Lift genetically modified organisms ban for food security, State told

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and ISAAA Africenter Director Dr Margaret Karembu during a stakeholders’ meeting on the GMO ban at the Nairobi Safari Club Hotel.  [PHOTO: MBUGUA KIBERA/STANDARD]

Kenya: Governors have backed scientists and lobbied the biotechnology task force to present its findings to enable Government lift the ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

The ban on GMOs, if not reversed soon, will hurt Kenya’s economy and further worsen food insecurity, governors and scientists have warned.

Council of Governors chairman for Health and Biotechnology Jack Ranguma said Kenya continues to lose billions of shillings because of the ban on the importation of GMOs.

Higher lifespan

Ranguma warned that investors shunned the country and moved their plants elsewhere following the ban.

“This ban on GMOs was rushed and not based on facts. Forming the task force was a waste of time as there is nothing wrong with the products. Growing economies are using the biotechnology and their lifespans are far above ours,” said Mr Ranguma.

The call comes in the wake of increased use of biotechnology in most growing economies in products like maize, sorghum, cassava and most recently, sugarcane.

Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Nairobi yesterday, Ranguma said there was need to commercialise biotechnology cotton especially in dry areas like Kisumu, Kwale, Kilifi, Baringo, Homa Bay and Siaya counties to create job opportunities.

Ranguma, who is also the Kisumu governor, regretted that the task force report had taken so long to come out but warned that the final report to be released soon must be guided by verifiable facts and authentic research done on the use of biotechnology.

“The use of biotechnology is worlddwide and we are staring at the prospecting of starving this generation if we do not adopt it. With the growing population, the world will not be able to feed its people,” he said.

The governor also said biotech crops contribute to food security and sustainability by increasing production and providing a better environment because the use of pesticides is minimal.

National Biosafety Authority Technical Services Director Dorington Ogoyi however clarified that so far no organisation or farmer had been cleared to commercialise biotech crops.

Prof Ogoyi said the objective and purpose for which the authority was established was to regulate research and commercial activities involving GMOs with a view to ensuring safety of human and animal health and provision of an adequate level of protection of the environment.

He said the authority had established a transparent science-based and predictable process to guide decision making on applications for approval of research and commercial activities involving GMOs.

“The authority is mandated to regulate research and commercial activities and I want to tell the public that so far we have not received application to commercialise GMOs, including cotton,” said Ogoyi.

Poverty alleviation

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Thika Director Charles Waturu said slapping a ban on the use of biotechnology was hurting the production of various crops.

“Anybody banning the use of biotechnology is creating poverty and increasing hunger. The use of biotechnology has more benefits and, if adopted, will contribute to poverty alleviation,” said Dr Waturu, adding that India was leading in biotech cotton.

He said statistics showed that globally, 79 per cent of soybean is genetically modified, while maize accounts for 32 per cent and cotton 70 per cent.