Ireland: growing storm over superspuds

Genetically modified potato trials in SA draw protest from environmentalists. ‘Taxpayers have so little say over whether the experiments should be conducted at all’ South Africans could be eating genetically modified (GM) potatoes as early as next year.

The publicly funded Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is conducting field trials of GM “superspuds” at secret locations countrywide, and hopes to apply for a commercial permit next year.

The trials — confirmed by the council — have drawn a chorus of protest from scientists and environmental groups opposed to GM agriculture. They believe GM crops and food may have health and environmental side effects. GM foods are banned in several countries .

South African commercial farmers already grow GM maize and soya thanks to a GM-friendly biotechnology policy aimed at developing local agriculture. Other trials currently under way include GM tomatoes, cassava, grapes, sugar cane and cotton.

The environmental group Biowatch criticised the government for conducting GM experiments at taxpayers’ expense without proper public consultation around GM food, which often involves transplanting animal genes into plants. Consumers worldwide have been reluctant to accept GM food.

Professor Chris Viljoen, head of the University of the Free State genetically modified organisms (GMO) testing facility at the faculty of Plant Sciences, said the potato trials suggested South Africa was out of synch with the rest of the world.

“It’s almost like the entire world has said, ‘no way, we don’t want GM potatoes’, but we seem to be continuing to press forward with trials in South Africa,” he said. But the government has insisted the trials are good news, both for science and small-scale farmers battling to make ends meet.

Surging interest in GMO trials has prompted more regular meetings of the national GMO executive council to consider a long list of GMO trial applications, said the council’s chairman, Ben Durham.

“Our national biotechnology strategy comes out strongly in favour of biotechnology as a key tool in developing South Africa. GMOs are a part of biotechnology. In essence South Africa is in favour of biotechnology.”

GM crop applications were thoroughly checked by the council and a scientific advisory committee comprising experts from health, labour, environmental science, and trade and industry, he said.

The former head of the ARC potato project, Professor Graham Thompson, said GM potatoes would significantly benefit small-scale farmers because superspuds were more resistant to disease — a major problem during storage.

If the trials were successful, the ARC planned to apply for a commercial licence. Trials were carried out countrywide to ensure the potatoes were suited to various climates and ecosystems, he said. The new technology had so far proved successful for maize and cotton and held promise for Africa.

However, Biowatch SA director Leslie Liddell said: “We think it’s highly problematic because taxpayers have so little say over whether the experiments should be conducted at all. ” Liddell said farmers were unlikely to benefit from GM seeds if consumers worldwide remained sceptical about the technology, which was ultimately driven by profit.

“Whether or not farmers here are getting cut-price GM seeds isn’t the issue. The multinational GM seed companies are still laughing all the way to the bank. “According to a recent report, farmers around the world paid about 2-billion in 2005 for GM maize seed,” said Liddell.