SEED South Africa Symposium 2014: Advancing the Green Economy

The green economy has taken hold in South Africa, and innovative products and services are being introduced by entrepreneurs even at the grassroots. But for these to grow and enhance their impact, more bridges need to be built between supporting finance, research, and skills building institutions and social and environmental enterprises. These enterprises can be instrumental in creating jobs and livelihoods while at the same time offering business solutions to environmental challenges such as climate change. These were main messages to emerge from the SEED South Africa Symposium, held over 19 and 20 March 2014. Over 150 participants from government, private sector, media, academia, development, and civil society organisations, and including around 40 entrepreneurs, gathered at the CSIR in Pretoria to exchange experience, knowledge and perspectives that could advance the growth of socio-environmental entrepreneurship in South Africa.