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Sustainable development
and bioeconomic prosperity in Africa: Bio-fuels and the
South African gateway
Dorsamy (Gansen) Pillay1,2*
and Edgar J. Da Silva3,γ
1Department
of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied
Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334,
Durban 4000, South Africa.
2*Discipline
of Microbiology, School of Biochemistry, Genetics and
Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University
of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa.
3Former
Director, Division of Life Sciences, UNESCO, Paris 75015,
France.
*Corresponding author.
E-mail: gansen@dut.ac.za.
Tel: 00 27 31 3732576.
γDr. da Silva
passed on after co-authoring this manuscript. This
manuscript is dedicated to him for his iconic contributions
in biotechnology to developing countries.
Accepted
14 April, 2009 |
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African
countries along with the co-founders of the New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) must use biotechnology as a
valuable tool for socio-economic and sustainable
development. National, regional and international
consultations and debates ensure timely attention of
peer-reviewed guidelines concerning significant issues like
bio-risks, bio-safety, and bio-security that impinge on
daily human existence and welfare. High–cost fossil fuel
prices and national security concerns have sparked interest
in bio-fuels in continental Africa. In brief, Africa is
taking the lead in creating its own biotechnology agenda and
roadmap to socioeconomic and sustainable development. The
emergence of “Rainbow Biotech” serves as a catalytic portal
amongst others for collaborative effort and continental
development.
Key
words:
Bio-fuels, economic development, biotechnology, South
Africa, Africa. |
