Kenya rejects GM food despite shortages

Kenya has not accepted GM foods, or GMOs, despite a food shortage in the country, Capital FM radio cited Agriculture Minister William Ruto, as saying Wednesday (Oct 7).

Ruto said although GMOs would significantly transform Kenya into a food sufficient country, the technology would only be allowed once the country is able to produce sufficient local varieties, Kenyan radio reported on its Web site.

Ruto said close to 90 percent of the grain in the global market is genetically modified and added that as Kenya cannot import GMOs it cannot ease the food deficiency, the radio said. It noted that the country is experiencing its worst drought in years.

"It's necessary for us as a country, not to get stuck on what happened before. We have to progressively move towards better use of research and scientific knowledge to solve the issue of food shortage," the radio quoted Ruto as saying.