By Milliam Murigi
Kenya’s animal feed manufacturers are urging the government to allow access to genetically modified (GM) feed ingredients, saying this would lower feed costs and reduce the prices of meat, milk and eggs.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) in partnership with the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKFEMA), which brought together government officials, regulators, feed manufacturers, farmers, scientists, media and development partners.
Opening the forum, Dr. Margaret Karembu, ISAAA AfriCenter Director, said the meeting aimed to demonstrate the business opportunities in the global GM feed trade, update stakeholders on the regulatory environment governing biotechnology products and improve understanding of the safety and nutritional benefits of GM feed ingredients.
“We are gathered here to discuss and reflect on our shared commitment to finding sustainable solutions that will strengthen the animal feed industry, foster livestock production and competitiveness, while improving livelihoods,” she said.
Livestock remains one of the most important pillars of Africa’s economy, supporting millions of livelihoods, contributing to household incomes, improving nutrition through animal-source foods and driving economic growth.
According to Dr. Karembu, animal feed industry sits at the heart of the livestock value chain, sustaining livestock production, creating jobs and supporting food security across the continent. Ensuring livestock producers have access to affordable, high-quality feed ingredients is critical to building a competitive and resilient livestock sector.
“As an organization committed to advancing agricultural innovations, ISAAA believes that expanding access to affordable, high-quality feed ingredients through science-based technologies is part of the solution. It is not the only solution, but it is part of that solution,” she said.
Speaking during the same event, Joseph Karuri, Chair the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA), said that allowing access to globally traded biotech feed ingredients could lower livestock production costs by as much as 30 percent while improving the country’s food security.
According to him, commercial feed prices have risen by approximately 30 percent due to rising raw material prices, climate-induced crop failures and persistent shortages of feed ingredients. Feeds now accounts for more than 70 percent of egg production costs for small-scale poultry farmers and between 36 and 50 percent of milk production costs, depending on the production system.
“Because of the high cost of the raw materials which are not readily available, many feed manufacturers have been forced to scale down operations, while others have closed altogether. Several are currently operating at only 50 to 60 percent of installed capacity,” Karuri said.
Competition between human food consumption and livestock feed has further tightened the supply of key feed ingredients. About 80 per cent of the world’s soybean production is genetically modified, leaving Kenya to rely on the remaining 20 per cent of non-GM soybean, which is mainly sourced from neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi, he added.
Unfortunately, these neighbouring countries have started to retain a larger share of their own grain and soybean production to support their rapidly expanding livestock industries and growing domestic demand for animal feed. This has further constrained the availability of non-GM feed ingredients for export, making it even more difficult for Kenyan manufacturers to secure adequate supplies.
“As global supplies continue shifting towards biotech crops, accessing sufficient quantities of conventional feed ingredients has become increasingly difficult and costly,” Karuri said.
The industry’s push also highlights what it considers an inconsistency in Kenya’s biotechnology policy. Manufacturers noted that they are already permitted to use Bt cottonseed cake, a by-product of genetically modified cotton as one of the protein ingredients in livestock feed.
However, they remain unable to access other biotech feed ingredients such as soybean meal and yellow maize despite both being intended for animal feed. This distinction has made feed formulation more expensive while limiting the range of raw materials available to local manufacturers.
“We are now calling for the science-based implementation of existing biotechnology policies to allow access to approved biotech feed ingredients under Kenya’s biosafety regulatory framework,” he added.
According to Dr. Karembu, Kenya already has a well-established biosafety regulatory framework, with the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) mandated to assess, approve and oversee the importation, handling and use of approved biotechnology products. The existing regulatory system provides the necessary oversight to ensure that any approved biotech feed ingredients entering the country meet the required safety standards for animal, human and environmental health.
Although the Kenyan government lifted restrictions on the importation of genetically modified food and feed products in 2022, implementation was later suspended following court petitions challenging the decision. As a result, manufacturers say they have remained unable to import biotech feed ingredients despite continued shortages and rising costs.
“Our objective is simple: affordable feed, competitive livestock farming and secure food systems. Science, innovation and sound policy must work together to achieve that goal,” Karuri said.
