GMO Decision-Making and the Precautionary Principle: The Drought-Tolerant Genetically Modified Maize Case in South Africa

Since the first approval of genetically modified (GM) crops in South Africa, commercial cultivation has considerably increased to where the country is currently the biggest African GM crop producer. A GMO permit is necessary before starting a GMO-related activity in the country. Maize, as the most widely grown staple crop in South Africa, is particularly affected by frequent droughts, and is being targeted by current research on GM crops on drought tolerance. Following the Supreme Court landmark ruling reversing the approval of a drought-tolerant genetically modified maize by the GMO authorities in South Africa, this article looks into the applicability of the precautionary principle in GMO decision-making in South Africa.