Civil society organisations have called for alternative farming methods that will replace genetically modified (GM) crops, praising the Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the introduction of GM foods into Kenya.
This follows the government’s earlier decision to lift a decade-long ban on GM foods in the country from October last year.
In a joint press briefing held in Nairobi, Greenpeace Africa, Kenya Peasants League Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya said that agroecology –farming that works in harmony with nature – is more practical and farmer-centred compared to genetically modified crops.
They said that agroecology promotes biodiversity, soil health restoration, and enhances climate resilience while upholding farmers’ rights to seed sovereignty.
Lawyer Paul Mwangi, who represented some civil society organisations, said the ban that was imposed by then President Mwai Kibaki in 2012 will remain in force until Kenya gets enough information, data and knowledge demonstrating that GM foods are not a danger to public health.
“This court ruling is a triumph for Kenyan farmers and consumers alike. The temporary halt on GMO imports provides us with a critical opportunity to reassess our agricultural policies and promote solutions that truly serve our farmers and protect our biodiversity,” said Elizabeth Atieno, Greenpeace Africa’s Food Sovereignty Campaign Lead.
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“Agroecological practices have proven their effectiveness in ensuring food security while preserving our environmental heritage. We must now focus our collective efforts to ensure the upcoming seed litigation in May cements strong legal protections for farmer-managed seed systems,” she said.
The organisations said the ruling sets an important precedence for an upcoming seed litigation case that bars farmers from sharing indigenous seeds.
They called for unified action from farmers, civil society, and policymakers through active engagement ahead of the litigation on seed sovereignty.
“The struggle for seed sovereignty is a battle against corporate control over our livelihoods and food systems. We celebrate the decision not only as a victory for farmers but also as a reaffirmation of our rights to save and exchange seeds without interference,” said Ann Maina of the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association, emphasising the risk corporate seed monopolies pose.
“Farmers must control their seeds – the essential foundation of our food supply. Our farmer-managed seed systems have sustained communities for generations. We cannot allow corporate interests to monopolise our seed heritage and compromise our food sovereignty,” she added.
Reported by Nation.Africa
