The United States, the greatest proponent of GM crops, has refused to sign up to the pact requiring exporters to get approval from destination countries before shipping GM products.

But Masithela said a two-day stakeholder meeting held this week, which would form the basis of recommendations to South Africa's parliament on the sensitive question of GM foods, still recognised the importance of the technology.

"South Africa cannot afford not to be on board...GM technology is one of the tools that can assist South Africa in meeting food security," Masithela said in closing remarks to the conference, which involved both GM advocates and opponents.

South Africa is the only country in the world to produce genetically modified white maize, and its relatively pro-GM stance contrasts sharply to the strong reservations held by the neighbouring governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

However, South Africa's grain traders are hoping that the 97 percent or so of white maize that is not modified, which is kept separately from the transgenic variety in silos, will attract a premium over GM maize, particularly in deals with the U.N. World Food Programme.

The United Nations agency is stepping down the urgency of its campaign to feed some 14 million people in Southern Africa, but still needs to buy tens of thousands of tonnes of maize for its food aid projects. White maize is the region's staple.

Masithela said South Africa's 1997 Genetically Modified Organism act would need to be modified to take into account the Cartagena protocol.