Various stakeholders attended the symposium including science communicators, regulators, sustainability researchers and technology developers. The theme was “Enabling Sustainable Biotech Innovation”. For the program, please click here Download PDF 

 Below are the talks held at the symposium:

1. KEYNOTE LECTURE Challenges to Biotech Innovation for Small Companies and the Public Sector – Keith Redenbaugh Download PDF

Theme 1 – Biosafety Communication & Engagement

2. A Science Communication Journey within a Biosafety Context – Liezel Gouws Download PDF

3. Believing is seeing – Marina Joubert Download PDF 

Theme 2 – Biosafety Governance

4. Role of DoH in the Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms – Aluwani Madzivhandila Download PDF 

5.  Environmental Risk Assessment: A practical approach – Wadzi Mandivenyi Download PDF

6. Socio-economic issues related to GMO’s – Ben Durham Download PDF

7. Regulatory best practice in the South African Context – Nompumelelo Mkhonza Download PDF

Theme 3 – GMO Sustainability R&D

8. SANBI’s monitoring and research programme: contribution towards GMO sustainability R&D – Tlou Masehela Download PDF

9. How assumptions about the behaviour of lepidopteran pests affect IRM strategies and sustainability of Bt-crops – Andri Visser Download PDF

10. Optimised refugia in BT sugarcane – DJ Human Download PDF

11. Assessing the likelihood of gene flow from sugarcane (Saccharum hybrids) to wild relatives in South Africa – Hlobi Khanyi Download PDF

12. Assessment on farmers’ choice of maize varieties, awareness and compliance to GM maize permit conditions in OR Tambo district (Eastern Cape Province) – Siphokazi Ngcinela Download PDF

13. Two decades of GMO socio-economic research in the SA context – Marnus Gouse Download PDF

Theme 4 – Emerging Biosafety/Sustainability Issues

14. Sustainable biotech innovation from an entrepreneur’s perspective – Mauritz Venter Download PDF

15. GM Forestry – Sanushka Naidoo Download PDF 

16. Preparing for GM sugarcane in South Africa: pre-commercial biosafety aspects to consider – Sandy Snyman Download PDF

17. Induced genetic variation: innovation opportunties & challenges – Hennie Groenewald Download PDF