Biotechnology And Food Security In Kenya - An Assessment Of Public Concerns On Biosafety, Public Health And Religious Ethics.
Date
2016Author
Mbugua-Gitonga, Agnes
Mwaura, Francis
Thuita, Thenya
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Aim: To determine the perceived public concerns on the introduction of maize related agrobiotechnology
including genetically modified (GM) maize in Kenya specifically with regard to
biosafety, public health and religious ethics.
Study Design: Household survey.
Place and Duration of Study: A small scale maize growing area in Githunguri Ward (Kiambu
County), a large maize growing area in Moiben Ward (Uasin Gishu County) and a maize consuming
area in Umoja 1 urban residential area in the City of Nairobi, from September to October 2015.
Results: Most of the respondents were concerned about:- a) the likely contamination of
conventional crops through cross pollination b) the likely harmful effects of biotechnology on
valuable insects, c) the fear of unclear health implications including human sickness and death, and
d) the inevitable interference with God’s creation of ordinary crops thus undermining God.
Conclusion: There is significant public fear and concern on the introduction of GM crops in Kenya
hence the need for increased public education and awareness.
Citation
Mbugua-Gitonga, Agnes, Francis Mwaura, and Thuita Thenya. "Biotechnology and Food Security in Kenya-An Assessment of Public Concerns on Biosafety, Public Health and Religious Ethics."Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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