Crop biotechnology is a vital tool in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing hunger and poverty by half and ensuring sustainable agriculture by the year 2015 and beyond.

To ensure that theses goals are achieved, a continued broadening and deepening of biotech crop use is crucial to meeting food, fuel and feed needs in the future. 

“If we are to achieve the MDGs of reducing hunger and poverty by half by 2015, biotech crops must play an even bigger role in the next decade,” the Executive Chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agro-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) Dr. Clive James observes in Nairobi. 

Releasing a report on Global adoption, impact and future prospects of biotechnology and genetically modified foods Dr. James says that farmers who began adopting biotech crops a few years ago are beginning to see socio-economic advantages compared to their peers who haven’t adopted the crops. 

He notes that biotech crops have delivered unprecedented benefits that contribute towards the MDGs, more so in china, India and South Africa.

According to the report, studies in India and china shows that Bt cotton has increased yield by up to 50m percent and 10 percent respectively since it helps in reducing insecticide use in both countries by up to 50 percent or more.

A study of 9,300 Bt cotton and non Bt cotton growing households in India indicated that women and children in Bt cotton households have slightly more access to social benefits than non Bt cotton growers.

Dr. James expressed dismay at the rate of biotech crops in Africa saying that besides south Africa that commercialized the crops several years ago, only Burkina Faso and Egypt have recently approved trade in the crops.

“Whereas developing countries like India, Philippines and Brazil have recognized the importance of using biotechnology to make them self sufficient in food grains, most African countries are still dragging their feet on basics like enacting facilitative biosafety laws to govern research, development and trade in biotech crops,” he asserts.

Dr. James says that despite critic’s prediction that the technology will not be developed in developing countries, it is amazing that today genetically modified crops are the fastest adopted crops in the history of agriculture with over 90 percent of poor farmers in developing countries growing them.

Dr. James calls for a successful strategy that must have a multiple approaches to address population stabilization, improved food distribution and a technology component that contributes to food security.

While allaying fears over the consumption of the biotech foods, Dr. James assures that the foods are as safer as conventional foods adding that they are also environmentally friendly as they help conserve the biodiversity.

He however says that ISAAA is a pro-choice organization and recommends that farmers who intend to grow organic crops should be allowed to do so without a hindrance and the vice versa.

“The biotech foods increases food production, contributes to the alleviation of poverty and hunger, reduces the environmental footprint of agriculture and also mitigates climate change by speeding the breeding,” he adds.

Dr. James reveals that ISAAA is launching a collaborative communication programme in Kenya with the African Agricultural Trust Foundation (AATF) and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) to enable the two organizations reach out to the farmers on the benefits of the Water Efficient Maize for Africa and Bt cotton development.

“Collaboration is the key factor for the success in any given technology. The more you do it the easier it is understood by the society,” he says.

Dr. James observes that during the second decade of growing Biotech crops (2006 – 20015) with the existence of more agronomic and quality traits that includes the drought tolerant trait that is due for introduction in the next 3 years; more developing countries are likely to approve the technology.

Dr. James predicts that Kenya will be the leader in the east African region despite the delay in passing the biosafety laws.

The Managing Director of Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Dr. Chagema Kedera dismissed an article that recently appeared in one of the daily newspapers with claims that Pioneer maize seeds are Genetically modified saying that his organization has the capacity of testing all kinds of seeds entering the country.

“We have a staff that is properly trained on risk assessment and risk management and there is no way that some untested seeds will enter the country without their knowledge,” he adds.

Three legislators Prof. Ayiecho Olweny, Isaac Ruto and Magarer Langat ask scientists to address fears expressed by a section of farmers to help speed up the adoption of the technology in the country.

“We are witnessing a situation where by some people opposed the introduction of computers in the last century but are now benefiting from the technology that they rubbished,” Says Ruto.

The legislators regretted failure by not passing the biosafety bill adding that people are at risk now than when the law exists.

With a dozen years of accumulated knowledge and significant economic, environmental and socio-economic benefits, biotech crops are poised for even greater growth in the coming years, particularly in developing countries that have the greatest need for this technology.

 An AWC Feature. This article was also published in the Sunday Standard , 8th June 2008 .