A tug-of-war over the genetic codes of the world’s plants and crops has prompted warnings of possible plundering of SA’s treasure trove of natural resources.

SA biodiversity experts have returned from Rome after deadlocked negotiations in November over how to share the benefits of digitisation of plants and crops linked to food and agriculture.

SA and Australia are the only countries with their own endemic floral kingdoms – in SA’s case, the Cape fynbos biome. Medicinal plants with scientific value include buchu, aloe, hoodia and sutherlandia...