On 15^th November 2022, KEPSA in partnership with Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Africa Agriculture Technology Foundation (AAATF) and other stakeholders, hosted a private sector sensitization workshop on the lift of GMO ban in Kenya. The forum, which was held at the Nairobi Safari Club Hotel, aimed to sensitize stakeholders on the process flow for commercialization of GM commodities, following the lifting of the 2012 ban; appraise key actors on the prevailing international commodity trade market opportunities, and sensitize members on the implications of the lift of the GMO ban.

Present during the meeting included Dr Bimal Shah – KEPSA Director in charge of Food Security and Climate Change; Mrs Agatha Thuo - General Manager, ASNET; Dr Margaret Karembu - ISAAA AfriCenter; Mr Martin Kinoti, Secretary General, AKEFEMA; Dr Roy Mugira, CEO, National Biosafety Authority; Prof. Hamadi Boga – Former Principal Secretary of the State Department for Agricultural Research; Dr Canisius Kanangire- AATF; Dr James Karanja- KALRO; Dr Francis Nang’ayo- AAFT; Mr Samuel Ochieng - KENTRADE among other participants.

In her opening remarks, Dr Margaret Karembu noted that moving into the future, the agriculture sector in Kenya must rely on scientific information and data to help in yield forecasting and better planning. She also noted that the severe drought has caused massive deaths of animals and wildlife being experienced in many parts of the country, further aggravating the food insecurity situation.

Dr Karembu lauded the president’s decision to lift the GMO ban which she noted, will allow the 17 million farmers in Kenya to import GMO commodities and enhance food, feed and nutrition security. She further noted that biotech agriculture will create job opportunities to address the burgeoning population of unemployed youth.

Dr Canacius Karinge reiterated his appreciation to the president for lifting the GMO ban which he said is a game-changer. He pledged his support and called upon all the partners to work harmoniously to ensure that correct messaging is conveyed to the farmers and the public, to address misinformation. He concluded his remarks by stating that AATF is already working with universities, to advance technology transfer.

In his remarks, Dr Bimal Kantaria called upon the political leaders to listen to the scientific arguments and completely stop politicizing the GM discussion. He emphasized that GM technology can potentially transform the agri-food systems, and increase farm yields and farmers' incomes.

Mr Harry Kimutai – Principal Secretary of, the State Department for Livestock Development, stated that the current high prices of the basic necessities are attributive to the runaway inflation which rose to 9.2% in September 2022 from 8.5% in August 2022. Contributing to this, he added, is the drought which has caused the failure of 4 consecutive planting seasons and the Ukraine-Russia war, among others. He noted that there is a huge opportunity to integrate GMO as a pathway for bolstering yields and increasing climate resilience. PS Kimutai was represented by Dr David Kiai – Ass. Director, Livestock Policy, Research and Regulation in the State Department of Livestock Development.

The meeting deliberated various topics including; the context of Kenya’s animal feeds situation post-lifting of the ban; Agricultural Biotechnology capacity; The Biotech research and development status; The prevailing regulatory regime; The Standard Operating Procedures for GMO trade; Current and emerging challenges in GM commodity trade following the lift of the 2012 ban; Process flow in applying for GM-based commodities import permits using case studies/ demonstrations; and the Prevailing international commodity trade market opportunities, among others.