Latest Resources
17 April 2010
Scottish Parliament Motion on GM entry refusal, Kenya, South Africa
*S3M-6119 Bill Wilson: Biodiversity Coalition Opposes GM Contamination. That the Parliament notes reports that 40,000 tons of genetically modified (GM) maize from South Africa have been refused entry to Kenya as a result of protests led by the Kenya Biodiversity Coalition. Further notes, with reference to motion S3M-05873 by Bill Wilson ‘Who Benefits from GM […]
7 February 2010
A profile of Monsanto in South Africa
Monsanto is a globally dominant company in the agrochemical, seed and agricultural biotechnology sector. It has been active in the agrochemicals market in South Africa since 1968, and now owns almost all traits used in the South African GM crop market. Thanks to the purchase of local seed companies, Sensako and Carnia, in the late […]
5 January 2010
Status of de facto moratorium on GM commodity clearance/import applications in SA
The South African government has granted a large number of commodity import permits over the years, enabling millions of tons of GM maize, soya and canola to be imported into South Africa. However, during September/October 2005, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), a member of the Executive Council (EC): GMO Act, raised several concerns […]
8 September 2009
Biotechnology, seed and agrochemicals: Global and South African industry structure and trends
Biotechnology, seed and agrochemicals global and South African industry structure and trends. Click here to read the publication.
7 August 2009
South African GM grapevine trials to go ahead
The South African authorities have given the go-ahead to the Institute of wine biotechnology, based at the University of Stellenbosch, to conduct open-air field trials of grapevines genetically modified to resist fungal disease, despite the failure of fungal resistant grapevines in German trials seven years ago. Read more here.
5 March 2008
New GM Potato Book: Executive Summary
In 2001, the South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) began conducting field trials with potatoes genetically modified to contain a Bt gene Cry1Ia1 (formerly BtCryV). This novel gene is intended to protect the plants and potato tubers from infestations of the Potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella). This research is not home grown or ‘truly South […]
13 February 2008
South Africa’s Biofuels Strategy: greenwashing agribusiness interests
The impetus for the establishment of a biofuels industry in South Africa also came from industry lobbyists under the banner of the Southern African Biofuels Association (SABA). Consequently, the South African government published a feasibility report and a draft Biofuels Industrial Strategy in 2006, which proposed the establishment of a mandatory bioethanol target of 8% […]
25 July 2007
Interrogating GMO Decision-Making: Critique of GMO Permit Applications in South Africa 2004-2007
This book aims to give insight into the role a public interest NGO can play, the context within which participation can happen, the breadth of GMO applications, the institutions involved, the trends developing and the tremendous range of issues that have to be grappled with. Title: Interrogating GMO Decision-Making: Critique of GMO Permit Applications in […]
20 July 2007
IMIPHAKATHI YASEMAPHANDLENI IBEKA IZWI LAYO NGENTUKUTHELO YO: KUPHUCWA IMIHLABA EHLONGOZWA AMASU EBI
Emva komhlangano obeseThekwini ngomhlaka 5 March 2007 obuhanjelwe abantu abangamashumi ayisthupha, mayelana nepulani elihlongozwa uHulumeni wase South Africa lamacebo okutshalwa kezihlahla zeBiofuel. Kwaba nezingxoxo ezinde mayelana naloku. Laba abasayine lapha abamele izinhlangano ezihlekene zamaNGO, izinhlangano zabalimi kane nemiphakathi ethintekayo kuloludaba ezifundeni zakwa Zulu-Natali, Empumalanga-Koloni kanye nase Mpumalanga beveza ukumangala okukhulu kanye novalo ngalamasu. Read more […]
8 February 2007
Opening Pandora’s box: GMOs, Fuelish Paradigms and South Africa’s Biofuels Strategy
Towards the end of 2006, the South African Cabinet approved a Draft Biofuels Industry Strategy 3 (‘Biofuels Strategy’), where after, the document was released for public comment. The Biofuels Strategy is supported by a feasibility study, 4 and read together, these documents propose the establishment of a biofuels industry with E8 and B2 blend targets […]