Facts About GMO in Kenya

 Genetically Modified Organism G.M.O in Kenya

GMO or Not: On October 3, 2022, the cabinet decided to relax the 2012 ban on the open importation and open cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops, becoming Kenya the second government on the continent after South Africa to do so. 

Xaxa Farm wholeheartedly agree with this choice since it think the cabinet was expertly advised by the taskforce findings and other studies, particularly those from the National Biosafety Authority. 

It is significant to remember that Kenya has been testing and approving many types for more than a decade. The research has been concentrating on ways to address issues like nutritional bio-fortification, virus and other pest resistance, and drought tolerance, among others (see below some of the approved varieties and challenges they seek to solve). 

This, in my opinion, opens the door for funding and research in this field of study. However, in order for this to be completely adopted, the government must engage in extensive public awareness and involvement campaigns.

Facts About GMO in Kenya

What GMO means - GMO in Kenya

Genetically Modified Organism is referred to as GMO. Plant and animal breeders have long attempted to alter the genetic makeup of living things by selectively breeding the most productive individuals. This is a type of genetic engineering. GMO, however, typically refers to altering an organism's genes in a lab setting.

Manufacturers of GMO items, including food, alter organisms genetically to enhance the product or to obtain a competitive edge. GMO plants, for instance, might be simpler to grow in big quantities or might yield more fruit. The flavor of GMO meat from genetically altered animals may differ or taste better.

GMO products are still divisive, particularly with some groups that support natural living and the environment. Genetic modifications are opposed because they fear unintended consequences for human health. For instance, there is fear that these goods' nutrients can harm tissue or not metabolize as well as they should. Additionally, it is impossible to predict how consuming GMO products may affect you in the long run..

The majority of studies on GMO products find no indication of danger. The scientific community does acknowledge that the study that has been done so far is neither unanimous nor definitive. Since the majority of studies have not evaluated the long-term hazards or advantages of using GMO goods, many scientists continue to express their worries about their use.

To find out more about GMOs, including how they may affect the environment and what benefits and hazards they may have for your health, keep reading.

What is an Example of a GMO - GMO in Kenya

Traditional Crop Modification - GMO in Kenya

Selective breeding and crossbreeding are two conventional techniques that have been used to alter plants for around 10,000 years. The majority of the foods we eat today were initially made by combining many old techniques.

Two similar plants cross-pollinate to create a new plant,

Genetic Engineering - GMO in Kenya

Scientists can, among other things, clone a gene from one organism with a desired feature and insert it into another through the use of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering has been used since the 1970s, and it makes use of the advancements made in the study of DNA.

A gene in a soil bacterium (Bt) is inserted into the DNA of the corn to create an insect-resistant corn.

Genome Editing - GMO in Kenya

Scientists can now create new crop kinds with greater accuracy and focus thanks to genome editing. Using genome editing techniques can speed up and simplify modifications that were previously only possible through conventional breeding.

SEE; US FOODS and DRUGS HERE

How Harmful is GMO - GMO in Kenya

People separately documented hazardous consequences brought on by GMOs after genetically modified foods were first introduced in the United States a few decades ago. One instance is the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), an anti-GMO advocacy group, which claimed that rats fed a diet containing a GMO potato had practically every organ system negatively damaged after just ten days of feeding. 

According to the IRT, the toxicity was caused via genetic alteration methods rather than being unique to that particular potato. They asserted that the GMO was harmful because of the manufacturing method and that all GMOs carried a high risk of toxicity.

See this article Harvard University HERE

What is the Benefits of GMOs - GMO in Kenya

The possible benefits of genetic engineering include:

• More nutritious food

• Less use of pesticides

• Tastier food

• Faster growing plants and animals

• Disease- and drought-resistant plants that require fewer environmental resources (such as water and fertilizer)

• Increased supply of food with reduced cost and longer shelf life

• Food with more desirable traits, such as potatoes that produce less of a cancer-causing substance when fried

• Medicinal foods that could be used as vaccines or other medicines

Some people have expressed concerns about GE foods, such as:

• Creation of foods that can cause an allergic or toxic reaction

• Unexpected or harmful genetic changes

• Foods that are less nutritious

• Inadvertent transfer of genes from one GM plant or animal to another plant or animal not intended for genetic modification.

These worries haven't been confirmed yet. None of the GE foods now consumed have led to any of these issues. Before permitting them to be commercialized, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates all GE foods to determine their safety. In addition to the FDA, bioengineered plants and animals are governed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). They evaluate how safe GE foods are for the environment, plants, animals, and people.

What are the Pros and Cons of GMOs - GMO in Kenya

There are many people who are concerned about genetically modified organisms.

Because they don't fully understand GMOs and because the media occasionally portrays them as something that they are, millions of families around the world are concerned about them in their food. 

Alleviating Hunger and Malnutrition around the World - GMO in Kenya

More than 40 million Kenya and a population of 7 billion people worldwide—of which 1 in 8 suffer from hunger and malnutrition—have been fed thanks to GMOs.

The world's population is projected to increase to 9 billion people by 2050. According to experts, our agricultural output will need to expand by 70% to keep up; using GM crops, which boost yield while using less pesticides, water, and land, will be essential to achieving this goal. 

Reducing our Environmental Footprint - GMO in Kenya

Farmers of all sizes can grow more crops on less land with fewer chemicals and less water thanks to GMOs, making them better environmental stewards.

The adoption of GM crops in the US led to a 46.4 million pound decrease in pesticide consumption in 2003. 9%, or 975 million pounds, less pesticide was sprayed on crops worldwide between 1996 and 2011 thanks to GM crops.

Lowering the Price of Food - GMO in Kenya

GMOs aid in reducing the cost of food production by requiring less land, water, and pesticides, which lowers the cost of food to consumers. Corn, soybeans, and sugar beet prices have decreased by up to 15% or more because to GM technology. According to market data analyst Mercaris, non-GMO corn cost an average of 51 cents more per bushel in 2013 than GMO corn.

Related; Best Farm Management HERE

The Approved Varieties and Challenges GMO seek to solve - GMO in Kenya

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