Delegates from 30 countries from around the world, attending an international Agri-biotech and Biosafety Communication conference in Nairobi have called on the Kenya Government to lift a 2-year ban on GMO imports. Addressing the delegates comprising of farmers, scientists, policy makers, private sector, the media and science communicators, the Principal Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development, Dr, Wilson Songa emphasized the role of agricultural biotechnology in propelling the country towards prosperity.
“To harness this potential the GMO import ban must be lifted,” he said. In addition, he said that Kenya has adequate capacity to develop and ensure safety of GMO products. Members of Parliament present, called upon the government to release a report by a taskforce constituted after the ban by the ministry of health to look into the safety of GM foods.
The ABBC conference brought together organizations and networks involved in agri-biotech and biosafety communication across the world to take stock of the progress and dynamics of biotech communication over the past two decades. It was organized by ISAAA, African Agricultural Technology Foundation, National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation and partners.
One of the key lessons was that agri-biotech and biosafety communications must be simplified and messages delivered in appropriate languages for different stakeholders to make impact.