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Kenya to start testing GM maize in October

Kenyans will know whether genetically modified maize will be grown in the country at the end of this month.

This follows an application by a group of scientists at the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation who are pushing for GM maize seeds to be released to farmers ahead of the March planting season.

The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) board failed to reach an agreement on the issue on December 22.

Kenya banned the planting and importation of GMO maize, locking out major exporters including South Africa from the local market which faces frequent grain deficits.

"We are going to make a decision on whether to grant the scientists permission to release the GMO seeds for field trials by the end of January next year," NBA chief executive Willy Tonui said last week.

Dr Tonui said the decision to be made this month will touch on biotechnology maize while the second ruling in February will be on cotton.

The application follows several years of laboratory trials by state-owned Kalro and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation.