Gov't urges civil societies to support GMO adoption

The government now wants civil society organizations (CSOs) opposing the lifting of the ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to channel their resources towards supporting the adoption of modern biotechnology.

Speaking during the launch of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) Strategic Plan 2023–2027, Agriculture Engineering Secretary Eng. Laban Kiplagat — who represented the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Agriculture, Dr. Paul Ronoh — urged cooperation between the Authority and civil society groups on the matter.

“I have looked at your budget for this Strategic Plan, it needs more money. Some of our friends in CSO have money from another source that they are using to ensure that their work goes on, have a handshake so that the money they have can be used to benefit adoption of modern biotechnology,” said Eng. Kiplagat.

He expressed concern over the spread of misinformation about GMOs but assured that the National Biosafety Authority is well-equipped to ensure all GMO products released to the market are safe.

The call for collaboration comes as a case filed by CSOs challenging the government’s 2022 decision to lift the ban on GMOs is still pending before the Court of Appeal.

Eng. Kipagat also noted that, so far, the Authority has made several strides including acquiring land for its future headquarters — which will also house a Regional Reference Molecular Laboratory — establishing a GMO Testing Laboratory, and approving the commercialization of Bt cotton.