Biotechnology
Kenyan Biosafety Bill Allows Commercialization of Biotech Crops
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The new Kenya Biosafety Bill will facilitate the commercialization of bioengineered crops, like the new virus-resistant cassava variety pictured here, which fights against the constraining Cassava mosaic disease.
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On December 9, 2008 the Kenyan Parliament passed the 2008 Biosafety Bill, comprehensive legislation that will govern research, field testing, commercialization and imports of bioengineered crops. USAID supported a coalition of stakeholders led by the USAID-funded Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) that worked to advance the bill through Parliament. PBS and local partners reviewed the bill, conducted a series of outreach activities to members of parliament and other key policy makers, including study tours and policy briefings, and helped launch a National Biotechnology Awareness Strategy. PBS also helped develop biosafety regulations and guidelines that will be implemented under the bill and provided training to Kenyan regulators.
The Bill provides a path to commercialization for several bioengineered crops currently under development for Kenya by a range of African and international partners, including USAID. Such crops include virus-resistant cassava, insect-resistant cotton, drought tolerant maize and biofortified sorghum. A clear enabling regulatory environment for bioengineered crops will encourage private investment in agriculture and seed systems. Kenya’s leadership in biotechnology and biosafety, together with important milestones in 2008 in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Egypt, Uganda and Malawi, is paving the way for countries in Africa to adopt improved crop varieties developed through biotechnology.
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