First South African Opposition to GM Crop
17 September 2008 According to Potato SA Research Manager Ben Pieterse, tuber moth is not a major problem in South Africa. “The benefit is far less than the potential damage to the industry,” said Pieterse. “ We won’t save that much on pesticide as we will still have to spray for other pests.”
As there is no mandatory labeling for GM products, keeping track of the GM potatoes could prove difficult – particularly important for export markets and farmers supplying major food companies that won’t take GM crops.
However, ARC says the GM potato is the Spunta variety – a type of potato not suitable for processing. Big food chains could not use this variety, so the plan is to eventually transfer the GM technology to other potato varieties.
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