PlantBio Trust is a National Innovation Centre for Plant Biotechnology, initiated by the Department of Science and Technology as part of the National Biotechnology Strategy for South Africa. PlantBio Trust was registered on the 25th March 2004 and officially launched on the 12th October 2004. To date PlantBio has received Non Profit Organization status and our NPO Registration Number is 041-184.

To serve and lead South Africa towards developing a sustainable Plant Biotechnology sector that is competitive and world class in specific areas and address poverty alleviation.

• To improve South Africa’s competitive advantage by developing human skills and technology platforms and increasing the amount of Intellectual Property (IP) in Plant Biotechnology.
• To increase the contribution towards South Africa’s GDP by facilitating the creation of start-up companies and striving for sustainable and profitable commercialisation of IP.
• To impact on South African society by assisting in the development of better products, creating employment opportunities and addressing ptestoverty alleviation.
• To make PlantBio a sustainable entity in itself by investing, realising value and re-investing the proceeds.

PlantBio uses the following criteria to define projects in plant biotechnology:

• A body of techniques using biological systems to research, develop, manufacture or modify products or processes for scientific use.
• The biological systems are plant based.
• The specific use involves the modification or production of new or improved plant crops or plant derived products.

South Africa has a sound research and genetic resources base whose full potential remains untapped. PlantBio intends to intervene and help utilize these resources to achieve the above mentioned objectives.
PlantBio will:

• Provide leadership in the Plant Biotechnology arena in South Africa.
• Build capacity in platform technologies and relevant human skill.
• Create critical mass through focusing on key strategic areas.
• Diversify risk by creating a balanced pipeline of projects.
• Invest and support the management of commercial entities.
• Assist in the commercialization of IP.
• Bring to fruition the socio-economic value of research in Plant Biotechnology.