GM food could 'set Africa free'

2001-09-28 14:02

Nico van Burick

Pretoria - Genetic manipulation to improve agricultural products in South Africa, is here to stay and the government is likely to have a national strategy for biotechnology in place within the next six months.

This was the message to emerge from a two-day conference over biotechnology attended in Sandton by 35 speakers from the US, Europe and Africa.

Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Department director-general Dr Rob Adams encouraged role players to contribute "constructively and enthusiastically" to retain biotechnology on the national agenda.

He added that a national strategy, requiring an annual budget of R182 million, is aimed at promoting human health, safe food and environmental conservation.

The proposed strategy is currently available for comment.

Adams affirmed that an important aspect of the strategy is to establish regional centres to boost innovation and biotechnology.

Priorities earmarked for the next five years include development of vaccines against human diseases such as HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, vaccines against animal diseases such as Newcastle disease among poultry, insect and pest control for crops and to try and improve drought and flood resistant crops.

South Africa is the only African country where GM products are cultivated on a commercial basis. In order to improve cotton production, a gene was incorporated in the cotton seed which effectively eradicates boll-worm.

AfricaBio director Dr Wynand van der Walt said GM is here to stay and that both opponents and supporters should be accommodated.

Democratic Republic of Congo ambassador Bene MÆPoko said a country unable to feed its people will never be free. "Biotechnology could help Africa rid itself of poverty and famine for good."

Dr Florence Wambugu a biotechnologist from Kenya said population increases stand at 3.5 percent while food production increased by only 2.5 percent.

Biotechnology could prove to be a deliverance.

- Beeld