Agriculture & Microenterprise Development

Kenya Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program

Background
The purposes of the Kenya Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program (KABSP) over the current 5-year strategic period are:  a) to apply biotechnology to develop improved varieties of crops and improved animal production; b) Build capacity in biotechnology in Kenya; c) increase public knowledge and awareness in biotechnology; and d) build a functional National Biosafety Framework. The intended inputs to the program include provision of technical assistance, training, and commodities to support research in biotechnology, development of a biosafety regulatory framework and increased public awareness and outreach.

The planned activities include: a) genetic engineering of sweet potatoes with genes for resistance to the sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius); b) search for genes for resistance to large grain borer (Prostephenus truncatus) and maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais), develop protocols for genetic transformation of local maize varieties, transform the varieties with identified genes for resistance to maize storage pests, train two scientists in genetic transformation of maize c) research in development, evaluation, and commercialization of diagnostics for eight animal disease including Contagious bovine pleuropnuemonia (CBPP), Contagious caprine pleuropnuemonia (CCPP), Newcastle (NC), Nairobi sheep disease (NSD), Rift Valley Fever (RVF), lumpy skin disease (LSD), heartwater (HW) and Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) and vaccines for RVF and CBPP diseases; d) rehabilitation of a biotechnology facility at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI); e) improve public knowledge and awareness in biotechnology: among consumers, private sector, parliamentarians and media personnel in biotechnology related issues;  and g) strengthen  the biotechnology regulatory framework by organizing the national biosafety regulatory system through training, upgrading of current regulatory mandates to cover biotechnology, memorandums of understanding, facilitation of development of national policy and law in biotechnology.

The expected outputs include a) sweet potato varieties resistant to sweet potato feathery mottle viruses developed and commercialized; b)  maize varieties resistant to maize weevil and the large grain borer developed; c) animal disease diagnostics and vaccines developed and commercialized; d) increased public knowledge and awareness in biotechnology increased; e) efficient biosafety regulatory system with offices for receiving notifications, specific uses such as feed, food, release into the environment; administrative system to examine the dossier, a system to audit or perform risk assessment, a system to allow public and stakeholder comments, a system for evaluating the risk assessment and/or audit report; f) local capacity in biotechnology in the above including 6 PhDs and 9 MSc in recombinant DNA technology; and g) Increased science-based knowledge in biotechnology in Kenya at farmer, researcher, consumer, general public and government levels.

Implementing Partners and Progress to date
KARI is collaborating with Donald Danforth Plant Center (USA), Monsanto Co (USA) and Kenyatta University (Kenya) in development of sweet potatoes resistant to SPFMV. KARI is further working in collaboration with CIMMYT and Kenyatta University in development of local maize varieties resistant to two storage pests. KARI is also collaborating with International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in research in the development of animal disease diagnostics and vaccines. The African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF) is collaborating with Tuskegee University USA) in creating public awareness and knowledge in biotechnology and related issues.  Several governments of Kenya Ministries (Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Trade and Industry, Health, Constitution,  and agencies (such as Kenya Plant Inspectorate Service, (KEPHIS) from MoA) are working under the auspices of the National Council of Science and Technology (from the Ministry of Education Science and Technology)  in “Building a functional National Biosafety National Framework. NCST working under the aegis of the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) will liaison with USAID Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) in implementing pertinent activities. 

Development of Transgenic Sweet potato
Experiments to optimize regeneration protocol for seven local cultivars of sweet potatoes were incepted but are yet to be completed. Transformation experiments have been initiated in local popular variety KSP 36 in addition to CPT 560 using four gene constructs (pMON54928, pMON54929, pMON54936 and 10575 GUS) donated by Monsanto Company (Figure 1).  Optimizations of protocols for transformation of KSP 36 with GUS gene are also ongoing). Challenge of four locally developed transgenic lines and four Monsanto transgenic lines with SPFMV strains is ongoing at KARI. A survey has been conducted to collect SPFMV strains from Kakamega, Kisii, Katumani.  The coat protein gene will be sequenced and used to determine variability within the strains.

Figure1. Transgenic sweet potatoes in greenhouse at KARI National Agricultural Research laboratories

Four MSc graduates students are being trained at Kenyatta University to carry of the above experiments

Development of Transgenic Maize resistant to storage pests
The purpose of the activity is to identify genes for resistance to the maize weevil and the larger grain borer and transform local lines of maize. To date pertinent stakeholders have been identified and consulted, the maize hybrid lines for transformation have been obtained including sites for raising maize embryos.

Development of animal disease vaccines and diagnostic protocols
KARI and other partners plan to develop rapid and accurate disease diagnostic procedures CBPP, CCPP, NSD, RVFV, LSD, HW) and FMD and vaccines for RVF and CBPP diseases of livestock. Diagnostic ability of CBPP is being validated, while protocols for CCPP, NC, LSD, HW have been incepted.  Work on evaluation of Recombinant capripoxvirus/RVF vaccine has started. The program plans to train three MSc. graduates with research thesis in disease diagnostics.

Public Awareness in Biotechnology
The overall goal of this activity is to create public awareness in biotechnology among farmers, consumers, private sector, journalists, education institutions and parliamentarians. Two communication conferences have been held for parliamentarians with the aim of goal of creating general understanding of biotechnology, discussing the Biotechnology Policy and Biosafety Bill. The first meeting was attended by 30 Mps, while the second one was attended by 69 MPs. The MPs were very receptive to biotechnology provided it benefited the Society. They suggested that the biosafety bill should be expounded to cover the whole scope of biotechnology from research to commercialization highlighting benefits, potential risks and monitoring and mitigation measures. The last Conference at Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa was attended by 80 participants of whom 69 were parliamentarians (Figure 2). All the parliamentarians felt that Kenya needed biotechnology to spur economic development.  Out of 68 members of parliament representing about 32% of the national constituents 25%, 22.5%, 17.5%, 17.5% and 17.5% felt that biotechnology could benefit their respective constituents by contributing to the development of agriculture, health, industry, enhanced trade and environmental management, respectively.  60% were of the opinion that the policy and bill required extensive amendments to incorporate all the suggestions made during the workshop and should include particularly, aspects on biotechnology development, biotechnology adoption and transfer, biosafety, confidentiality and protection of local germplasm and farmers.  60% of parliamentarians felt that Kenya should endorse and embrace biotechnology by the year 2004. This was very encouraging response as it is a direct indication of their readiness to support the bill with the suggested amendments as soon as it is presented in parliament.

Figure 2. Hon George Munyasa Khaniri Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development giving an Opening Speech during the MPs Biotechnology Conference at Whitesands Hotel Mombasa

Biosafety Regulatory Framework
The workplan for the Biosafety Regulatory Framework is near completion. The lead institution will be The National Council of Science and Technology which will collaborate with the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) to implement several activities that will include training regulatory stakeholder in examination of applications, monitoring and inspection, establishment of a national biosafety secretariat; definition and allocation of regulatory roles to potential stakeholders including the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Education Science and Technology, Environment, Natural Resources and  Wildlife, Industry and Trade

Projected Highlights for 2004
The major outstanding outputs in 2004 will include the enactment of the Kenya Biosafety Bill, The training of staff from the National Biosafety Committee in examination of application.

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