EcoProducts is Awarded Bioprospecting Permit

Written by on November 18, 2013. Posted in ECOPRODUCTS: HOW WE WORK

During an impressive ceremony hosted by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs in Polokwane last week, EcoProducts was one of three companies who were awarded a bioprospecting permit.  The permit was handed over to Dr Sarah Venter and two community representatives, Ms Sophiah Nemutshenzheni and Ms Livhuwani Tshivhiyahuvhi by the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Limpopo Province, Mr Moloto.

The permit means that Sarah and her communities have the blessing of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs for their activities.  They are only one of 11 companies who are now compliant with the new legislation on bioprospecting and the utilization of our indigenous biological resources.

The Biodiversity Act which promotes the "fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources".  In this way the act is founded on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing which arose from the Convention on Biological Diversity.   

Continue reading....

Find more interesting articles below

Baobab fruit season

Baobab fruit season

February is a wonderful time to see growing baobab fruit.  They emerge from their showy white flowers in December and take six months to grow into our superfruit. In February they are still growing and the fruit are soft and green.  The inside of the fruit is wet and pulpy, providing an ideal environment for […]

Read more
Baobabs Tell of Ancient African Past

Baobabs Tell of Ancient African Past

A wonderful story that meanders along a trail, 1 000 years old, linking Vilanculos on the coast of Mozambique with the home of the little golden rhino, Mapungubwe. The trail is marked by the presence of giant baobabs, observers, watchers, sentinels of the past, silent witnesses to the rise and fall of cultures and communities. Along the way, we hear from EcoProducts owner Dr Sarah Venter.

Read more
Baobab Fruit Monitoring

Baobab Fruit Monitoring

Every year in February or March, I go out with a small team to do baobab fruit monitoring.  This is our 10th year!  It’s is a good time of year to do this because while most of the fruit have reached their full size, they have not matured (dried out) enough and have not yet fallen  off the […]

Read more