Scientists in Kenya and Uganda Prepare for Confined Field Trials of GM Maize

Daniel Mataruka, executive director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) said in his speech at the World Food Prize Symposium held in Des Moines, Iowa on October 14, 2010 that Kenya and Uganda have laid the groundwork for confined field trials of genetically modified maize with drought resistance that would commence in November this year.

"Mock trials" have been conducted since 2009 in Kenya and Tanzania which simulated the actual field conditions, procedures, and regulatory oversights that will occur in the trial. "Everything we have seen in the simulated trials shows that we can safely test transgenic maize varieties in carefully controlled and confined field trials in Africa and evaluate their potential to produce high yields in drought conditions," said Dr. James Gethi, the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Kenya country coordinator.

The WEMA project is a partnership involving the AATF, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Monsanto, BASF, and the national agriculture research systems in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and Uganda. WEMA varieties that are found to be safe and successful will be made available to smallholder farmers royalty-free.

For more details on this news see the Press Release at http://www.aatf-africa.org/userfiles/PressRelease-WEMA-CFT.pdf Information on AATF and and its WEMA Project can be viewed at http://www.aatf-africa.org/wema/media/press_releases/en/