Kenya’s decision on growing GMO maize expected soon

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.

Kenyans will know whether genetically modified maize will be grown in the country at the end of [January].

This follows an application by a group of scientists at the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation who are pushing for GM maize seeds to be released to farmers ahead of the March planting season.

The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) board failed to reach an agreement on the issue on December 22.

Kenya banned the planting and importation of GMO maize, locking out major exporters including South Africa from the local market which faces frequent grain deficits.

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“We are going to make a decision on whether to grant the scientists permission to release the GMO seeds for field trials by the end of January next year,” NBA chief executive Willy Tonui [at the end of December].

Dr. Tonui said the decision to be made [in January] will touch on biotechnology maize while the second ruling in February will be on cotton.

Read full, original post: Kenyan regulator to decide fate of GMO crops this month