In
This Issue:
SOUTH AFRICA GROWS
GM CORN AND SOYBEAN
South Africa is the world's first country that is into commercial
planting of genetically modified (GMO) white corn. It is a staple
food in many parts
of the continent and is being exported by South Africa to southern African
countries.
A report by the government's Crop Estimates Committee says
that about 1,596,005 ha of white corn were planted in 2001/02
cropping season. Kit le Clus, head
of research and development for Grain SA, said that less than 1 percent of
white corn in South Africa is planted to the GM variety.
Jocelyn Webster, executive director of AfricaBio, a biotechnology association,
stated that three companies namely Monsanto, Pioneer, and Pannar Seeds are
involved in GM white corn. Monsanto's GM corn is planted on farms in KwaZulu-Natal,
Free State, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. The first Pannar GM white corn hybrids
will be commercially available in 2003/04 season once demonstration trials
are completed.
The country also planted 7,000 ha of herbicide-tolerant
soybeans. The South African government's Executive Council
for Genetically Modified Organisms has
approved the planting of GM soybean as well as herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant
cottons.
SOUTH KOREA AND
CHINA ISSUE DIRECTIVES FOR GMO PRODUCTS
South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recently
issued guidelines for products derived from genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) that are to
be sold in the country. This step would help ensure consumers that the GMO
products produced locally and abroad are of no potential danger to humans,
animals and the environment.
The guideline stipulates that dealers of GMO products must
submit an application to the Rural Development Administration
(RDA) for product assessment. A 30-day
period is given to consolidate public opinion and other pertinent information
on the product. The authority will notify applicants about the results of their
application within 270 days of its receipt.
Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Agriculture has issued details on the implementation
of its guidelines on GMOs. One guideline is that overseas firms that export
GMO products to China must obtain safety certificates from the Ministry prior
to signing of a contract to sell. All imported GMO soybean, corn, rapeseed,
cottonseed and tomatoes must be clearly labeled as GMO products. Beijing will
put the policy into effect by March 20 of this year.
REUTERS SURVEY
SAYS US GM CORN PLANTINGS TO INCREASE
Growers surveyed by Reuters at the American Farm Bureau
Federation's annual meeting in Las Vegas say that they
will boost acreage of several genetically
modified crops despite the anxiety of its European and Asian neighbors. US
corn plantings will escalate this year by as much as 13.8 to 19.3 percent depending
on the variety. The increase appeared to be due mostly to the end of a year-long
controversy over Starlink corn.
Another crop that was foreseen to grow is GM soybean at 8.3 percent. In contrast,
GM cotton will shrink by as much as 8.4 percent for the Bt variety and 2.1
percent for the Roundup Ready variety due to global excess of the product.
UNEP LAUNCHES
PROJECT TO PROMOTE BIOSAFETY
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) will fund a project
to help developing countries assess the potential risks
and benefits from genetically engineered
crops. Up to 100 countries will be assisted in building their capability to
evaluate the health and environmental issues surrounding imports of Living
Modified Organisms (LMOs).
This project will prepare developing countries as they
prepare for the entry of the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety
which was adopted in January 2000. Nations
exporting LMOs have to inform importing countries that they need appropriate
scientific and legal skills to decide whether or not to accept LMOs into their
countries. In addition, they need to know how to safely handle these organisms.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will implement
the three-year, multi-million dollar project. Klaus Toepler
of UNEP says that "Industry is
convinced that GM crops are the key to boosting yields in a more environmentally
friendly way. But others are concerned that the new technology may actually
pose environmental as well as health risks. The Cartegena Protocol is an attempt
to reconcile these trade and environmental protection issues."
AFRICAN SCIENTISTS ISSUE
POLICY STATEMENT ON AGBIOTECH
The International Society of African Scientists (ISAS) issued a position statement
stressing that agricultural biotechnology represents a major opportunity to
enhance the production of food crops, cash crops, and other agricultural commodities
in Africa, the Caribbean and other developing nations. The statement was based
on the deliberations at a technical conference held in Wilmington, Germany.
Highlights of the policy statement include:
* Africa and the Caribbean cannot afford to be left further behind in acquiring
the uses and benefits of this new agricultural revolution.
* Future research and applications of agricultural biotechnology should place
particular emphasis on food production and agricultural needs of developing
countries.
* Governments and civil society in African and the Caribbean nations must actively
participate in the worldwide debate on the use of agbiotech. African scientists
need to be at the forefront of this research and debate to help clarify the
issues for their communities. African governments must develop policies and
programs to foster rapid developments in agricultural biotechnology as an adjunct
to other agricultural techniques.
* African and Caribbean governments must establish adequate regulatory oversight
and appropriate scientific protocols for agricultural biotechnology.
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