Government to GMO maize seeds to farmers for 2025 planting season

Ministry of Agriculture is set to release Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) maize seeds to farmers for planting in the 2025 season
Ministry of Agriculture is set to release Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) maize seeds to farmers for planting in the 2025 season.
The BT variety will be released to the market following the conclusion of national field trials by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA).
NBA earlier conducted public participation countrywide to get farmers’ views on the new maize variety.
The agency encouraged farmers to adopt the variety. The acting director for biosafety research and compliance, Josephat Muchiri, also urged Kenyans to dismiss misconceptions about GMOs, assuring the nation they would prioritise safety.
“NBA is an oversight authority body that regulates all activities involving GMOs, and part of our regulatory laws is engaging the public from time to time to get their views on new and upcoming technologies,” Muchiri said.
NBA, in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), announced that it had received applications for the open cultivation and commercialisation of BT maize.
It stated that the maize is designed to resist destructive pests like maize stem borers and fall armyworms, offering farmers the potential for increased yields, better grain quality, and reduced reliance on insecticides.
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However, the NBA stated that comprehensive safety assessments were underway to ensure the BT maize is safe for human and animal consumption and does not pose environmental risks.
In related news, the NBA asked farmers to fill out application forms for growing GMO crops.
Section 18(1) of the Biosafety Act provides that a person shall not conduct any activity involving GMOs without the written approval of the authority.
In a notice on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the agency noted it was adhering to a court judgment that directed Kenya to have a robust legal, regulatory, and institutional framework to regulate GMOs.
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