SABPA EVENTS

Chairpersons end of year message

by | Dec 23, 2025 | News | 0 comments

Dear Members and Associate Members!
A busy year is ending. Time to look back and ahead…Here are some noteworthy events that took place since the last communication from us.
Industry Association Meetings
Two meetings with our fellow natural products associations were held. A first meeting took place already in June in Piketberg when the Buchu Association, Honeybush Tea Association, SA Rooibos Council and SABPA came together to discuss a closer cooperation on a range of topics. As a result, a MoU was signed covering three major topics:
• Developing a generic marketing strategy for our Cape Floral Kingdom / Fynbos based species
• Cooperate on regulatory issues such as the NEMBA review and subsequent regulations
• Create innovative ways for non-monetary benefit sharing
A second meeting was held in early November where the collaboration was officially endorsed as the “Cape Botanical Industry Alliance”. A work plan will be compiled early in 2026 to start addressing the focus topics.

Traditional Knowledge Holder and Industry Association Meeting
Following on the very successful meeting in Houw Hoek earlier this year, it was decided to come together again. As with the first meeting, it was supported by the GIZ providing venue and transport support as well as bringing the excellent facilitation team headed by Dr Rhoda Malgas from NMMU in George.
On the first day, we focussed on options how to coordinate the various non-monetary benefit sharing activities and projects under one umbrella to create synergies between the various industries and thus multiply the individual efforts. We agreed to work together and potentially also put a proposal together under the upcoming ABIOSA Phase III.
On the second day, we were joined by representatives from the DFFE BABS unit. In a breakaway session, the three grouping of TK Holder, DFFE and Industry compiled a “wishlist” of what would need to change to make the benefit sharing a more productive space. The surprise outcome was that the three lists were largely congruent, down to individual details. The DFFE has committed once again, to bring stakeholders into the process of creating the regulations to the reviewed NEMBA.
Dept of Agriculture Media Statement
In early November the DoA surprised us by the inclusion of indigenous crops and medicinal plants into the list of declared agricultural products. We contacted the DoA and asked for some clarification which was shared with our membership. As a next step, we will make contact with the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) in January, to explore opportunities this declaration may hold for our sector. There may be a need to register something like an “Indigenous Product Export Council” to be able to tap into marketing support from the government.
SABPA Symposium 2026
The second SABPA Symposium is to be held on 5th February 2026. The program and all relevant details will be shared shortly. We are looking forward to see you there for another informative event and much time for in-person exchange.
2nd African Biotrade Festival
This was another successful and very busy event in our calendar. As reported separately, it was a vibrant and buzzing event bringing together the emerging biodiversity economy in South Africa alongside the Organic & Natural Expo. Our stand was well frequented, the two conference venues were packed with curious participants, and it was difficult at times to choose where to go. We sincerely hope that the event will become firmly entrenched as the go-to trade show for indigenous products in the years to come!
UEBT Conference 2025 in Amsterdam
The chairperson Ulrich Feiter attended the UEBT conference and was part of a GIZ led presentation of the BioInnovation Initiative reporting on some of the successful projects from various parts of Africa – Cameroon, Madagascar and South Africa. Other presenters were from Weleda (Germany) sourcing wild honey from Cameroon and V Mane Fils (France) procuring Ylan Ylang essential oil from Madagsacar.
Bioproducts Advancement Network South Africa – BioPANZA
The BioPANZA was officially launched at the African Biotrade Festival. The purpose and the goal of BioPANZA are:

• To coordinate efforts across government (DFFE, DSTI, dtic) and stakeholders to unlock the economic potential of South Africa’s rich biodiversity.
• To create jobs and address inequality by growing the biotrade sector.
• To promote “Africa-grown” natural ingredients and products globally.
It consists of 5 clusters.
1. Finance: Connecting businesses with funding, including piloting programs like the NIPP Fund and exploring blended finance/ESG investments for biotrade.
2. Innovation: Driving new product development and processes, supporting SMMEs (Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises) in harnessing biodiversity.
3. Market Access: Building confidence in product quality, traceability, and consistency to access local and international markets.
4. Sustainable Supply: Ensuring responsible sourcing and sustainable use of biological resources, often involving community benefit-sharing.
5. Policy & Regulations: Developing supportive frameworks and addressing challenges like Nagoya Protocol implementation for equitable benefit sharing.
SABPA is represented on the Sustainable Supply Cluster and has made some important contributions regarding which plants to focus on and how to find and choose the low- hanging fruit.

Aloe ferox Sustainable Harvesting Guidelines
The Biodiversity Management Plan for Aloe ferox stipulates the creation of sustainable harvesting guidelines. However, due to lack of funding so far, no progress had been made on this important aspect. Parceval was able to secure funding from its Aloe ferox client to an amount of EUR10,000. The funds were used to organize workshops in the Western and Eastern Cape, calling together tappers, community leaders, processors, landowners, regulators both from the provinces as well as the DFFE, TRAFFIC and SANBI.
In the first workshops, input was gathered from all the on-the-ground experts. This was compiled into a draft guideline which was presented at the second workshops in November where further input was received. The guidelines will be finalized, distributed and implemented in the first quarter of 2026. The workshops were organized under the SABPA banner, and the guidelines will carry the SABPA logo.

Exhibiting at Supply Side West 2026
SupplySide West 2026 (now known as SupplySide Global) is scheduled for 26th – 30th October 2026 in Las Vegas, bringing together leaders in dietary supplements, food, and beverage for innovation, networking, and business growth. We are currently exploring funding and sponsorship options to have a small stand and presence at the show. More info will be shared as it becomes available.
China International Import Expo 2025 in Shanghai
Talking of tradeshows… Our member Pietersarel de Bruyn was part of the dtic organised SA Pavillion. His very interesting summary and valuable insights were shared separately to this communication. Thank you very much, Pietersarel, for taking the time to compile this feedback and sharing it with our members!
NEMBA Review process
The SABPA Board has been working on an advocacy strategy around the NEMBA review and creating of the relevant regulations. In recent meetings with the Nagoya Focal Point at the DFFE, Natalie Feltman, it was stated that the comments received after the gazetting of the proposed new bill were well received and worked into the current version being worked upon by the DFFE legal department and will follow due procedure to Cabinet and the Provinces. We have been assured that the draft has been simplified and the contentious issues will be dealt with in the regulations. As mentioned above, we are also being assured that industry will be sitting at the table of stakeholders creating the regulations. Emphasis from government as well as industry is streamlining processes, shortening of application and review periods, simplifying benefit sharing agreements. Whilst all this sounds very positive, there is still a long road ahead of us until the new NEMBA is signed off and the new regulations will be in place. It should also be noted that the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Act still has no regulations. So, don’t hold your breath for change to happen soon but do hold your thumbs!
Research
On the research side we recently have started some projects:
• Requesting samples from members to check for the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in commercial samples.
• “Feeding” Sceletium plants with pyrrolizidine alkaloid containing plants by way of compost – to see whether Sceletium is prone to pick up these unwanted alkaloids from their surroundings and soil.
• Results will be available in the New Year and will be shared with our members.

TEGA
The Chairperson Ulrich Feiter took part in a workshop in Namibia. This is the second workshop organised by a project “Transforming environmental governance in the Anthropocene: An action research in the field of Access & Benefit-Sharing” – in short TEGA. The project partners are the University of Bonn, University of Namibia, University of the Western Cape and the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research. It brings together representatives from TK holder communities, industry, regulators and academia to explore mechanisms and actions that can improve the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol – in this project in Namibia and South Africa.
ABIOSA Phase III
ABIOSA II is now coming to an end shortly. The support we received has created the impetus to establish SABPA; brought the testing lab with Prof Marietjie Stander’s professional input and execution into existence; saw us organise our first Symposium in Oct 2024; created dialogues and collaboration between industry and TK holders and between likeminded associations; provides a voice at the DFFE… to name just a few achievements. For this support, we are extremely grateful! ABIOSA Phase III calls for proposals will open early in the New Year and we will submit an application – either on our own or in collaboration with other associations and stakeholders or both! We will further the cause of the botanical product industry!
Looking forward
Some events and milestones coming up in the New Year that we will be focussing on:

• The 2nd SABPA Symposium on 5th February
• ABioSA III – Call for Proposals
• Formally engage with the San Council to achieve a group BSA
• Engaging with the DFFE on creating workable regulations for the reviewed NEMBA legislation
• Preparing to get us to SupplySide Global
• More dialogues with all stakeholders in the biodiversity economy
• Participating in the DFFE Bioprospecting Forum
• Further contribute to BioPANZA, taking part in online and in-person meetings
• …. And many more activities as we go along – no time to twiddle our thumbs!

Ending off with our warm greetings and best wishes for the festive season and then a good start into the New Year 2026! Looking forward to engaging more in 2026 and then see you at the Symposium on 5th February!

Thomas Brendler

 

Dr. Thomas Brendler is a scientist and consultant with over 30 years of experience in the field of natural product development, registration, and licensing, for medicine, food, and cosmetics. He is an expert in botanical research, product innovation, regulatory affairs, and sourcing of raw materials. He has contributed to the development and implementation of quality standards, herbal pharmacopoeias, and scientific publications for several organizations and agencies, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Centre for Development of Enterprise, and the International Trade Centre.

He is a co-founder and former director of the Association of African Medicinal Plants Standards, a non-profit organization that promotes the sustainable use of African plants. He holds a PhD in Botany from the University of Johannesburg and has published more than 50 papers and books on topics related to ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, phytotherapy, and natural product regulation.

Dr. Brendler is a member of the editorial boards of several journals, a US Pharmacopoeia expert committee member, and a board member of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology and the American Botanical Council. In 2023, he co-founded the Southern African Botanical Product Association (SABPA). He is also affiliated with Traditional Medicinals, a leading herbal tea company in the US, as Principal Scientist R&D.

Ferdinand Labuschagne

 

Ferdinand Labuschagne has been in the Medicinal Plant industry for the past 4 years, spending the first couple of years on building the commercial supply side of the Sceletium value chain through the establishment of KarooKanna Cultivation. Ferdinand have spent his  professional career in the Entrepreneurial space spending time in the following industries: Retail, International Forex and Commodity markets, Property development and marketing, mining, sales and marketing.

Ferdinand contributes to SABPA on marketing the association to new members, and represents the association on Natural medicine supply conferences both locally and internationally to help our members’ businesses through accessing new clients both locally and internationally.

Avril Harvey

 

Avril Harvey started her career as a researcher in a number of small Biotech start-ups (both in the United Kingdom and in South Africa) before her focus shifted to the commercialization of technology using public funds channeled through the Department of Science and Technology Innovation Centers.

As a project manager and management consultant, she has worked on consulting engagements helping multinationals to strategize on growth in Africa, as well as with small, post revenue generating social enterprises to become investment ready. Avril has both a Masters in Molecular Microbiology and a Masters in Business Administration.

Avril has worked at Parceval since 2016 with a focus on grant proposal writing, project management and consulting on supply chains and Nagoya Protocol for clients. She is a founding member of SABPA and is the current Secretary and Treasurer. She brings expertise on the local South African NEMBA and Bioprospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing legislation and processes to the Board of Directors.

Ulrich Feiter

Ulrich Feiter is the founder and CEO of Parceval Pty, based in Wellington near Cape Town, South Africa. 

Born and bred in Germany and with a background in horticulture, Ulrich started Parceval in 1992 in South Africa after having worked at companies like WALA and Weleda in Germany as well as in South Africa. Parceval cultivates and sources botanical raw materials for processing to herbal medicines as well as cosmetic ingredients in their GMP factory, both for local as well as international markets. 

His interest in indigenous plants and biological resources now spans some four decades with much pioneering work in commercialisation. Ulrich has worked in many African countries setting up sustainable supply chains for a variety of global clients in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry. His work includes taking plants from wild harvesting into cultivation, working with rural communities and high end global pharmaceutical companies alike, compliance to Nagoya Protocol, negotiating innovative benefit sharing agreements and much more. 

Together with like-minded associates, he is a co-founder and first chairperson of SABPA.

Dr. Belinda Tan, MD is a physician-scientist, digital health pioneer, and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of People Science, a public benefit company dedicated to advancing evidence generation in health, complementary medicine, and food-as-medicine. The People Science platform, Chloe, enables evidence generation that bridges Pathogenesis and Salutogenesis. Trained in immunology, dermatology, and dermatopathology, Dr. Tan has dedicated her career to bridging clinical research with scalable technology. Before People Science, she co-founded Science 37, a leader in decentralized clinical trials, and helped launch DirectDerm, expanding teledermatology access nationwide. She is board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology, holds degrees from MIT and UCLA, and has served as a clinical investigator and professor at Harbor-UCLA. She currently serves on several advisory boards, including the Beneficial Plant Research Association, and champions inclusive, consumer-centered research from her home base in Venice Beach, California. She believes that People + Plants will save the world.

Julia Weaver is the Herb Procurement Manager at Herb Pharm and manages global sourcing and procurement activities for Herb Pharm and Pacific Botanicals. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Microbial Biology from North Carolina State University, with a research focus in Ethnobotany. With nearly a decade of experience in the natural products industry, Julia specializes in quality-centered supply chain management, ethical sourcing, innovation, and product education.

My name is Leana Snyders. I am one of two Lead Community Researchers on the South African Team of ‘Leaving no-one behind in Research’. In my main role, I serve as the Director of the South African San Council, where I dedicate my life to representing and empowering Indigenous communities across South Africa. I live in Upington, but my roots lie in Steinkopf, Namakwaland. I am a proud mother of one daughter and a grandmother. From working as a diamond sorter to becoming a Coordinator of Indigenous Documentation and Director of the Kalahari Desert Festival, I have applied my skills in many ways - all guided by one purpose: to serve my community and be a voice for Indigenous people.

People inspire me: family, friends, colleagues. As Director of the San Council of South Africa, I have the privilege of getting to know San from all different language groups and collaborating with them. When I can stand up for people’s rights, I will. I also enjoy overseas travel, getting to know other countries and speaking on the rights of the San in the process. I have a passion for self-care and I am also the creator of the first-ever Buchu Hair Growth Oil, a proudly Indigenous product originally developed to help my goddaughter’s scalp. What began as a simple act of care , from mixing ingredients in my mother’s kitchen, has grown into a celebrated product used by women across the country. Through this hair oil, I aim to create something that not only inspires but also tells a story. Like many Indigenous concepts, it all starts with the roots. I have learned through many lessons in my life and career that when you understand where you come from, when you understand your roots, you gain the strength to help others grow along with yourself.

Empowerment, especially of Indigenous women, remains at the center of everything I do. I strive not only to inspire others but to set an example for my daughter and grandson, showing them that strength, purpose, and pride in one’s heritage can change lives and uplift entire communities. I live my life with purpose and passion, especially in the area of women’s empowerment. I founded the first-ever Indigenous Women’s Conference in South Africa, an initiative very close to my heart and inspired by my personal journey. The conference is rooted in the concept of my book, Behind My Red Lips, which tells a story of empowerment through the symbolism of red lipstick: a bold reminder of confidence, resilience, and identity.

Together with the Namaqua daisy, these symbols represent my personal strength and that of my community. The Namaqua daisy may look delicate, but it flourishes in the harshest conditions and always turning its face toward the sun. This is how I see the spirit of Indigenous women: strong, enduring, and full of light.

Professor (Botany)

Department of Botany and Zoology

Group leader - Medicinal plant biology / Medicinal plant research

My research is centred around using a multidirectional approach that combines the areas of biotechnology, ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry. In my group, we use cutting edge multi-omics technologies to study how plants function at genetic and biochemicals levels in relation to the production of specialized metabolites that impart health-beneficiating properties to medicinal plants. We also aim to better characterize responses of medicinal plants to the environment to assist with the production of quality assured, economically suitable phytopharmaceutics. Several current projects employ in vitro plant propagation methods as a scientific tool to resolve genetic-to-metabolome effects on various plant species. Exploitation of such technologies also provides a tool that allows the conservation of indigenous medicinal plants that may face overharvesting pressures from wild populations. I have an interest in people-plant interactions and so my research is also focused on medicinal plants, their cultural significance and opportunities presented for socioeconomic development. This has led to me a collaborative partnership with the Cape Bush Doctors organization and this group of bush doctors holds deep knowledge with regards to medicinal plants of the greater Cape Floristic Region.

In 2011, I was a recipient of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Annual Award under the category Distinguished Young Black Researcher (Female), TW Kambule NRF award for 2011/12, and a Fulbright Research Scholar where I was positioned at the University of Minnesota in 2017 to 2018. In 2022, I was a finalist in the NSTF Awards for science communication. I am a founding member of the social advocacy movement founded in 2020, Black Botanists Week that aims to bring greater visibility to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour who may be formally and informally trained in terms of their interests in plants.

Cyril has more than 30 years’ experience in the biotrade, natural products and small and medium size business development sectors.

In Namibia in the 1990s he worked with the team that established commercial marula oil production including the set-up of the supply associations and co-operatives and driving the commercial linkages to global companies. In 1999 he set up the Southern African Marula Oil Producers’ Network and facilitated the transfer of technology and know-how to community-based businesses in Botswana, Namibia, eSwatini, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

In 2000 Cyril was a member of the project formulation team that led to the establishment of the Southern African Natural Products Trade Association – PhytoTrade Africa. There he set up the European office, had roles of Head of Market Development and Head of R&D. During these roles he led the process to have Baobab fruit gain international market access through successful registration of this nutritious fruit as a novel food ingredient in the EU and obtaining recognition as a safe food ingredient in the USA though the FDA, and similar in Canada.

He took on the post of CEO of PhytoTrade Africa from 2013 to 2016, and during this time also served on the board of directors of the Union for Ethical Biotrade. Cyril has been involved in fundraising for the development of the biotrade sector and provides advisory services to the GIZ ABioSA project and the BioInnovation Africa project.

He is a director of Biotrade Ventures, an incubator of opportunities in the indigenous natural products sector with projects in Botswana and South Africa. Currently he has a focus on the development of the Marula fruit sector including access to local, regional and international markets.

My name is Leana Snyders. I am one of two Lead Community Researchers on the South African Team of ‘Leaving no-one behind in Research’. In my main role, I serve as the Director of the South African San Council, where I dedicate my life to representing and empowering Indigenous communities across South Africa. I live in Upington, but my roots lie in Steinkopf, Namakwaland. I am a proud mother of one daughter and a grandmother. From working as a diamond sorter to becoming a Coordinator of Indigenous Documentation and Director of the Kalahari Desert Festival, I have applied my skills in many ways - all guided by one purpose: to serve my community and be a voice for Indigenous people.

People inspire me: family, friends, colleagues. As Director of the San Council of South Africa, I have the privilege of getting to know San from all different language groups and collaborating with them. When I can stand up for people’s rights, I will. I also enjoy overseas travel, getting to know other countries and speaking on the rights of the San in the process. I have a passion for self-care and I am also the creator of the first-ever Buchu Hair Growth Oil, a proudly Indigenous product originally developed to help my goddaughter’s scalp. What began as a simple act of care , from mixing ingredients in my mother’s kitchen, has grown into a celebrated product used by women across the country. Through this hair oil, I aim to create something that not only inspires but also tells a story. Like many Indigenous concepts, it all starts with the roots. I have learned through many lessons in my life and career that when you understand where you come from, when you understand your roots, you gain the strength to help others grow along with yourself.

Empowerment, especially of Indigenous women, remains at the center of everything I do. I strive not only to inspire others but to set an example for my daughter and grandson, showing them that strength, purpose, and pride in one’s heritage can change lives and uplift entire communities. I live my life with purpose and passion, especially in the area of women’s empowerment. I founded the first-ever Indigenous Women’s Conference in South Africa, an initiative very close to my heart and inspired by my personal journey. The conference is rooted in the concept of my book, Behind My Red Lips, which tells a story of empowerment through the symbolism of red lipstick: a bold reminder of confidence, resilience, and identity.

Together with the Namaqua daisy, these symbols represent my personal strength and that of my community. The Namaqua daisy may look delicate, but it flourishes in the harshest conditions and always turning its face toward the sun. This is how I see the spirit of Indigenous women: strong, enduring, and full of light.

Suzette Trevor currently holds the position of Lead Buyer at Dohler South Africa for the Botanical Extract Business Unit in Paarl.  Döhler is a global producer, marketer and provider of technology-driven natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions for the food and beverage industry.

Apart from her Human Resource qualification she obtained a diploma in Supply chain management through UNISA as well as a CIPS qualification. With over 25yrs of Supply Chain experience – in various industries - the last 6 yrs has been focused on Sourcing all raw material for the BU, Sales (internal and external) , the management of stock and production planning. Her main skill set includes collaborating with suppliers, negotiating, assessing company procurement needs and sourcing (local and globally) according to seasonal harvests.