6239