By Christy van der Merwe
Despite the genetically modified (GM) crop debate that continues to
rage, the AfricaBio association on Thursday celebrated five years of
successful white maize demonstration trials, which recorded average yield
increases of over 20%, and went some way to secure a sustainable food supply
for emergent farmers.
As global food shortages and escalating food prices continued to make
headlines, AfricaBio executive director professor Jocelyn Webster emphasised
that Africa could benefit from GM technology, but said that "strict
regulatory procedures" were slowing down the adoption.

A shortage of funding for agricultural biotechnology research was also
slowing down South African participation in the industry, he said.

South Africa is the only African country commercially growing GM
crops, and currently, over 50% of the country's maize, 70% of its soya, and
90% of its cotton that is grown is genetically modified. About 1,8-million
hectares of GM crops were planted in South Africa in 2007, an increase of
30% from 2006.

Webster affirmed that biotechnology, or technologically enhanced
seeds, were not a stand alone ?cure-all', and farmers still needed basic
agricultural knowledge and good farming practices before technology could
help.

"It is important that the technology is used responsibly, safely, and
ethically," added AfricaBio chairperson Dr David Keetch. The safety approval
mechanism for any GM crop required extensive testing and independent
scientific reviews to ensure its safety with regard to human health, and the
surrounding environment.

AfricaBio is involved in the Southern African Development Community
countries, with training programmes and workshops for agricultural
biotechnology development, and provided assistance to emerging farmers.

The demonstration trials conducted by AfricaBio used a genetically
engineered seed making the maize plant less susceptible to the effects of
the maize stalkborer - a pest that penetrates the stalk and feeds on the
cobs. The project was in collaboration with the National African Farmers
Union, the Buhle Farmers academy, the Cedara Agricultural college, the
provincial Departments of Agriculture, and the emergent farmers.

The trials took place on 53 demonstration sites in six provinces, and
over the five years, cob damage reduced to an average 0,6% in the
biotechnology (BT) maize plots, compared with over 14% damage in the
conventional plots.

Emergent farmer Motlatsi Musi whose land in Olifantsvlei, in Soweto,
was used for the trial explained that his yield had increased by 34%. With
the extra money earned from selling the maize, he was able to buy a hammer
mill, as well as a tractor, and now milled for his neighbours, thereby
earning an extra income.

"A farmer will always look for the cheapest way to produce the best
quality and highest yield. Our customers are not scared or worried about
eating or buying BT maize," Musi added, as he showed journalists his plot,
which clearly distinguished BT plants from non-BT plants.

Surrounding farmers who gathered at Musi's farm also indicated an
eagerness to plant the GM crops, but it was apparent that an education
process of what was involved would need to go along with that.

It was said that GM maize seed was a "couple [of] hundred rand more
per kilogram than conventional maize", but, from the increase of the yields
at the end of the day, a small-scale farmer could potentially boost his
income by thousands of rands.

Testing of BT crops was taking place throughout Africa, and would
likely commercialise in the future. Various African presidents have
indicated that the continent would need to increase food production
twelvefold to satisfy the needs of the population, and stated that Africa
should acquire and adopt biotechnology to meet this requirement.

The next GM trait viewed as potentially having great effect, would be
the drought-resistant crop, which would still need to be tested in South
Africa before being made commercially available.


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