Economy

Bett rules out GMO crop trials

Monday March 20 2017

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett. FILE PHOTO | NMG

It will take longer for Kenya to conduct open field trials on genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Agriculture secretary Willy Bett has said that Kenya is yet to put in place mechanisms that ensure GMO seeds are not cross-pollinated, contaminating local varieties during field tests.

The move is a big blow to researchers who have been arguing that the ban by Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu is illegal, given that scientists wanted to conduct field trials but not commercialise crop production. Mr Bett said further research should be done.