Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa

01/06/2026

Happy ! Milk matters - it's a vital, accessible food source that nourishes billions. And this year, we're honouring the women who make that possible - women like National Department of Agriculture researcher Dr Gretha Snyman.

As researcher and manager at the Grootfontein Biobank for Sheep & Goats, Gretha’s work helps farmers, researchers and policymakers better understand these bovines. That’s important for , and more. And it’s also just a lot of fun.

Find out more about Gretha and her work here: https://bbsa.org.za/2023/08/08/meet-the-member-gretha-snyman-the-goat-of-goat-biobanking/

28/05/2026

? Human civilization as we know it is heavily dependent on agriculture, for , and more. Most of the food calories we consume come, directly or indirectly, from domesticated plants - and so do many of the products we use every single day.

So it’s no surprise that farmers all around the world have spent centuries overseeing evolution in crops, combining genes in new and different ways to form new varieties suited to their needs. We've just gotten a bit better at it, thanks to biobanks like those at the National Department of Agriculture Plant Genetic Resources Centre.

Find out more:
https://bbsa.org.za/2026/05/12/the-national-plant-genetics-resource-centre-supporting-small-farmers-south-africas-food-security/

25/05/2026

Happy ! Biobanking is a young but important science - and biobanks provide critical infrastructure for advancing research, , and understanding genetic . That's particularly important in Africa, the continent that cradled humankind and hosts incredible amounts of biodiversity.

So what is the current state of biobanking across the continent? What are we doing well? What can we be doing better? And how much more can we do together?

The Pan-African Biobanking Network (PABNet) conducted a feasibility study to better understand existing African biobanking capacities, practices, and challenges - and here’s what they found.

https://bbsa.org.za/2026/04/30/how-biobanking-works-in-africa-a-pan-african-pilot-study/

22/05/2026

Happy ! Did you know? South Africa is one of the world's most biodiverse regions. Our big game and other wildlife attracts millions of tourists every year, boosting the economy and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. And our many magnificent plants, fungi and microbes hold the key to addressing many of our food security and medicinal challenges (among other things).

Biobanks can help study, preserve and protect that diversity - and also help solve food security, medical and economic challenges. But how does that actually happen?

https://bbsa.org.za/2023/06/23/south-africa-is-famous-for-its-biodiversity-heres-how-the-bbsa-helps-manage-that/

21/05/2026

Happy ! Did you know? Rooibos tea is a part of South Africa's heritage. It's been consumed for centuries, cultivated by the KhoiSan, and has increasingly been studied and celebrated for its bio-active properties in South Africa and beyond.

And thanks to at the Agricultural Research Council, we're learning to do more with this incredible plant - like how to make rooibos wine (true story).

And that's just part of the great work done by ARC biobanks! Find out more...

https://bbsa.org.za/2025/10/31/agricultural-research-council-biobanks-to-feed-a-nation/

19/05/2026

[REGISTER NOW] Interested in ? Want to delve into around the world? Registration is still open for TaxonWorks Together, a three-day virtual perspective on describing life - and it's FREE.

Join taxonomists, researchers, collection managers, data managers, software developers, research software engineers, ecologists, policy makers and artists from around the world to discuss eDNA, genomics and DNA barcodes, taxonomy and community portals, global aggregators and AI in bioinformatics, and much, much more.

And hurry - starts today!

Annual event about the collective work in the creation of data to Describe life

12/05/2026

[READ] Happy ! Here's a fun fact: people need plants. They’re an essential part of the environments and ecosystems around us. Most of the calories we eat come, directly or indirectly, from plants. Many of the medicines we use to live longer and better lives are derived from plants. Even the air we breathe - that comes from plants as well. So we’d better do all we can to make sure we protect them. Here’s how can help…

https://bbsa.org.za/2026/05/12/why-biobanks-matter-protecting-plants-promoting-a-better-life/

01/05/2026

Biodiversity biobanking is a big job - especially in a megadiverse country like South Africa. So this , we're celebrate some of the many hardworking people who make sure our biobanks are making a difference - from rangers to researchers, whether working with fish, flowers or fungi, we couldn't do it without them. Hardworking people like...

https://bbsa.org.za/meet-the-members/

30/04/2026

[READ] Biodiversity biobanks aren't just about human health - but by learning more about the organisms we share the world with, we can find out ways to deal with our own health challenges...no matter how big or small.

For example: In a groundbreaking study that sheds light on the habitat of the deadly, drug-resistant yeast Candidozyma auris, researchers from the University of the Free State Yeast Culture Collection have identified the South African brown locust as a natural reservoir for this problematic pathogen.

Find out more: https://bbsa.org.za/2026/02/16/biobanking-news-ufs-researchers-find-south-african-brown-locusts-harbor-drug-resistant-yeast/

22/04/2026

Happy , everybody! Did you know? When it comes to protecting our planet, it takes a (global) village. That's the idea behind the 17 UN that aim to bring countries together to address matters like quality , gender and . Here’s how biobanks can lend a hand - and help save the world (a little).

https://bbsa.org.za/2023/06/05/biobanking-to-save-the-world-the-bbsa-the-sustainable-development-goals/