South Africa: Revealing the Potential and Obstacles, the Private Sector Model and Reaching the Traditional Sector

South Africa (SA) has a proud and solid biotechnology R&D history. Some of this R&D has lead to the establishment of one of the largest beer breweries in the world, production of world class wines, creation of new animal breeds and plant varieties that are used all over the world, and competitive domestic dairy and yeast industries (DACST, 1996). However, in relation to developed and some developing countries, the country has failed to benefit from the emergence of ‘modern’ biotechnology.