Biowatch South Africa was established in 1997 as a national non-governmental organisation to publicise, monitor and research issues of genetic engineering and promote biological diversity and sustainable livelihoods.

The organisation has its head office in Cape Town in the Western Cape and rural offices in Elandskraal in Limpopo Province and Mtubatuba in KwaZulu Natal. Both rural offices work with small scale farmers on sustainable agriculture, food and seed security and farmers' rights.