Jamaica and the Republic of South Africa are to sign a commercial agreement which will see businesses in both countries collaborating on nutraceuticals, research and development.

The agreement will supplement the current partnership in place for bilateral scientific research on nutraceuticals, which came into effect in 2015.

This was revealed by chargé d’ affaires of the South African High Commission, Phillip Riley, while addressing a National Commission on Science and Technology symposium at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston last Thursday.

“The agreement will allow bush medicine to transition into the modern economy,” said Riley.

“[It will explore ways that] these plants can feed us better, give us better nutrition, and how we can take those ingredients and commercialise them and turn them into businesses.”

The agreement will be signed in few days during a visit to South Africa by Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley and director general of the commission, Professor Errol Morrison.

Thursday’s symposium was held in collaboration with the Scientific Research Council and the Institute of Jamaica, and was aimed at exposing science and technology to the youth as part of activities to highlight Science and Technology month, which is observed in November.

— JIS