There is a need for biotech projects to synergize their communication efforts.This is because they deal with copmmon challenges and face shared threats to adoption and use of the products.Dr. Faith Nguthi makes a case in this presentation for the need for ongoing biotech projects in Kenya to seek common strategies of communicating biotechnology.

1. The need for common strategies and
approaches to biotech
communication in Kenya
Experience sharing workshop, 14th
Sept, 2012
Faith Nguthi, Senior Program Officer,
ISAAA, AfriCenter
f.nguthi@isaaa.org

2. Crop biotechnology
• One of the many possible scientific options to
improve agricultural productivity,
• Has triggered increased interest due to
consistent and substantial benefits.
• About 16.7 million farmers in 29 countries
have planted biotech crops spread across 160
million hectares (James, 2011).
• Has sparked debate on perceived risks and
safety and often caught in a maelstrom of
controversy.

3. Biotech controversy
• Widespread misunderstanding and conflicting
opinions
• Lack of distinction between established fact,
myths and misinformation.
• These conflicting messages reach across all
aspects of the technology:
– technology development and use, enabling policies,
safety and regulation and socio-economic impacts.
• Results to fear, confusion and indecision

4. Acceptance Issues related to
Biotech Crops ISAAA
• Food safety – food as safe, or safer, than conventional
• Environmental Impact
•Gene Flow – conservation of biodiversity – coexistence
•Effect on non-target organisms – Target specific tech
•Management of Bt resistance – durability, a challenge
• Ownership of the technology
•Role of the Private sector, IPR – public/private balance
• Ethical considerations – the right to food
Source: Clive James, 2012

5. Public acceptance
• Public will accept biotechnology only when
individuals decide for themselves that GM crops
and food products will contribute to their
personal well-being
• To make such a decision, ordinary people will
need greater awareness and understanding of
how GM food is safe, will affect the environment,
human health, local and national economies, and
the well-being of society.

6. Public acceptance
• Key to public acceptance is the establishment
of a functional regulatory system having
legitimate authority to control use of the
technology
• Public awareness that such a system operates
to protect the environment, human and
animal health

7. Communicating along biotech Product
development and Utilisation pathways-
Stakeholder identification
and
Farmer
Messaging release, post
market
surveillance
Extensive risk
assessment
Field testing
For each phase:
Different
Greenhouse stakeholders;
different
messages,
Laboratory
Source: PBS Docs, ISAAA collections.

8. Objective
The goal of the workshop is to share experience in
communicating about various biotech projects
• To identify areas of possible communication
convergence and promote partnerships.
• To identify opportunities that the projects can jointly
engage to create the conducive social, political,
economic environment necessary for the adoption of
biotech products currently being developed in the
country.
• To establish a set of consistent, integrated and timely
messages along the product development continuum,
for various stakeholder groups

9. Experience sharing
Project What How Challenges Remarks
WEMA
SASHA, Sweet
Potato
Bt Maize –
CIMMYT,
Sorghum
project
Bt cotton,
Drought
tolerance
maize
VIRCA

10. Expected outputs
• Common messages developed along
biotech crops development and
utilization pathway.
• Possible areas of partnerships and
platforms for communication
identified
• A coordination committee
established