Lack of regulations is hindering the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) from carrying out cotton and maize field trials in biotechnology.According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), rules to guide carrying out of performance field tests have not beenreleased by National Biosafety Authority (NBA).Director Margaret Karembu said the authority was expected to gazette the rules last month to allow Kari with other stakeholders to undertake trials of Baccellusthurengiensis (Bt) cotton and maize before seeds are released to farmers in future."Kenya is facing the challenge of declining farm sizes, low soil fertility, weeds, pests and expensive agricultural inputs. Biotechnology, if well harnessed, willdevelop high yield crop varieties," she said.Genetically modified cotton and maize are said to be safe but cannot be released to the public until tests are carried out and certification done by the government.Biotechnology complements traditional breeding systems by addressing agricultural challenges including climate through providing fast-maturing disease-resistantcrops.Local farmers have already benefited from use of tissue culture technology in commercial production of clean planting materials with reduced maturity period forbananas, sweet potatoes, cassava and Irish potato.President Kibaki on February 12 last year signed the Biosafety Act of 2009. Kenya's national biotechnology policy of 2006 outlaws controversial aspects ofbiotechnology like cloning and unethical practices.Dr Karembu said the potential of biotechnology to increase production can be applied to a wide range of food and non-food commodities which is vital toincreasing incomes, job opportunities and living standards."Rules to guide field trials need to be gazetted. Studies in India and South Africa show cotton and maize farmers have benefited greatly after their governmentsadopted biotechnology," she said.

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