Bayer Calls on Stakeholders to Debunk GM Food to Farmers as Climate Change Bites

Bayer, a multinational biotechnical company is calling on more stakeholders to help farmers debunk the GM technology-enabled seeds and its importance in the mitigation and adaptation in the future.

This follows the lifting of the ban on the planting of GM products, a move that Bayer says is the best solution for Kenya and the entire globe towards boosting food security and adapting to climate change.

Bayer explains that there are various hybrid products such as BT cotton, soya beans however, the biggest win for GM-enabled products is maize.

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“With the UN’s prediction of the global population increasing to 9.8 billion by the year 2050, the only choice that remains is for the world to adopt more sustainable and weatherproof farming practices, for a food secure future,” said Anthony Maina- the Corporate Communications lead in Africa for Bayer.

“We remain steadfast in our belief in providing solutions and options for farmers, we have provided centers of excellence in Kajiado, Mwea and Siaya that provide practical learning about the use of the hybrid seed in comparison with the conventional seed and crop protection and new farming technology,” he added.

A Nairobi Court in October last year dismissed a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) seeking to quash a decision by the Cabinet to lift the ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

In the suit, the LSK had alleged that the cultivation, importation, and exportation of GMO maize was being undertaken without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license.

The Environment and Land Court said no evidence had been placed before it to show that the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation is already undertaking cultivation of food, feed and processing, import, export and transit of MON 810 event in maize varieties in Kenya without EIA license.

Maina spoke on the sidelines of a campaign by Bayer championing improved lives through science.

The campaign which is aligned to their brand purpose ‘science for a better life’ seeks to push the corporate brand further while also sensitizing the key stakeholders on their efforts towards improving lives, as their key focus fully shifts to Life Science.

“Science for Better campaign is a platform for us to continue creating and sustaining our visibility as a corporate brand. It is important that our brand remains top of mind and for the audiences to understand our contribution to improving lives through science on multiple fronts such as nutrition, agriculture, medicine, self-care and food security,” said Mr. Maina.

“All our efforts in research, innovations, collaborations and partnerships are directed at improving lives through science”, he added.

Anchored in their brand vision is “Health for All and Hunger for None’ maxim, a goal for a healthy and food-secure world that is championed through efforts such as providing access to pharmaceuticals through the human health division and availing improved seed quality that is climate proof; as well as the training of farmers on better and more sustainable farming methods for better yield through their crop science division.