By Peter Theuri
Murang’a County Government officials, students and faculty from Murang’a University, and many other stakeholders in the country’s agricultural value chain benefited from a two-day ISAAA-led training in discerning misinformation and understanding crucial facts about genetically modified organisms, divided into two training sessions of 26th and 27th March, 2025.
The sessions elicited great excitement and debate as scientists fielded questions from an enthusiastic audience, on the first day composed purely of key decision makers in the ranks of Murang’a County Government.
The misinformation sensing training, also called Learn To Discern, highlighted some of the most excruciating misconceptions about GMOs, whose perpetuation has dramatically hurt uptake of biotechnology despite its key role in maintaining food security.
Bibiana Iraki, a senior program officer at ISAAA AfriCenter, insisted to the leaders the need to carefully study information that was being peddled in opposition of biotechnology, citing a desire by anti-scientists and pseudoscientists to benefit off running campaigns to inhibit adoption of crucial innovations.
“In this age, information on social media travels fast- lies faster than truths. Oftentimes, we do not have time to verify this information- and when it tugs at our heartstrings, we are quick to share. But some of these people are getting paid to pass misinformation; they are earning a lot from it,” she said.
The county government officials sat to reflect on their media consumption habits, and the risk their sociopolitical inclinations put them at, as they potentially ensured they were perennially exposed to misinformation and disinformation.
At the end of the day-long training, which involved relentless question-asking and answering, alongside practical exercises in groups, the members’ feedback was hugely positive- they had most of the myths debunked and had a clearer picture of what biotechnology was about, and what opportunities the county- country and continent- could derive from it.
The following day, on 27th March, at Murang’a University, various stakeholders gathered, joined by tens of students, and faculty, from the institution.
The purpose of the gathering was to sensitize the audience on GMOs, in essence making sure that there were no gray areas existent as stakeholders discussed the potential benefits of biotechnology.
A panel, which was composed of five representatives from different stakeholder groups, explained the process of research, development, and use of GMOs. This panel was composed of researchers, a regulator, a feed manufacturer and a farmer.
Dr Martin Mwirigi, the institute director at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization’s (KALRO) Biotechnology Research Institute, spoke about the teething challenges in research and development, especially in the continent, while Prof Douglas Miano, a lecturer at The University of Nairobi and the principal investigator for the virus resistant cassava (VIRCA) project, detailed the process of research, and local curricular’s suitability to churn out professionals with the skillset needed to advance research in agricultural biotechnology.
Paul Kamau, the CEO of the Association for Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA), detailed the hurdles feed manufacturers continue to face, including a challenge to gather enough raw materials for feed processing especially as GM feedstock has to be imported. On the back of a 12-year ban on importation of GMOs, which lasted since 2012, feed manufacturers have been forced to compete to mill locally produced white maize for feed, in spite of the maize not being enough even for human consumption.
Nehemiah Ngetich, acting CEO of The National Biosafety Authority, spoke about the NBA’s duty in ensuring safety of the biotechnology product that is being commercialized, with a key focus- while responding to audience questions- on labeling, which he famously called “a matter of tracing and not safety”.
Farmer Jesse Kariuki, who is also a member of Society for Biotech Farmers of Kenya (SOBIFAK), spoke about the advantages he has drawn from farming of genetically modified cotton, Bt cotton, including increased yields, shortened maturity time of crop, better prices in the market, alongside less use of pesticides for his crop.
“Every farmer is looking to make profits. If you are sure that the products are safe, then there is no reason why you should not go for the better option- and I challenge every farmer to jump onto this bandwagon. I have been here- I have seen it all,” he said.
The students were also introduced to bio-entrepreneurship by Godfrey Ngure, a program associate at ISAAA AfriCenter, and Dr. Wilson Kimani, the founder of CornGro Limited.