Biosciences executive director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Gatsha Mazithulela, said the Africa Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) project will only appeal government’s decision to reject its application to proceed with greenhouse experiments on transgenic sorghum once all the possible avenues have been exhausted.
“We have supplied all the documentary evidence and the matter is currently being handled at policy level. I do hope and expect that something positive will come out of this engagement,” said Mazithulela at the ABS project’s recent open day in Pretoria. he country’s regulatory body for genetically modified organisms rejected ABS’s application for the greenhouse production of GM sorghum – popularly known as “super sorghum” – on biosafety grounds, fearing it will lead to the destruction of sorghum varieties prevalent throughout Africa.
Dr Florence Wambugu, ABS chairperson, called on South Africa to use its political and scientific standing to influence policy makers on the continent to accept scientific research that will help benefit the rural poor. S aluting the ABS project’s search for long-term solutions to the challenge of poverty and malnutrition, land and agriculture minister Lulama Xingwana said scientists should explore all possibilities of broadening the food base to reduce dependence, improve its inherent nutritional quality at source, and identify integrated approaches to maximise impact and adoption of new technologies. “After millet, sorghum is the most drought-resistant grain crop and a highly versatile one that can contribute to household food security, forage and ethanol production,” she said. – Fidelis Zvomuya
