The Alliance for Science has launched a groundbreaking report quantifying the economic damage caused by anti-GMO activism and delays in the approval and commercialization of genetically modified crops in Kenya.
The report illuminates the far-reaching consequences of these delays, particularly their impact on food security, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability, which are key areas of concern for the country.
Launched during the 10th OFAB Media Awards (OMAs) Africa in Malawi, the report reveals that a five-year delay in approving Bt cotton, Bt maize, and late blight disease-resistant potatoes has cost Kenyan farmers and consumers an estimated 157 million dollars. These figures underscore the tangible economic losses incurred due to prolonged regulatory hesitations and widespread misinformation campaigns against GM crops.
Dr Emma Kovak from the Breakthrough Institute, who is the report’s lead author, emphasized the significance of these findings during the launch. She highlighted the urgent need for evidence-based decision-making in biotechnology to address pressing agricultural challenges.
“This report aims to provide a clear understanding of the costs associated with delays in adopting GM crops. These costs are not just monetary but extend to missed opportunities for improving farmers’ livelihoods, enhancing food security, and mitigating environmental degradation,” she said.
Kenya has long grappled with food security challenges, exacerbated by climate change, pests, and diseases. The introduction of GM crops such as Bt cotton, Bt maize, and late blight-resistant potatoes was anticipated to offer sustainable solutions. However, the delayed approval and commercialization of these crops have hindered the country’s progress.
Speaking during the launch, Vitumbiko Chinoko, Project Manager of the Open Forum on Agriculture and Technology (OFAB) said that delay in the commercialization of Bt cotton has resulted in farmers missing out on potential income increases and cost savings on pesticide expenditures because the crop is engineered to resist bollworms —the most destructive pest in cotton farming.
This is the same case with Bt maize because the crop is modified to resist major destructive pests such as fall armyworm and stem borer.
For Late Blight-Resistant Potatoes, Chinoko said that the delay has continued to burden farmers with high production costs and lower yields. If the block is lifted the benefits over 30 years of GM potato would accrue to 247 million dollars, nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in value to the country.
“When we started to work on this report, we understood there was a cost associated with the delays in decision-making on biotechnology. However, we needed concrete data to convince those who rely solely on numbers,” said Chinoko.
“Now that we have this data, the report becomes a crucial tool to support our advocacy, inform our engagements, and potentially guide policymakers toward adopting a different approach.”
According to Dr Sheila Ochugboju, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Science, the initiative to develop the report began last year in partnership with other organizations. The organizations sought to quantify the economic impact of delays in approving GM crops in Kenya to provide concrete evidence for policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public.
“We recognized the need for credible data to back our advocacy efforts and counter the misinformation surrounding biotechnology. This report is a culmination of rigorous research and analysis, aiming to demonstrate the tangible costs of inaction and the missed opportunities for Kenyan farmers and consumers,” Dr Ochugboju stated.
Dr Kovak said that these findings serve as a wake-up call for other countries facing similar struggles in commercializing GM crops, adding that they plan to replicate the study in these nations to demonstrate the economic and social consequences of inaction.
According to her, there is a need for urgent action to overcome regulatory hurdles, counter misinformation, and unlock the transformative potential of biotechnology. By doing so, Kenya can take a significant step toward achieving food security, reducing poverty, and promoting environmental sustainability. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
For the full report, including data sources, methodology, calculations, references, and full tables of figures for all scenarios, see Genetically Modified Crops in Kenya: The Cost of Delay, released in November 2024 by the Breakthrough Institute, Alliance for Science, AATF, OFAB, ISAAA, and CIP. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Milliam Murigi is a Kenyan science journalist who writes for the People Daily newspaper, Sayansi Magazine, and the Bird news agency on health, the environment, agriculture, and technology.