- NBA deputy director Josephat Muchiri said the Bt cotton, which is resistant to the destructive bollworm cotton pest, is already being grown in Eastern, Central, Western and Nyanza regions.
- President William Ruto and his cabinet lifted the 10-year ban on genetically modified crops on October 4, 2022.
Image: AGATHA NGOTHO
Three genetically modified crops have so far been approved for farming in Kenya.
National Biosafety Authority, the GMOs regulator, says it has until now approved the cultivation of Bt Cotton, Bt maize and a genetically modified cassava.
The three crops have elements of foreign bacteria and virus to help them fight pests and diseases.
NBA deputy director Josephat Muchiri said the Bt cotton, which is resistant to the destructive bollworm cotton pest, is already being grown in Eastern, Central, Western and Nyanza regions.
“Performance of the four released varieties shows they are best suited in medium to high rainfall or under irrigation,” he said.
Bt cotton was the first GM crop approved for field cultivation in 2020, when the Ministry of Agriculture distributed one tonne of seeds for planting on 10,000 hectares.
Muchiri said they also approved Bt Maize and are waiting for the Ministry of Agriculture to release seeds to farmers.
The Bt maize produces proteins that are toxic to certain insects.
NBA has also approved the virus-resistant cassava, which is resistant to the Cassava Brown Streak Disease.
“It is currently undergoing national performance trials by Kephis, after which the ministry of agriculture will distribute to farmers,” Muchiri said in Nairobi on Monday at an ongoing workshop organised by the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Professionals Society of Kenya.
In total, since its establishment in 2009, NBA has approved 40 GMO products to be tested in laboratories or greenhouses in Kenya.
Muchiri said 15 products have also been approved for confined field trials.
Before the ban on the importation of GM products in 2012, NBA had also approved 28 applications for the importation of different products.
Muchiri said all genetically modified foods in Kenya NBA must be labelled.
“Standards for labelling GM seeds are currently under development coordinated by KEBS, NBA and Kephis,” he noted.
However, postmarket surveillance of GMOs will take 20 years, over which authorities will assess any unintended effects on farms.
President William Ruto and his cabinet lifted the 10-year ban on genetically modified crops on October 4, 2022.
The ban restricted open cultivation and importation.
It was instituted by former president Mwai Kibaki's administration in 2012 and remained so under Uhuru Kenyatta.
Immediately after it was lifted last year, the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation promised to release Bt maize seeds to farmers this year.
Director General Eliud Kireger said they would be given to farmers for free for demonstration.
"The seeds will be planted by farmers on 500,000 acres across mid-altitude agro-ecological zones as demonstrations pending full commercialisation by private companies," he said.
Kireger had promised 11 metric tons of certified GMO maize seed would be released during the 2023 long rains planting season.
Civil society groups have been up in arms with the government citing a lack of public participation before President Ruto lifted the ban.
Anne Maina, national coordinator, the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya said GMO crops are heavily dependent on synthetic fertilisers and toxic pesticides like RoundUp that have been linked to cancer and other toxic pesticides.
"With climate change, GMOs cannot survive with water. The switch to GMOs will lead to biodiversity loss having a negative impact on nutrition," she said.
-Edited by SKanyara