Adopting Genetically Modified maize #kenya

Kenya moved closer to adopting genetically modified (GM)
maize after the last batch under confined field trial was
successfully harvested last week in Kiboko.
Maize breeders from the Kenya Agricultural Research and
Livestock Organisation (Karlo) and the International Maize
and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) were busy
harvesting GM maize that was on its third and final trial at
the field site.
Dr Stephen Mugo, a maize breeder and scientist from
CIMMYT, said the MON810 genetically modified maize
contains a gene that makes it insect and pest resistant.
The seed was given to the Water Efficient Maize for Africa
(Wema) project by Monsato -- hence the name MON810. It
will be availed royalty free to farmers, meaning farmers will
buy seeds at the normal price and will not pay extra for the
trait. "This is the third time we are testing this gene in
maize, and specifically testing its drought-stress tolerance
and its resistance to the stem borers that causes about 15
per cent maize damage globally and 17 per cent in Kenya,"
Muga explains.
"As we go through the journey to this, we have to apply to
the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) for
commercialisation of this maize. But before getting to that
level, we have to show using data that the maize performs
well, it controls the insect and also gives good yields under
insect attack."
He adds that for them to demonstrate this, they have to
grow the GM maize in field trials both in the confined field
trials and also in the greenhouse and laboratory.
"At the end of this, we will be able to put this data together
showing clearly the difference and the superiority of the one
which is resistant by having the gene verses the one which
is not. We will then make an application to NBA to request
for approval for commercialisation. When we get approval,
we will then be able to test this material with others in the
normal national variety trials and then avail the best of the
hybrids to farmers," says Mugo.
Mugo explains that the GM maize variety has to go through
the NBA testing first before it goes to the national
performance trial.
He says that MON810 is the most extensively grown
transgenic crop in the world, adding that it was the first one
to be released in 1996. In Africa, it is grown in South Africa
and Egypt.
"We do not hope to discover anything new, but what we
want to discover is if it works in Kenya or not. The data that
will be generated here is what NBA will use to determine
that this is useful for Kenya or not," he adds.
The project had a timeline and they expected to forward an
application for commercialisation this year and by next year
perform the national performance trials. They expect the
recommendations to be made by the national performance
committee, which is coordinated by the Kenya Plant Health
and Inspectorate Service (Kephis), by 2016.
"I think for any new technology, it has to go with education
for seed companies, farmers and consumers. Unlike other
seeds that just go to farmers, this one will be accompanied
by an extra effort on education," says Mugo.
Farmers especially in Africa, he says, suffer from recurring
drought stress (less rain than normal), insects/pests and
diseases and therefore even in the conventional maize
breeding, they ensure that maize in Africa has good yields,
some level of drought tolerance and tolerance to maize
retrovirus disease. "The only issues we have not found here
is the maize lethal neurosis (MLN) resistance
germplasm,"he says.
Dr Murenga Mwimali, Wema country coordinator and a
maize breeder, says there is enough data from the confined
field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments to prove that
this technology is working against the stem borers.
"We have been working closely with NBA in every step in
the MON810 maize research right from the planting,
harvesting, disposal, post-harvest monitoring and the
update on quarterly reports and annual reports levels. This
engagement has kept us together on issues to do with
compliance and other requirements and I hope it will reduce
suspicion and increase the confidence on GM maize," says
Murenga.
"I believe that this technology alone will not solve Africa's
problems and the hunger problem in the world, but it's the
contribution that it will make to add on the very many
options which farmers have. Technology is available to help
accelerate those processes if we combine our good
knowledge with new tools, we should be able to have
products that are good for farmers."