Latest Resources
4 February 2008
GM Vaccines in South Africa – a case for the precautionary principle
Vaccines containing living genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still at an experimental level in the world today. In South Africa, the first clinical trials for genetically modified (GM) vaccines were approved in 2003. These included several trials for HIV and TB vaccines, while several more applications for trials are pending, including those for other GM […]
28 January 2008
Agrofuels in South Africa – projects, players and poverty
The South African government has readily embraced the establishment of an agrofuels industry, citing job creation, the need for clean and renewable energy and the creation of markets for small-holder farmers, as key motivators. Nevertheless, it is our view that the logic of the Biofuels Strategy to introduce large-scale, mono-crop agriculture into the former homelands […]
28 January 2008
Marine Bioprospecting – key challenges and the situation in South Africa
Marine bioprospecting, also known as marine natural products research, is concerned with the exploration and exploitation of the rich biological and chemical diversity found in marine organisms which inhabit the oceans. Marine bioprospecting is a relatively new endeavour, having its origins in the late 1940’s, 8 when Werner Bergman ‘discovered’ arabinoside sugar in marine sponges, […]
23 November 2007
GMOs in Africa: Food and Agriculture. Status Report 2007
The African Centre for Biosafety has the pleasure of launching our new book titled, “GMOs in Africa: food and agriculture: Status report 2007. This booklet is the 4th in our Biosafety, Biopolitics and Biopiracy Series. ISBN: 978-0-620-40099-2 By: Shenaz Moola and Victor Munnik Edited by: Mariam Mayet and Rose Williams Layout and design by: Lesley […]
10 October 2007
Bioprospecting, Biopiracy and Indigenous Knowledge: Two Case Studies from the Eastern Cape, SA
This book provides a critical overview of South Africa’s legal regime with a view to investigating its ability to stem the tide of biopiracy involving indigenous knowledge. Against this backdrop, two case studies are discussed from the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. In this province, the vast majority of inhabitants rely on traditional medicine […]
21 September 2007
Prof Thompson’s GM Maize Streak Virus
There have been several reports in the media recently about the development of the first genetically engineered crop developed and tested solely by Africans for Africans. Professor Jennifer Thompson and scientists at the University of Cape Town South African, in collaboration with colleagues from seed company, PANNAR Pty Ltd have reported on the development of […]
28 August 2007
Unmasking the New Green revolution in Africa
Unmasking the New Green Revolution in Africa: Motives, Players and Dynamics By Elenita C. Dano Publisher: Third World Network (TWN), Church Development Service (EED) and the African Centre for Biosafety ABOUT THE BOOK Efforts are currently underway to spark a ‘New Green Revolution’ in African agriculture. Modelled on the original Green Revolution which began in […]
20 August 2007
African Model Law on Safety in Biotechnology
African Model Law on Safety in Biotechnology 2007 Read briefing here.
14 August 2007
Regulation of GMOs in South Africa
The ACB has been motivated to write this paper by the coming into effect on the 17th April 2007, of the Genetically Modified Organisms Amendment Act (No. 23 of 2006). (ii) This amends the Genetically Modified Organisms Act No. 15 of 1997 (‘GMO Act’), 10 years after it became part of the body of post-apartheid […]
26 July 2007
Monsanto’s “Seed of Hope Campaign” in South Africa: A Briefing document, Januar...
Monsanto has conceived of an ingenious smallholders’ programme known as the ‘Seeds of Hope Campaign’, which targets the ‘bottom of the pyramid’-very low-income consumers who have substantial purchasing power as a group. Closed markets in Europe, worldwide consumer rejection, heated international debates about the risks of GMOs, and the intransigence of Africa, sans, South Africa, […]