How effective and safe is Bt-maize in South Africa?

Abstract

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) recently released the outcome of the South Africa-Norway bio-safety cooperation project 'Monitoring the environmental impacts of GM maize in South Africa'. This project studied possible impacts of commercial genetically modified (GM) maize (MON810 maize), containing the Cry1Ab protein (Bt-protein), on the South African environment. The report addresses concerns about Bt-technology in GM maize in South Africa, in particular the development of possible resistance of target insects to the Bt-toxin and of unintended effects of GM maize on non-target organisms.