By Ken Ramani , The East African Standard via Checkbiotech

Kenyatta University (KU) has embarked on research aimed at developing maize varieties tolerant to witch-weed.

The dreaded weed is seen as a serious constraint to maize production in the country and sub-Saharan Africa.

This was disclosed yesterday during the launch of Level two Biosafety Plant Genetic Transformation facility at the university.

Kenyatta University has become the second institution after the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) to have a facility to research genetically modified foods.

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate has already certified the laboratory to undertake this home-grown biotechnology research.

Education minister, Prof George Saitoti, said Kari and national universities have started using molecular markers to speed up animal breeding efforts through conventional approaches.

"We cannot afford to ignore the use of this and other emerging technologies if we intend to be globally competitive.

"Africa had failed to benefit from the green revolution, let us make sure that we reap the gains of biotechnology," said Saitoti.

President Kibaki last year opened the first bio-safety glasshouse in Kenya at KARI.

The local university and the University of California are collaborating in the biosafety project funded by the Rockfeller Foundation.

Saitoti said the facility would make a contribution in empowering African scientists to embrace biotechnology to do research that addresses the problems of the continent.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Everret Standa, said KU researchers had entered into a working relation with other institutions such as Kari and Kemri.

He said donors, notably RF, AATF, USAid, USDA and the private sector, are among those that KU researchers are closely working with in the field of genetically modified foods.

Standa said KU welcomes the collaborative efforts and financial support aimed at benefiting farmers and consumers of their produce.

It was further disclosed that during the 2005/6 academic year, KU would admit students from Sudan, Ethiopia and Tanzania to be trained in agricultural biotechnology with the aim of developing drought-resistant maize varieties.

Education Permanent Secretary, Prof Karega Mutahi, who read Saitoti's speech, said the Attorney General's office had approved a Draft Bill on GMO foods.

"Anytime from now the Bill will be presented to the Cabinet for approval before being taken to Parliament for debate and approval," Mutahi told The Standard.

Copyright © 2005 The East African Standard