Kenya emerges as hub for bio-tech in east African region

Kenya emerges as hub for
bio-tech in east African region

NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Kenya has emerged as a leader in the development and use of biotechnology in the east and central African region.

It was among the first African nations to embrace the use of biotechnology, especially in the agriculture sector.

As a result, other east African nations come to Kenya to learn from its experiences. Even its economic blue print, Vision 2030 recognizes the role of biotechnology in propelling the nation to middle income status.

Currently there are a number of biotechnology projects in progress by both public and private research institutions.

International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter Director Dr. Margaret Karembu told Xinhua in a recent interview in Nairobi that at least five agricultural crops are currently undergoing biotechnology improvements in Kenya.

"Biotech varies of maize, sweet potato and maize are some of the food crops that are being research locally," Karembu said on the sidelines of a recent science workshop.

The meeting brought over 30 journalists and scientists together to discuss ways of disseminating research findings. According to the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), BT cotton could be commercialized in Kenya in 2014.

Most of the new biotech products are currently at the confined field trial stages and are expected to commercialized in the near future.

The new cotton variety is expected to increase farmers’ yields because it is resistant to a common pest that is responsible for low harvests.

Karembu, who is also Chairperson of the Programming Committee of Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) Kenya chapter, said Kenya’s highly skilled workforce has attracted research in the country.

"We are also collaborating with scientists in the region in order to develop products that beneficial to local communities," she said.

The first OFAB chapter in Africa was launched in Nairobi in 2006.

Other chapters have since been opened in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania. The forum hopes to raise the profile of the use of biotechnology especially in agriculture.

ISAAA AfriCenter Programme Officer Dr. Faith Nguthi said that Kenya has begun to develop a science culture which is the backbone of biotechnology innovations.

She noted that the general public is yet to fully understand the concept genetically modification organisms.

"ISAAA is hoping in increase public awareness of the new technology so that they can make informed decisions," Nguthi said.

International Centre for Health Interventions and Research in Africa (ICHIRA) BioSafety Consultant Professor Eucharia Kenya said that biotechnology requires a lot of invest in infrastructure and human personnel.

She said that a lot of organizations have also sprung up in Kenya in order to ensure that technology is simplified for end users.

"They normally assist small scale farmers to adopt the modern agricultural techniques," he said.

She called on other nations to improve the packaging of science information so that biotechnology is gains more acceptability. Kenya is also one of the few countries in the region to establish a bio-safety regulatory body.

The National Bio-safety Authority (NBA) this year put in place regulations on the labeling of GMOs foods.

"The NBA has spurred the growth of biotechnology as it put in place legal and regulatory frameworks that ensure consumers are safe while researchers have a conducive environment to conduct their work," Kenya said.

"Some east African nations also have laws but have clauses that make it difficult for researchers to commercialize biotechnology products," the consultant said.

University of Nairobi, Department of Biochemistry Professor Edward Nguu said Kenya biotechnology has revolutionized production of some common foods.

"The tissue culture in bananas has increased the yields of farmers and now banana farming is now taking root in Kenya," Nguu said.

According to the professor, the future for biotechnology is bright in Kenya.

"When you first introduce a new technology it usually faces resistance until the public is fully aware of its benefits," Nguu said.

He added that when hybrid maize was first introduced, it faced a lot of challenges, but now even small scale farmers have abandoned the traditional maize variety in favor of the new high yielding breeds.