Pretoria, South Africa
April 2, 2014

USDA/FAS GAIN report

Report highlights

FAS/Pretoria Senior Agricultural Attaché, Pickelsimer, presented on the benefit of biotechnology to small-holder farmers as part of a State Department funded biotechnology outreach activity, February 25-27. The biotechnology outreach came on the heels of a petition by the African Center for Biosafety (ACB) to overturn South Africa’s approval of the importation of 2,4-D corn, a decision made in 2012. The tone of the outreach was notably more positive than an earlier FAS/Pretoria presentation to parliament, which was considered a huge success, in spite of speaking immediately after the ACB petition, which could have artificially raised concerns about biotechnology. FAS/Pretoria will require assistance from the Department of State Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs to track the ongoing developments of the biotech dialogue in South Africa, and participate in future outreach events.

Executive Summary

FAS/Pretoria Senior Agricultural Attaché, Pickelsimer, presented on the benefit of biotechnology to small-holder farmers as part of a State Department funded biotechnology outreach activity, February 25-27. FAS/Pretoria strategically targeted a South African small-holder farmer to be the keynote speaker, out of a four speakers, to emphasize the messaging articulated in FAS/Pretoria’s presentation. Also in attendance were representatives from the South African Departments of Agriculture, Health, Environment, and Science. The biotechnology outreach came on the heels of a petition by the African Center for Biosafety (ACB) to overturn South Africa’s approval of the importation of 2,4-D corn, a decision made in 2012. The tone of the outreach was notably more positive than an earlier FAS/Pretoria presentation to parliament, which was considered a huge success, in spite of speaking immediately after the ACB petition, which could have artificially raised concerns about biotechnology. After the close of our questions and answer session, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Lulu Johnson, concluded that there should be a public hearing in the future to help end the debate on the safety of biotechnology in South Africa. FAS/Pretoria will require assistance from the Department of State Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs to track the ongoing developments of the biotech dialogue in South Africa, and participate in future outreach events.

Full report

Website: http://www.fas.usda.gov/

Published: April 4, 2014