Indigenous Plant Use Forum 

The Indigenous Plant Use Forum, or better known as IPUF, was started to “promote the cultural, socio-economic and scientific benefits to be derived from the sustainable use of the southern African flora”. The annual symposia are unique, multicultural and multi-disciplinary events that serve as a meeting point for business people, academics, anthropologists, resource managers, conservationists, policy makers and anyone interested in the sustainable use of the southern African flora. The National Research Foundation (NRF)  has graciously funded this gathering since 1993, with Dr Carl Albrecht as the first chairman. The current chairman is Prof. Ben-Erik van Wyk, a botany lecturer and researcher at the University of Johannesburg.

In 1995 Prof. Van Wyk, as chairman, and Mrs Bettie de Beer (from the NRF), as secretariat, took over the administration and organisation of the forum’s annual symposia. Since then the team has organised successful symposia in various locations. The number of attendance grew from 65 delegates in 1998 to 160 in 2003. Each symposium had it own atmosphere and driving force, which added to the gradual growth and delegate enthusiasm.

In 2004 the administration of the forum moved from the NRF to the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology. The secretariat was taken over by a student at the department, Bernard de Villiers. In 2010 Dr Emmy Reinten (ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij) took over the reins and Bernard volunteerd to be the IPUF webmaster. Thinus Fourie a lecturer at UJ, volunteered to be the IPUF treasurer.

Over the last 11 years, IPUF has attracted enthusiastic support from a diversity of interest groups and has been especially successful in promoting scientific research amongst young black students. Institutions, governmental organisations, businesses and private citizens from across South Africa and the other countries (like Botswana, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, USA, Bangladesh, India, Netherlands and Germany) respond enthusiastically to the call for presentations for the symposium. The IPUF group  has also been created on Facebook to enhance the communication between IPUF members: currently there are ca. 105 photos and 2 videos from past conferences linked to the group, an area for discussion and links to related subjects.

Previous conferences

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Since 1998, eleven conferences have been held in the current format:

1.          1998 – Louis Trichardt: Ethnobotanical surveys in South Africa.

2.          1999 – Richards bay: Indigenous Knowledge in transition – ethics and marketing issues.

3.          2000 – Nelspruit: The role of horticulture in product development.

4.          2001 – Kimberley: Community benefits: Plant power to the people.

5.          2002 – George: Community development and cultural tourism.

6.          2003 – Rustenburg: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Intellectual Property Rights.

7.          2004 – Clanwilliam: From the plant to the market place – overcoming the obstacles.

8.          2005 – Grahamstown: African philosophy meets commercialization.

9.          2006 – Gaborone, Botswana: African Indigenous Knowledge and plant products.

10.        2007 – Johannesburg: Sustainability.

11.        2008 – Graaff-Reinet: Value adding.

12.        2009 – Stellenbosch: Exploration and commercialization: Opportunities and challenges. 

IPUF Best New Plant Product Award

An award for the Best New Product is sponsored by Dr Carl Albrecht, the first chairperson of IPUF. The award is a special wall-plaque and the organisers will obtain publicity for the winner and the product. The product must be based on an indigenous plant, the raw material should be harvested on a sustainable basis and the product must show excellence and innovation in its concept, formulation and marketing materials.

Dr Carl Albrecht awarding the Best New Plant Product to Gerda de Wet (Rooibos Ltd., 2004), Joyce Musy (Veld’s, 2005), Peter Kreft (Natura, 2007) and Dr Elizabeth Joubert (South African Honeybush Tea Association, 2009).

Past recipients of the “IPUF Best New Plant Product Award” include Rooibos Tea Ltd  for their rooibos-based health drinks (2004), the French cosmetics company Veld’s for their Aloe ferox skin care product (2005),  Natura Homeopathic Laboratory for their cold and flu fighter, Pentagen, containing Pelargonium sidoides (2007). IPUF again award the prize in 2009 to the South African Honeybush Tea Association for commercializing Honeybush tea. 

Nominations and/or application forms can be submitted to the IPUF secretariat. Application forms and guidelines to participate for the prize are available here.

IPUF Young Scientist Awards

The NRF sponsors awards for the best paper and poster postgraduate presentations. The winners each receive a certificate and prize-money. Young scientists are the only persons eligible for this award. A person will qualify by conforming to at least one of the following conditions: 1.) under the age of 30 years, 2.) have given less than five presentations as prestigious scientific meetings, or 3.) has five or less years’ work in the respective discipline, associated with the presentations. 

Prof. Ben-Erik van Wyk awarding the Young Scientist award to Lyndy McGaw (Best Paper, 2004), Theresa Ntloedibe (Best Poster, 2004) and Anthony Magee (Best Paper, 2006).

The top three presentations of 2009 were:

Best Paper presentation:

1. Kaizer Thembo (MCR)

2. Margaret Hulley (UJ)

3. Sajida Suliman (Wits)

Best Poster presentation:

1. Sameega Abrahams (MRC)

2. Neliswa Matrose (ARC)

Funded by the National Research Foundation. Administrated by the Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology