South Africa is one of the few African countries
that have introduced genetically modified (GM) crops.
South Africa has been growing first-generation commercial
GM crops since 1997 [1]. In 2008, South Africa was
ranked eighth in terms of global commercial GM production
[2]. It is estimated that 90% of cotton (insect
resistance (IR) and herbicide tolerance (HT)), 80% of
soybean (HT), 72% of yellow maize (IR and HT) and
55% of white maize (IR and HT) (an important food staple)
productions in South Africa are GM [2]. In 2008/
2009, there were 14 field trials of various GM crops in
South Africa [3]. Thus, it is expected that the number of
approved GM events grown in South Africa will
increase in the future.