The Global Biotechnology Market Size stands at more than USD 1.75 trillion in 2025, with a projected growth rate of 12.5 percent which is expected to hit the USD 5.04 trillion mark by the year 2034.
The Biotech Market Share by Region in 2023 saw Middle East and Africa Region having the least at 4 percent against N. America (37.79%), Europe ( 28.81%), Asia Pacific (23.9%), and Latin America (9.4%).
Prof. Douglas Miano from the University of Nairobi’s department of Plant Science and Crop Protection says this puts Africa at the bottom line when it comes to benefiting from the biotechnology resources.
He, however, was optimistic that Africa is increasingly adopting agricultural biotechnology, with the number of countries with functional Bio-safety frameworks (NBFs) increasing from 6 to 11 between 2011 and 2022.
Speaking during the 13th Annual Bio safety Conference in Naivasha, where he was the keynote speaker, Prof. Miano noted that 13 years later, the Kenya National Bio-safety Authority (NBA) came into play, there is a need for more awareness creation.
“It is unfortunate that other countries are coming to Kenya to get our products and go and commercialize them using biotechnology. It is time for us to wake up and realize that this is big business, and if we are not moving together with them, we shall end up actually utilizing the products that have been made from our resources”, he said.
Prof Miano noted that one of the reasons that we are behind in terms of biotechnology is the notion all have bought on the story that it is not safe.
“Differing opinions has brought about uncertainties, fear and doubt on the safety of Biotech and yet it should not be a battle of who wins but rather be a discussion on value of the crops”,, he said.
Awareness creation , he added builds assurance and confidences and reduces costs and time especially if one considers that the scientists have gone through a whole process of product development from discovery to commercialization.
“We also have policy and regulatory in place and working, though challenges in the regulatory process still remains”, he noted adding that the value of biotechnology in solving most of the challenges including food security has also been demonstrated.
Prof Miano further said that more products are needed in the market for the end users to benefit from biotechnology in the country and in Africa.
NBA Ag Chief Executive Officer Nehemiah Ngetich said that even as the biotechnology sphere continues to make huge strides globally, Kenya has not been left behind.
“We have made several milestones over the years, among them establishment of a GMO Testing laboratory in June 2022 and the automation of all customer-facing services on GMO applications and related services on the E-Citizen and KENTRADE platforms, among others”, he added.
Ngetich acknowledged that the public continues to be skeptical about GMOs due to widespread misinformation and fear but noted that to address this, NBA has embarked on public awareness campaigns across the country in various counties to sensitize Kenyans on their role as a regulator of GMOs.
“As our country continues to make strides in biotechnology, the Authority is here to ensure the fast tracking and adaptation of all the biotechnological advancements. I encourage us all to engage in dialogue, participate and share ideas so that we can move forward together as a nation in the adoption of modern biotechnology”, the CEO said.
This year’s theme of the 3-day conference is “13 years later: Building trust and ensuring safety of Genetically Modified Organisms”.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe in his statement said the theme resonates well with the government’s commitment to facilitate adoption of new technologies and innovations to transform low agricultural productivity in the country.
In a speech read on his behalf by Secretary of Administration at the State Department of Agriculture Rashid Khator,the CS added that efforts towards embracing biotech are being derailed by unending litigations.
“It is important to note that the government appreciates the use of modern biotechnology as a powerful tool that can support its agenda of improving productivity across value chains and at the same time building resilience to the effects of climate change”, Kagwe said..
The NBA has so far approved 58 GMO projects. These include 40 for contained use (laboratory or greenhouse), 15 for confined field trials, and 3 for environmental release or commercial cultivation.
The 3 approved for commercial cultivation are Bt cotton (commercialised in 2020), Bt corn (approved in 2022, pending NVRC submission), and virus-resistant cassava (undergoing KEPHIS National Performance Trials).
The agriculture sector continues to be integral in achieving Kenya Vision 2030 goals and advancing the government’s bottom-up economic transformational agenda (BETA) plan on food security.
By Wangari Ndirangu
