The Kenyan government’s move to import Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for human consumption has faced a setback as the appellate court ruled the move is contrary to the public interest. The appellate court declined the government’s appeal until the interests of the public are heard.
In a stark contrast to Kenya, the Ethiopian government is currently testing the adoption of consumable GMOs without opposition. The government is testing GMO maize, wheat, potato, and enset in confined areas within different agricultural research centers, according to an official at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR).
The official, who leads teams of researchers working on GMO adoption, spoke about the progress at an agricultural expo held for weeks at the science museum. However, the official requested not to be quoted as he is not authorized to speak publicly.
“The adoption of these GMOs is necessary to fight diseases and increase productivity in these crops. Once proven in confined testing areas, they will be released to farmers. However, authorization from the biosafety regulators at the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission is required,” said the official.
