ABS Biotrade: Activities and Achievements

Conditions for implementation of national ABS regulations are improved:

Country and stakeholder-specific ABS manuals
Blended training course on ABS contracts
(Gender-specific) ABS contract negotiation trainings and advice
IT-based application and information system
Training of IT-based application and information system
Guidance and advice on requirements for ABS compliance and permitting procedures

Biodiversity conservation measures as part of benefit-sharing agreements are developed:

Catalogue existing and develop potential national mechanisms for biodiversity conservation in benefit-sharing
Knowledge exchange on appropriate financing mechanisms at national and international level
Mapping of best practices on benefit sharing for conservation among private sector

Market potentials of selected biodiversity-based value chains respecting the UNCTAD BioTrade principles are utilised:

Cooperation between European and African businesses
Capacity-building for the implementation of sustainable supply chains and for the creation of new job opportunities
Supply chain assessments, gap analyses and joint intervention plans
Compilation of facts and figures on existing and potential resources and value chains
Guidance on national requirements for ABS compliance and permitting procedures
Facilitation partnerships on technology transfer to increase local value creation and create job opportunities

German development cooperation is visible as close partner:

Roundtables with German companies and BMZ
Events on African-European private sector cooperation
Public relations material
International events for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits

Phase I

More than 320,000 ha of wild collection sustainably used
More than 1,500 ha of cultivated land sustainably used
More than 7,400 field operators with new or better employment / employability of which 83% were women
More than 150 stakeholders trained on the valorisation of genetic resources, biological ingredients and ABS contracts, of which 48% were women
More than 1,3 Mio. € private sector investments mobilized
Twenty cooperation agreements signed
Political partners possess several knowledge products, reference guides, videos and online tools to better guide involved stakeholders though national ABS processes

A “Community of Practice” has been established for the institutional partners of the four BioInnovation Africa countries through a virtual exchange platform. These Technical Exchange Sessions are regularly conducted with a view to discuss and advance project-relevant topics and ensure continuous exchange between stakeholders of the BIA countries.

Partnership agreements or MoU have been signed with following organizations/companies and resources, respectively:

Cameroon:

The Body Shop, Weleda, Tropical Forest Products and Guide d’Espoir - value chain support (phase I)
Firmenich - R&D (phase I)
Guide d'espoir (guiding hope), Weleda, Norevo - value chain support (phase II)
V Mane Fils - R&D and value chain set up (phase I)
V Mane Fils - value chain set up (phase II)

Madagascar:

Behave, Aroma Forest - value chain set up/support (phase I)
BIO.ES.OIL, Jacarandas International - value chain support (phase II)
Floribis, V. Mane Fils - value chain set up/support (phase I)
Floribis, V. Mane Fils - value chain support (phase II)
Jacarandas Madagascar, BIO.ES.OIL (phase II)
L’Oréal - value chain support (phase I)
Seppic / SERDEX - sector approach and market access (phase I)

Namibia:

Blue Sky Botanics, Namibia Nature Foundation, KAZA Natural Oils – R&D and market access (phase I)
Blue Sky Botanics, Namibia Nature Foundation – R&D and market access (phase II)
The Body Shop, Aldivia, Gustav Heess Group and Eudafano Women’s Cooperative (EWC) – value chain support (phase I)
The Body Shop, Aldivia, Gustav Heess Group and Eudafano Women’s Cooperative (EWC) – value chain support (phase II)
CRIAA SA-DC – R&D and market access (phase I)
Kambaku Energy GmbH, SEED Namibia – value chain support (phase I)
Naturex, NANCi and National Devil’s Claw Export Association Trust (NDCEAT) – standards and market access (phase I)
Givaudan, NANCi and National Devil’s Claw Export Association Trust (NDCEAT) – standards and market access (phase II)
Regenerative Essences, IRDNC / Kunene Trust – R&D (phase I)
V. Mane Fils, IRDNC / Kunene Trust and Parceval - R&D (phase I)

South Africa:

Dicot Parceval – R&D (phase I)
Dicot Parceval – R&D (phase II)
Grounded Management South Africa, SImon Levelt B.V., Gorunded Ingredients B.V., Commonland - value chain support (phase II)
Kambaku Energy GmbH, Greater Sekhukhune Region Secondary Co-operative (GSRC) – value chain support (phase I)
International Fragrance Association (IFRA) / International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI), South African Association of the Flavour & Fragrance Industry (SAAFFI), Parceval – sector approach and market access (phase I)
International Fragrance Association (IFRA) / International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI), South African Association of the Flavour & Fragrance Industry (SAAFFI), Buchu Association – sector approach and market access (phase II)
Martin Bauer Group, South African Rooibos Council (SARC), UEBT – standards and market access (phase I)
Martin Bauer Group, South African Rooibos Council (SARC), UEBT – standards and market access (phase II)
V. Mane Fils, Parceval, Southern African Essential Oil Producers’ Association (SAEOPA) – R&D (phase I)
V. Mane Fils, Parceval, Honeybush Community of Practice – R&D and value chain set up (phase I)
Symrise, HERBS-APLENTY - value chain set up (phase I)
Symrise, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region (non-profit) and The Western Cape Nature Conservation Board -R&D, ABS Compliance (phase I)