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The National Biosecurity Hub is a platform established between Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and Innovation Africa @ University of Pretoria. The Hub is part of the revitalisation of the Agricultural Sector through research, development and innovation, a key requirement of both the White Paper on Science Technology and Innovation (2019/2020) and the STI Decadal Plan 2021-2031. 

Biosecurity is a priority shared between research institutions, government and industry. The development, maintenance and funding of an effective national biosecurity system does not only protect the country from new invading sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) threats which affect food security, but it also builds confidence amongst trading partners which leads to an increase in market access and job creation along the value chain. The safety of products of plant and animal origin are essential for consistent trade, sustainable agriculture, food-, nutrition- and livelihood security as well as equitable economic development.

 

Vision & Aim 

The vision for the National Biosecurity Hub is to significantly increase the capacity currently available to the SPS regulatory authorities of South Africa to deal with biosecurity issues. The overarching aim of the Biosecurity Hub is to provide SPS capacity building, information and research services to clients in the public and private sectors, to strengthen biosecurity and meet the SPS requirements of international trade.

 

Objectives

The specific objectives of the National Biosecurity Hub are to: 

  • Promote engagements on SPS matters through establishing appropriate communication structures
  • Develop a Biosecurity Information Hub to store and manage SPS and related information
  • Create opportunities for human capital development
  • Work with public and private stakeholders to prevent, respond to and manage pests and diseases that threaten the environment, human health, animal health and/or the economy 
  • Work with public and private stakeholders to conduct research on known and emerging biosecurity threats 

 

Structure 

The National Biosecurity Hub is governed by the Biosecurity Hub Steering Committee. The committee consists of members from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). Innovation Africa at University of Pretoria (IA@UP) provides coordination and secretarial support for the Hub.