DAKAR - South Africa is one of few African states with rich and diverse species of flora and fauna that could be used to stimulate economic growth in the same scale witnessed by India’s biotechnology industry, according to a Nigerian scholar Precious Dike.

Addressing delegates at the Knowledge Management Africa conference in Dakar, Senegal, Dike said if African governments followed India’s example of strategically investing into Biotechnology research facilities and institutional networks, this would open enormous potential and enhance the economic growth.

This was in the paper she presented on the contribution on the economy of the India’s investment on the development of its biotechnology industry. Dike from the Covenant University (CU) in Ogun State Nigeria – a fellowship student from International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, New Delhi, India - said there were already lots of similarities that Africa could build on, especially the unique and unexplored plant kingdom.

In the case of SA, she described it as already blessed with a large and strong pool of qualified scientists and engineers within the country as well as good network of research laboratories such as in India.

Biotechnology is the use of cellular and bio-molecular processes to solve problems or make useful products. It involves the process of applying the knowledge of biology to enhance the environment, health and food supply.

Dike described India as one of the primary players in the international biotechnology field. Its biotechnology sector crossed the 2 billion USD mark during 2006 – 2007 and is still growing, showing 20% growth in 2007-2008.

She said the government of India took an initiative in the early 1980s and identified a niche in the education and training field. It established scientific agencies and the National Biotechnology Board to support research initiatives in modern biology.

It also built the infrastructure such as laboratories and institutions of learning with specific mandates to carry out research and development in life sciences as well as knowledge, innovation and technology parks.

India also roped in the experiences of top academic institutions around the world to take advantage of the knowledge that is already in existence.

In the past two and a half decade the focus on this industry has created more than 300 college level educational and training institutes across the country offering degrees and diplomas in biotechnology, bioinformatics and the biological sciences. This has led to a knowledge pool in biosciences and engineering of over 3 million under graduates, 700 million post graduates and 15 million PhDs.

To stimulate entrepreneurship and public investments into the production of newly invented or discovered products, the Indian government started with the removal of duty on raw materials imported in a bid to support and motivate those with interest.

“There was a move to simplify and streamline procedures for import, clearance of storage of biological material, land acquisition, obtaining environmental and pollution control approvals within shorter time lines,” she said.

She added that other forms of encouragements included funding for new researches like combination of vaccines, stem cells, Bio-Diesel etc.

She said a country like SA would only require minor adjustments to get started including the provision of loans to small and medium scale companies; creation of healthy competition between provinces by funding the most successful ones as well as the implementation of policies which attract foreign investment.

She said many African states need to invest in setting up Biotechnology centres to explore indigenous knowledge for local plants. They will also need to establish policies and regulatory structures for bio-safety and intellectual property protection.