On 24 February 2026, partners gathered at River Meadow Manor in Centurion, Gauteng, to mark the official close-out of BioInnovation Africa (BIA) in South Africa. The event brought together government representatives, technical experts and long-standing collaborators to reflect on the project’s contribution to strengthening biodiversity-based value chains across the region.
Over 7 years, BIA played a pivotal role in advancing ethical, sustainable and commercially biotrade partnerships between South Africa and Europe. Its approach promotes African-European business partnerships that conserve biodiversity and create additional income opportunities. By supporting the sustainable valorisation and global marketing of natural ingredients, companies and consumers benefit through access to high-quality, sustainably produced natural products.
Celebrating Partnerships and Progress
The event reflected on the power of partnerships that defined BIA’s success. Discussions highlighted how collaboration between government, research institutions and the private sector created new opportunities for biodiversity-based products while embedding principles of fairness, sustainability, and compliance that will remain within the sector well beyond its lifespan.
The morning also addressed the importance that collaboration and cross-pollination, recognises the collective growth across species and sectors strengthens the resilience of the broader biotrade ecosystem. It highlighted practical steps for implementing benefit-sharing mechanisms for conservation, reinforcing the importance of translating policy into action.
Beyond the Project
During the afternoon session, stakeholders shared insights on how to sustain the project’s sector wide initiatives, ensuring that lessons learned, networks built and systems strengthened continue to benefit the sector beyond the project’s formal conclusion.
BIA built a strong foundation through:
- Strengthened Africa–Europe business partnerships
- Improved understanding and implementation of ethical and equitable benefit-sharing
- Enhanced market readiness and compliance capacity
- Deepened trust among public and private stakeholders
The closing event was not an end, but marked a transition that ensures momentum for relationships, knowledge and collaborative generated by BIA and continues to shape the next phase of biodiversity-based economic development in the region. The BIA tree represented the ongoing commitment of participants to continue to evolve, growing sustainable value chains rooted in biodiversity, fairness and innovation.