Well hello, look who just slipped into the Cape Winelands under the radar? If it isn’t our friendly,genetic modifiers Monsanto.
In today’s Die Burger newspaper Monsanto advertises plans to test its genetically modified (GM) maize in Lutzville, one of the major vineyard regions of the West Coast. The advertisement calls for comment and/or suggestions, and let’s hope that the local farmers ?+¦-+???+¦-ú?-¦?+¦-ú?+¦+¦ led by wine industry bodies and local government ?+¦-+???+¦-ú?-¦?+¦-ú?+¦+¦ will put in the necessary objections. Although an outright, assertive ban in gravelly the toned voice of Premier Helen Zille would be better.
I mean, why bring the process of testing for Frankenstein maize down to the damp Western Cape to begin with if Monsanto is looking for ways to make maize drought-resistant? Is the Western Cape being targeted for such experiments after being shut out of other provinces?
News of the industry allowing GM experiments in vineyard areas is the last thing the image of Wine Brand South needs right now, thank you very much.
The last time GM news hit the Cape Winelands, industry bodies joined forces in accepting this was part of agrictultural,progress. This time around it would be wise for local minister of agriculture Gerrit van Rensburg and wine body Vinpro to let Monsanto know to shove their experiments in a place the sun don’t shine, not even if it is genetically modified to do so.
For a copy of the advertisement, buy Die Burger.
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