Cape Town — The debate around genetically modified (GM) crops in South Africa has flared up once again after the rejection of a permit application for the general release of the SpuntaG2, a potato that is resistant to the Potato Tuber Moth (PTM). While the developers argue that this potato is a blessing to small-scale farmers, who suffer the most from the pest, other organizations reject these claims.
While South Africa might be one of the most developed countries in Africa, lack of access to food in this part of the continent - where half of the population lives on less than U.S. $2 a day - remains a problem.
To survive, many South Africans have resorted to growing their own produce. However, many small-scale farmers are facing numerous problems that affect their yields. These include poor access to land and irrigation infrastructure, as well as erratic rainfall, dry spells and pests.
To boost both commercial and small-scale agricultural production, the South African government over time has allowed for the introduction of various genetically modified crops, such as maize and soy, which are hardy and resilient to erratic weather patterns and various pests.
The latest GM project involves the SpuntaG2, which contains an introduced protein that kills caterpillars of the PTM. It is estimated that this insect, which has been identified as the sixth priority pest and disease in South Africa, contributes to losses of up to 40 million rand (U.S. $5.2 million) a year to the country's potato industry.
Small-scale farmers are said to be most at risk, as many of them cannot afford to spray chemicals that kill the bug.
Although a permit application for the general release of this modified vegetable has recently been rejected, the developers remain determined to introduce their potato.
"We have appealed the decision, as we strongly believe that this potato has a lot of potential to help small-scale farmers in increasing their production," said Gurling Bothma, principal scientist at the biotechnology division of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) - the driving force behind the SpuntaG2.
Bothma explained to AllAfrica how the caterpillars of this tiny moth eat and damage the leaves of the potato plant, which leads to sun damage.
"This disables the growth of potatoes in the ground. The main problem, however, is when these caterpillars get into the soil and start feasting on the potatoes," he said, while showing pictures of blotchy potato tubers infested with small, white wormlike creatures.
Bothma noted that the SpuntaG2 was specifically developed to help South Africa's small-scale farmers increase their yields and to contribute to food security in their communities.
"It is them, and not the big commercial potato growers, who suffer from the PTM. Most of them cannot afford to spray chemicals in order to protect their crops The SpuntaG2 seeds will therefore be no more expensive then seeds of conventional potatoes," Bothma said.
According to the ARC, there has been much interest from small-scale farmers, both in South Africa and abroad: "That is why we are appealing the rejection of our permit application to release the potatoes for general use," Bothma said.
The permit application was denied for several reasons, said Julian Jaftha, chairperson of the South African Executive Council for Genetically Modified Organisms. This government agency decides whether or not GM crops should be made available for general use.
"There were some problems with the toxicity, as animal feeding tests were only conducted with boiled and cooked potatoes, not with raw vegetables," he explained. "We need to make sure a raw SpuntaG2 is not toxic."
"Our main concern, however, had to do with the fact that both commercial and small-scale farmers will be unlikely to switch to the GM potato," Jaftha added. "The former does not see PTM as a major threat, because they use chemicals. Even with the SpuntaG2 they will still have to spray against other pests. These potato growers are therefore not likely to switch to this GM potato.
"Small-scale farmers, for whom this product was developed in the first place, seem more concerned about other problems, such as lack of water, poor access to land and rodents," Jaftha said. "Based on these and other reasons, we have rejected the application."
One of the organizations that applauds the permit rejection is the African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). This Johannesburg-based organization has been monitoring the introduction of GM crops in South Africa for the past decade, and is working closely with small-scale farmers and civil society.
"We worry about the safety of these potatoes in the long run - for both humans and the environment. The science is simply too young to guarantee the world the safety of crops that have been tampered with," said Haidee Swanbee, researcher and outreach officer at the ACB. "Maybe they are safe now, but what about 20 years from now?"
The ACB furthermore says that the problems posed by the PTM are being blown out of proportion. "According to one of our surveys, small-scale farmers face more pressing problems, such as rodents, access to land, and the non-existence of irrigation infrastructure," Swanbee told AllAfrica. "According to them, these problems require more attention and are more pressing then the PTM."
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The ACB does not stand alone in its objections. Fast food outlet McDonald's, South African food retailers such Pick 'n Pay and Woolworths, as well as industry association Potatoes South Africa, have also expressed concerns over the SpuntaG2.
"We are not against GM crops, provided that the products are safe for humans and the environment and that they do not damage the market," said Ben Pieterse of the research and development department at Potatoes SA.
"It just seems that local retailers are not prepared to buy these so-called super spuds. Introducing these potatoes can have a negative impact on potato consumption, and that is exactly what Potatoes SA does not want," he said.
"Through intensive marketing campaigns we have managed to increase annual potato consumption in South Africa from 25kg per person in 2002 to 35kg in 2008," Pieterse said. "We do not want this to change. That is why we did not support the application. The risk to the potato market is simply too high."
