There's little room for error

JOHANN VAN ZYL, SA Graan/Grain contributor

Working closely with genetics, Dr Julian Jaftha is continuously aware of and driven by the fast changing world of technology.

As South Africa’s chief director for Plant Production and Health, Jaftha stands at the core of decision-making on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the misconceptions and controversy sparked by technology often misunderstood by anxious consumers.

“Although we have come a long way during the past decade or two, creating awareness among the public on biotechnology is still an important element of our work,” says Jaftha. “Unsubstantiated claims are often made on the dangers of GMOs and therefore it is important for our department to ensure sound, credible and scientific information.”

According to Jaftha, they try to deal with all interest groups. “We have to deal with pro-biotechnology and anti-biotechnology people, while ensuring that we stay at the technology forefront in Africa and keep up with international industry leaders.”

Since obtaining a PhD in microbiology from the University of Pretoria in 2002, Jaftha has been deeply involved in the regulatory framework for GMOs and the multidisciplinary process of scientific evaluation by an expert panel of scientists. Employed by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, his responsibilities include supporting sustainable plant production in South Africa through the formulation and implementation of policies, legislation and programmes.

He is currently also the chairperson of the decision-making executive council established under the Genetically Modified Organisms Act. “Believe it or not, there was a time that I even had to act as director as well as registrar,” says Jaftha.

According to him, both the Agricultural Sector Plan and the National Biotechnology Strategy of South Africa acknowledge the contribution that biotechnology can make in achieving a globally competitive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector. “Biotechnology offers the opportunity to increase production in a sustainable manner, thereby reducing poverty and food insecurity, whilst maintaining the natural resource base,” he notes.

The Genetically Modified Organisms Act of 1997 and Genetically Modified Organisms Amendment Act of 2006 ensure the safe use of biotechnology in South Africa. “The Act aims to ensure that all activities involving genetically modified organisms are carried out in such a way as to limit possible harmful consequences to human and animal health, the environment and even the South African trade and industry,” Jaftha points out.

Unknown field

At school in Eersterust, Pretoria, Jaftha was fascinated by the world of science.

“Although I knew that I would like to study science, I had no idea that I would become involved in the field. When you undertake a degree in biological sciences, you seldom know where you’ll end up some day.”

He agrees that his post-graduate studies in microbiology and his interest in the world of genetics, paved the way for his career move. “But you also have to keep up with the latest in this fast-moving technology.”

To keep sane in his stressful world, Jaftha has become quite involved in his community, where there is a lot of work to be done to better the lives of the less privileged. “I also do a bit of road-running over weekends when I find the time and can finish a 10 km distance reasonably comfortably. But I am no Bruce Fordyce by a long shot!” he adds jokingly.

He is at his happiest when he knows that he has done his best in his work and all other areas that he’s involved in. “Even more so when I can see the impact of my actions,” Jaftha says.

Looking back, he says that he enjoyed his years at the University of Pretoria, which started soon after South Africa’s universities were opened to all race groups. “There weren’t any major hiccups, confirming that the vast majority of people are positive about justice to everyone. I believe in a common humanity which allows us to learn from each other irrespective of rank or status. That is why I really admire Martin Luther King for campaigning for African-American civil rights.”

His own strong belief in righteousness definitely adds to the fact that the legal profession intrigues him. Jaftha admits that: “If I didn’t become a scientist, I probably would have studied law.”

The multidisciplinary evaluation process that has to be followed for each new application, includes several legal aspects. Specific GMO activities that are approved by the executive council, are regulated by way of permits and accompanying permit conditions and are monitored for compliance.

South Africa is a contracting party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, endorsing the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety for the safe transfer, handling and use of GMOs. This implies that appropriate legal, administrative and other relevant measures need to be in place to implement the provisions of the Protocol. The country’s GMO Act is aligned to the Protocol.

The GMO Act

“South Africa has approved the commercialisation of GM maize, cotton and soybeans under the GMO Act,” says Jaftha. “These three crops have been modified either for insect resistance and/or herbicide tolerance. Various field trials continue for new developments.” GMO activities also include trials of vaccines for humans (TB and HIV).

The objectives of the GMO Amendment Act, which was implemented in 2010, are:

• To ensure activities relating to GMOs are carried out responsibly.
• Proper import, export, production, use, release and distribution.
• To limit the adverse impact on the environment and human/animal health.
• The effective management of waste.
• Measures to evaluate and reduce potential risks.
• Risk assessment according to specific criteria.

“The world of genetically modified organisms is a world where several scientific disciplines converge: Biotechnology, allergenity, bacteriology, entomology, food toxicology, genetics, molecular biology and virology, to name but a few,” says Jaftha. “It is a fascinating world.”

Interventions and innovations needed

Recently, at a GM crops and food safety symposium held in Pretoria, Dr Pieter Mulder, deputy minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), stressed that a carefully constructed mixture of interventions and innovation is required to ensure food security and the sustainable economic contribution by the agricultural sector.

“Within the context of agriculture, biotechnology has an important role to play as it offers the opportunity to increase production in a sustainable manner,” Mulder said. “With the enormous number of food insecure countries in Africa, we do not have the luxury of being influenced by emotional, unscientific propaganda. We need sound decision-making based on scientific research and combined with comprehensive regulatory mechanisms.”

According to Dr Julian Jaftha, chief director: Plant Production and Health of the DAFF, South Africa’s GMO Act provides for a multidisciplinary process of scientific evaluation by an expert panel of scientists.

“An advisory committee with vast scientific expertise limit the unsafe use of GMO technology in the country,” Jaftha said.

In 2005, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued an opinion on the safety aspects of food derived from biotechnology, which included that:

• GM foods currently available are not likely to present risks for human health any more than conventional foods.
• The global risk-assessment guidelines are thought to be adequate for the safety assessment of GM foods.

AfricaBio points out that not a single substantiated case of harm caused by the consumption of officially approved GM products has been reported in South Africa since it was launched almost two decades ago.

The area in South Africa under GM crop production was estimated at 2,9 million hectares in 2012. About 86% of the total maize produced in the country is biotech, 90% of all soybeans and 100% of cotton. It is also estimated that local farm income benefited by US2 million for the period of 1996 to 2011.