GM seed export to East slammed GM seed export to East slammed A large consignment of genetically modified seed to Indonesia raises questions about South Africa's failure to sign an international treaty. Stefaans Brummer reports. When a South African cargo plane was offloaded at the military section of Indonesia's Makassar airport a few weeks ago, demonstrators and reporters were not allowed nearby. If the consignment had been ordinary cottonseed, no one would have bothered. But this seed was genetically modified.
Genetic engineering is an emotive subject.
Proponents claim this relatively new technology is environmentally friendly and is increasing crop yield to benefit especially small farmers. The petition, which SAFeAGE says has been signed so far by 110 local and international groups and individuals, points out that the trade in GMOs remains largely unregulated in the Third World - a problem that should have been addressed by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, adopted by more than 130 countries including South Africa, in January last year after about six years of negotiations. The protocol, sponsored by the United Nations, will force risk assessments and informed government consent before transfer. But it is not yet in operation, since it first has to be ratified by 50 countries. Only two have done that so far.