Biotech Updates

GM Maize for Local Trials by 2010

June 26, 2009

Kenya will start confined field trials of drought-tolerant transgenic maize variety pending regulatory approval from the National Biosafety Committee. The project is spearheaded by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and is being coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). Other cooperating institutions include the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. AATF, CIMMYT, and Monsanto have agreed that varieties developed through this project will be licensed to AATF.

The project, known as the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project, is being implemented in five African countries – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. The public-private partnership is led by the national agricultural research systems in the respective countries. Funding is provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Visit the AATF website at http://www.aatf-africa.org