Critical Evaluation of Genetically Modified Organisms as an Intervention Strategy in Agribusiness Sector in Kenya within the Context of Climate Change
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Date
2022
Authors
Mwasiaji, Evans
Alaro, Lawrence
Muthinja, Moses
Njuguna, Christopher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Full Length Research
Abstract
Climate change has negative effects on crop
yields, nutritional quality, livestock
productivity, human health and the rate of
economic growth. This has exacerbated food
and nutrition insecurity in Kenya, hence the
cabinet approval of genetically modified
crops that attracted praise and protestations
in equal measure. This study using a metaanalysis approach therefore sought to detect
gaps in the phenomenon of genetically
modified organisms as an intervention
strategy in agribusiness sector,
governmental regulatory framework,
agripreneurship competencies and their
impact on food security in Kenya. The study
revealed that Agriculture remains a pillar to
Kenya’s economy. The study also
established that climate change complicates
Kenya’s long-term aspiration of attaining
nutrition and food security, with 4.2 million
people facing acute hunger in year 2022,
while simultaneously wasting about 5.2
tonnes of food every year. Further, studies
on genetically modified organisms have
reported conflicting results on effect on
human health, ethical consideration,
ownership of technology, seed sovereignty
and adequacy of capacity to test for quality
standards. This study argues that there is
inadequate data to support cultivation and
importation of genetically modified food
crops as a hunger intervention measure in
Kenya. Seedlings generated through
biotechnology innovations not only negate
the need to produce in harmony with nature,
but are also a threat to food security through
patents ownership by multinationals. This
implies that the premise upon which
genetically modified organisms were
approved in Kenya is faulty. The study
concludes that vulnerable people
experiencing hunger in Kenya is due to
supply chain failure in agribusiness sector,
rather than lack of food in the country. The
study therefore recommends that discussions
about food insecurity in Kenya should focus
on how to improve infrastructure,
enhancement of agripreneurship
competencies along the whole food value
chain including seed, agricultural production
and distribution factors. There is also need
to shift towards irrigation as opposed to over
reliance on rain fed agriculture. The study
has also suggested the need to use an
integrated model and some propositions to
be tested as hypotheses to generate data to
facilitate evidence based solutions to
enhance agribusiness sector productivity,
food and nutrition security in Kenya.
Description
Article
Keywords
Climate Change, Agripreneurship, Agribusines, Genetically Modified Organisms
Citation
Mwasiaji, E., Alaro, L., Muthinja, M., & Njuguna, C. (2022). Critical evaluation of genetically modified organisms as an intervention strategy in agribusiness sector in Kenya within the context of climate change. International Academic Journal of Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, 2(3), 391-410.