Abstract
Kenya has a biosafety law and has tested genetically modified (GM) maize under confinement and containment, but has neither released nor commercialized any GM crop. This study assessed various maize food products from the Kenyan farms and markets for the inadvertent presence of GMOs. It assessed the possibility of ‘gene-flow’ to the maize farms near the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kiboko where Bt maize was grown in confined field trials (CFT) during 2005 to 2006. The multistage sampling technique was used, while the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and lateral-strip methods were used to analyze 120 food samples. Of these, 6.7% tested positive for cry1Ab, a globally commercialized gene, but were negative forcry1Ba, a non-commercialized gene. Neither cry1Ab nor cry1Ba genes were found in any of the maize certified seed samples. No ‘gene-flow’ was detected within the vicinity of the Kiboko CFT site. The maize imported into Kenya contained Bt genetic elements. Nevertheless, the confinement regulatory measures employed during the CFTs at Kiboko were effective. There is a need to enforce declaration of GM or non-GM and conduction of regulatory detection of food imports and for labelling of food products to enable consumers to make informed choices on what they buy and consume. Key words: cry1Ab, cry1Ba, biosafety, GMOs, Bt maize.
Highlights
The debate on the merits and demerits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) signals for a system that enables consumers to make informed choices about what to consume
This study assessed various maize food products from the Kenyan farms and markets for the inadvertent presence of GMOs. It assessed the possibility of ‘gene-flow’ to the maize farms near the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kiboko where Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize was grown in confined field trials (CFT) during 2005 to 2006
GMOs were introduced to the world market in 1996 (James, 2004), when the USA Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved cry1Ab GM maize seeds and CP4EPSPS GM soybean seeds for use as food and animal feed
Summary
The debate on the merits and demerits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) signals for a system that enables consumers to make informed choices about what to consume. Crop biotechnology can potentially increase agricultural yields levels by reducing yield losses from insects, diseases and drought, and enhance the nutritive value of crops. GMOs were introduced to the world market in 1996. (James, 2004), when the USA Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved cry1Ab GM maize seeds and CP4EPSPS GM soybean seeds for use as food and animal feed. GM crops, commonly referred to as biotech or transgenic crops (Olembo et al, 2010; James, 2011), are extensively cultivated and their adoption and area under cultivation is increasing rapidly. In 2010, 148 million hectares (Mha) were planted with GMOs in 29 countries (19 developing and 10 industrial countries), by 15.4 million farmers and valued at US$11.2 billion
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