Biotech Updates

Next Harvest II Report Launched in Kenya

June 17, 2015

The National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), the body charged with advising the government on scientific innovations, has reiterated its support for emerging technologies including agricultural biotechnology. Speaking during the launch of the Next Harvest II: The Status of Biotechnology in Kenya report, held on June 11, 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Moses Rugutt, the Director General of NACOSTI was optimistic that the country is on the right path towards adoption of genetically engineered (GE) products. "You cannot stop an emerging technology. If the country slows down in its efforts to acquire this technology (GMO technology), we shall get it at a higher cost a bit too late," he said.

The Next Harvest study II, was carried out in 2013 to update the results of the 2004 Next Harvest study on public sector developed GM crops, and to collect project and institution specific agri-biotech research and development data in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. The in-depth study focused on agricultural applications of GM crops, but expanded the scope to a more general setting to measure innovative capacity, including methods and techniques being applied in forestry, microbes, and animals.

Dr. Virginia Kimani, the country project coordinator reported that most of the GM crops research in the country was being carried out by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in partnership with international agricultural research institutions. According to the study, around 80% of the institutions and projects implementing agri-biotech R&D are from the public sector.

Dr. Kimani cited over-regulation of GM products as one of the challenges limiting agri-biotech research in Kenya and added that the lack of a GM product that Kenyans can see and assess as beneficial has resulted in doubt over whether there are tangible benefits of GM crops.

According to the study's respondents, for the gains in biotechnology research to be realized, there will be a need for greater allocation of public resources. Ms. Patricia Zambarano from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) who coordinated the research in the four countries said that the report recommended more funding for research by the government, as well as incentives for private companies to conduct research, and gender balance among researchers.

The project findings were disseminated during a special Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) session.

For more information, contact Dr. Virginia Kimani at parcpest09@gmail.com.