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A range of top research institutions agreed: John Innis Centre,
Rothamsted Research, Imperial College in UK, Higher Biotechnolo-
gies Council and National Agency for Food Safety in France, and
many more (
www.sciencemediacentre.org ).
Glyphosate found in breast milk?
Fact: In 2016 the President of the German Federal Institute for Risk
Assessment (BfR) rejected the test data claimed (0,4 billionth of a
gram per millilitre), as the best diagnostics available cannot detect
glyphosate at that low level. The German Breastfeeding Commit-
tee agreed and stated that the physical and chemical properties of
glyphosate do not facilitate transfer to or accumulation in mother’s
milk or fatty tissue and urged mothers to continue with breast feed-
ing (
www.bfr.bund.de/evaluation-of-glyphosate-
).
GM technology will not solve food insecurity
and famine in Africa?
Fact: Partly correct. A car cannot run on a single new spark plug.
Modern biotechnology is doing what conventional technologies
have not achieved: Raising food production efficiency, reducing
losses due to pests and diseases, reducing input costs, and miti-
gating climate change, but needs to be a major part of integrated
approaches, producer training and responsible technology transfer.
Famine in Africa is a socio-political-economic problem and will stay
as long as governments do not strengthen their agriculture by adopt-
ing modern techniques and technologies.
Conclusion
Since introduction of GM crops in South Africa, over 40 million hec-
tares of GM maize were planted, over 70 million metric tons harvest-
ed and eaten by humans and animals without any proven adverse
effect. South Africa is also implementing its bio-economy strategy.
What we need, is better communication with the public. We also
need the voice of government to counter misinformation conveyed
from other continents. It is our legislation that is under attack. A
silent partner is a wallflower, nothing more.
1: Soybeans near Bapsfontein.
2: White maize near Bothaville.
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2
75
April 2016
3: Zirk Jansen het R3 000
in sy sak gesteek vir sy
foto “Lactating calf” wat
in die derde plek was.
Facts and fiction about GM crop safety
3
de