Prodoc pims5686 SouthAfrica National abs project

ANNEX X-3. Detailed description of project design: Outputs and Activities

Project Objective: To strengthen the value chains for products derived from genetic resources that contribute to the equitable sharing of benefits and the conservation of biodiversity, with a focus on bioprospecting of indigenous plant species.

Component 1. Bioprospecting R&D

Outcome 1. Research and development of products is in line with the definition of utilization of genetic resources of the Nagoya Protocol

Output 1.1) R&D barriers linked to clinical studies and registration of African Ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) as a bioresource to treat inflammatory and allergic diseases are systematically overcome in an ABS-compliant manner.

Background:

The strategic focus of the proposed project is to add value to the S. aethiopicus value chain, through technology development (clinical studies) and commercial cultivation, to demonstrate the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation of 2010 in South Africa.

The key partners are: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Agricultural Research Council (ARC) with support from DEA.
Core Activities:

GEF funding will be directed at supporting the implementation of the following:

#	Activities	Elaboration
1	Amendment of the existing CSIR-Traditional Healers Committee Benefit Sharing Agreement to include clauses in alignment with the South African Biodiversity Act	The purpose of this activity is to amend the existing benefit sharing agreement between CSIR and THC for effective equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of the THC’ traditional knowledge and associated plant genetic resources through technology commercialisation, as part of the implementation of the South African legislation, National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004, Bioprospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing, 2008. The activity is expected to be completed through consultation meetings and workshops in the eight provinces of South Africa, except the Western Cape, with the current members of the THC.
2	Conduct clinical studies (clinical trials, adsorption/metabolism studies and observation studies)	As there is currently no clinical evidence of its safety and efficacy, the activity will validate the safety and efficacy of African ginger by conducting a Phase I and II Clinical study on a formulated ethanolic extract of the plant (quality control and chemical analysis completed). The clinical studies will be done in South Africa through a reputable Clinical Research Organisation. Clinical trials are expected to take approximately one year.
3	Registration as a complementary medicine	Once Activity 2 is completed, African ginger will be registerd as a complimentary medicine with the Medicines Control Council of SA.
4	Market and value chain analysis for commercial development
5	Identification of suitable sites for cultivation	Currently, a number of sites exists in Limpopo, KZN, Mpumalanga and North West, where African ginger is cultivated to varying degrees. The purpose of this activity will be to determine the feasability of these sites in terms of potential for production by investigating soil capability and assessing the risks associated with the site.
6	Development (training, infrastructure, equipment, technical support, HR costs, marketing) of community-based agri-processing business/es to cultivate and harvest fresh rhizomes	The ARC and CSIR’s Enterprise Creation for Development (ECD) unit will assist the selected site(s) from Activity 5 with the technical support in developing a community based agri-processing business to cultivate and harvest fresh rhizomes. Other co-financing sources will most likely need to be investigated i.e. AsgiSA; IDC; LRAD; IDC; DBSA; ABSA Agribusiness; and the Land Bank.

Possible Output-level Risks or Issues to be watched and proposed Responses:

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  Inconclusive or negative results of clinical trials: The project will support re-testing or research into other parts of the plants and consider sustainable means of obtaining more biological material through increased cultivation with community involvement.
  
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  Insufficient biological material to satisfy a high demand: The project will support re-testing or research into other parts of the plants and consider sustainable means of obtaining more biological material through increased cultivation with community involvement.
  
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  Permits for marketing are not obtained: The project will support obtaining the necessary “market intelligence” to advance the positioning of products, product niches, including facilitation of Intellectual Property (IP), licensing and modification of product according to market preferences
  

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Output 1.2) Bioprospecting R&D in the Northern Cape is supported, boosting the local bioeconomy and establishing a strategically located ‘Bioproducts Development Hub’.

Background:

The proposed Northern Cape Bioprospecting RDI Hub (Research, Development and Innovation Hub for bioproducts) is envisaged to address the following challenges that the community projects face:

• 
  Provide a centrally-located (Upington) and accessible centre of excellence that would support community projects in production of priority species and related bio-products,
  
• 
  Develop a 3-year research, development and innovation plan for the Hub to implement,
  
• 
  Provide a repository for genetic material for priority species in the Northern Cape,
  
• 
  Propagate priority species and related seedlings for sale/supply for community project cultivation,
  
• 
  Investigate appropriate cultivation practices that is in synergy with current wild-harvesting practices, and that conserve genetic resources and improve production – with the support of appropriate resource assessment initiatives,
  
• 
  Provide know-how to communities in the form of cultivation training, harvesting plans, traceability systems, quality control, phyto-sanitary systems and other extension services where necessary,
  
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  Provide agro-processing support services, especially with respect to product development and quality control,
  
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  Supply material for clinical trials where required,
  
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  Establish a commercial and marketing support service, that is aligned to the R&D mandate (e.g. establishment of a certification system).
  

This GEF-funded Hub is intended as a pilot that would be replicated at Agri-Parks of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform across the NC. Whereas the Hub would initially have a predominantly production-focussed mandate, it is envisaged that its mandate would expand into a stronger commercial and marketing mandate, ideally forming the basis for a bio-prospecting cooperative.

The key partners are: Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Department of Agriculture (Northern Cape)
Core Activities:

GEF funding will be directed at supporting the implementation of the following:

#	Activities	Elaboration
1	Obtain the requisite permits and authorizations for the establishment, of the Hub	This may include: (i) TOPS permit (if required); (ii) permits for collection of plants (iii) other.
2	Establish a Bioprospecting RDI Hub at Upington in the Northern Cape	The Hub will be located on the Eiland Experimental Farm of the Department of Agriculture, at Upington. It will be managed by the ARC and will take the form of a small commerical nursery (shadenet structure for mass propagation, mistbed, temperature-controlled tunnel for year-round propagation, hardening off facility), an accompanying field research laboratory and small office. The Hub will receive technical support from the ARC’s Roodeplaat facility.
3	Develop a 3-year research plan for a priority set of species including Devil’s Claw and at least one complimentary species that could be cultivated in conjunction with Devil’s Claw on community projects	The research plan should focus on cultivar, genotyping and chemotyping research; cultivation / wild-harvesting practices; micro-climate adaptability; crop risks; quality control across the value chain; and other relevant research objectives. This plan will be developed by the ARC, it will involve consultation with an appropriate industry platform, and will be overseen by the Scientific Committee of the overall project.
4	Implement the 3-year research plan	The implementation plan would schedule detail monthly research activities of the Hub’s staf, but in addition it will actively seek collaboration opportunities with suitable academic institutions (e.g. serve as a basis for one or more post-graduate students) with a view to obtaining contributions-in-kind.
5	Develop best management practices (BMPs) for cultivation and harvesting planning (testing approaches, techniques and methodologies) for each species	The appropriate set on knowledge will be packaged (where such knowledge is already available) into a suitable format for empowering community projects. Where the knowledge is not available, research efforts will be done to generate and package such knowledge.
6	Develop best management practices (BMPs) for grading, traceability, quality control and phyto-sanitary systems for product application each species	As above.
7	Develop best management practices (BMPs) for agro-processing support and quality control for product application each species	As above.
8	Establish a simple marketing plan, limited to the establishment of a suitable website presence with a view to establish market linkages.	This is proposed to take form of an additional page on the existing ARC website, rather than a new “stand-alone” website.
9	Develop a production potential plan for the Northern Cape, with production indicators	To be done after identifying community projects, how many of them exist, distance, areas (hectares), irrigation, facilities, etc. Assessment of selected community project farms may be required before implementation.
10	Design a support service to community projects through which the various BMP’s will be transferred at a regular basis.
11	Monitor production
12	Produce seedlings for sale/supply to community projects	A suitable commercial model needs to be investigated for genetic material supply.

Possible Output-level Risks or Issues to be watched and proposed Responses:

• 
  Insufficient harvesting of material to satisfy a high demand: The implementation of the project will contribute to operationalizing of the necessary tools and systems, through e.g. providing specialized training.
  
• 
  Permits for operation are not obtained: Apply due diligence according to procedures, carefully planning physical interventions.
  

Figure . The (future) Northern Cape Hub: the site and its functions

This is the thumbnail [see Annexure for fully fledged figure]

Figure . The (future) Northern Cape Hub: current layout

This is the thumbnail [see Annexure for fully fledged figure]

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