MEDIA INVITATION

DETAILS OF THE EVENT

Date:        1 December 2009

Venue:    Durban Country Club, KwaZulu-Natal

Time:        12:30 for 13:00

Minister Pandor, the SMRI CEO, Dr Janice Dewar, and the Chairperson of the SMRI Board, Mr Dave Meadows, will address a press conference immediately after the speeches. 

Located on the Howard College Campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the SMRI is the central scientific organisation involved in research work and technical services to support the southern African sugar manufacturing/milling industries. 

As part of a consortium with the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the South African Sugarcane Research Institute, the institution has been interacting with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for some time to source funding for the establishment of a strategic sugar cane research platform.

The centre of competence (CoC) will, as a strategic intervention, focus on innovative research to ensure a thriving future for the sugar cane industry.

During the latter part of 2008, the DST funded the development of a feasibility study on the proposed CoC in sugar cane research.  On the basis of the support received in this regard, the DST has mandated the PlantBio Trust to administer the implementation process for the proposed CoC.

PlantBio Trust is a national entity of the DST located in Pietermaritzburg; established under the National Biotechnology Strategy to promote and develop plant biotechnology. It is currently reviewing some proposals and should soon be in a position to announce the first projects to be funded as part of this initiative.

‑ Ends ‑

Issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology

Lunga Ngqengelele

Tel.:     012 843 6828

Cell.:   082 556 0446

Email:lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za