The Government has been urged to lift the ban on Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) to pave way for the application of research knowledge which will help in providing solutions to challenges affecting the agricultural sector.
Speaking during a seminar which was organized by The Next Generation Researchers and Academics Network of Kenyatta University in conjunction with Kenya University Biotechnology Consortium to educate scholars from public and private universities in Kenya on GM research and Kenya’s preparedness to adopt the technology.
“Modern biotechnology is one of the tools that can propel Kenya towards food security. Adoption of biotechnology will certainly make a significant contribution to improving crop productivity, positively impact on farmers’ livelihoods and ensure environmental sustainability,” he said.
He added that Kenya has invested heavily in human and infrastructural capacity in various fields of modern biotechnology and currently has capacity to manage processes and procedures for detecting, testing and assessing the safety of GMOs.
“The current ban on GM foods has seriously affected trade, food security and human health. Kenya will remain isolated in world trade as majority of food and cereal commodities go GM,” he said.
The ban was issued on 8th November 2012 prohibiting the importation and consumption of GMO foods in Kenya after a team of French Scientists led by Gilles-Eric Séralini published an article in Food and Chemical Toxicology associated with GM maize consumption with tumor growth in rats. Subsequent research have proved otherwise discrediting earlier findings resulting in the publication being withdrawn by the publisher but still the government have not lifted the ban.