The Facts

Where in South Africa are GE crops growing?

The Department of Agriculture first granted a permit for GE cotton field trials in 1992. By Feb 2000, 165 field trials permits and 4 commercial insect-resistant GE crops had been granted general release permits i.e. GE plants are widely grown. By July 2000, 17 more permits were granted for field trials and herbicide-resistant Roundup Ready cotton was approved for general commercial release. Three more applications are now pending. GE Maize has been granted commodity clearance, which means it is imported and exported as animal feed.
The Dept of Agriculture releases information of the districts where GE crops are grown but not the farm locations.

• MAIZE: grown by Agrevo, BASF, Carnia, Pannar and Monsanto in Delmas, Nelspruit, White River, Skeersport, Rustenburg, Viljoenskroon, Hoopstad, Potchefstroom, Swartberg, Middelburg, Wolmaranstad, Malelane
• COTTON: grown by Monsanto in Welpe, Messina, Nelspruit, Brits, Rustenburg, Groblersdal, Whiteriver, Settlers, Burgersford; Stoneville in, Marble Hall; Delta Pine in Marble Hall, Pongola, Makhatini, Setlagoli, Magogong, Jan Kempdorp, Grootdrink, Upington, Groblersdal, Krokodildrif
• SOYABEAN: grown by Carnia in Petit, Hendrina, Thabazimbi, Vrede, Vryheid, Nelspruit, Bethlehem; Monsanto in Delmas, Greytown; Pannar in Delmas
• POTATOES: grown by First Potato Dynamics in Koue Bokkeveld, Ceres
• TOMATO: grown by Seminas at ARC - Roodeplaat
• APPLE: grown by ARC-Infuitec in Stellenbosch
• CANOLA: grown by AgrEvo in Krommeree, Elsenburg
• HONEY: may be contaminated by GE pollens.

Note: GE (Genetically Engineered) and GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) are used interchangeably