Mr. Frank L. Kiriswa

Frank Kiriswa - First Secretary - Economics(202) 387-6101 X44frank.kiriswa@kenyaembassy.com
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Mr. Frank KiriswaMr. Frank Kiriswa First Secretary - Economics
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Send an email to Mr. Frank Kiriswafrank.kiriswa@kenyaembassy.com(202) 387-6101 X44
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The colourful ceremony witnessed by Frank Kiriswa, the First Secretary of Political and Economic Affairs from the Kenyan Embassy in Washington.

By Frank Kiriswa, Peter Rosset
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"When you look at it from the hungry person's point of view, from somebody who comes from the Third World and you have a technology that can increase yield, the choice is clear, you want that technology," Frank Kiriswa, a Kenyan diplomat says.

Biotechnology certainly isn't going to single-handedly solve the hunger problems of the developing world.Of that much, Kiriswa can be certain.But, he is equally certain that it would be foolish to dismiss the technology out of hand.

In Kiriswa's country, hunger is real and visible and the land and climate can be harsh.Over the past decade, rainy seasons in Africa have become unpredictable and less abundant, which is devastating when one considers that 98 percent of African agricultural land is rain fed.In addition, Kenya's natural abundance of metals such as aluminum, copper and iron in the soil proves toxic to many plants.

"Even if we wanted to use conventional breeding to create a maize variety that could stand up to soil toxicities, we couldn't do it," Kiriswa says."We need to go to native Kenyan plants that won't cross with maize to find such tolerances.We need biotechnology to do it."

Kiriswa says in order for biotechnology to play a useful role in Africa and other developing countries, all parties - private companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, scientists and farmers - are going to have to come together and develop an appropriate program with biosafety and regulatory structures.In Kenya, such a program has resulted in the production of a biotech sweet potato resistant to a viral plague-a scourge that otherwise can decimate up to 80 percent of a farmer's crop.

Still, Kiriswa acknowledges there are challenges to widespread use of biotechnology in the developing world.These countries typically lack a regulatory structure to ensure the technology employed is safe for humans and the environment.And, there is the basic issue of seed and getting seed companies to do the research on the necessary crops.

"The companies will have to recoup their investment in the development of biotech crops," he says."Otherwise, there will be no research.But, we need to find a way for farmers to afford the seeds."
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The economic, scientific and regulatory challenges of developing agricultural biotechnology for subsistence farming is great; but the potential to improve the germplasm to deal with draught and soil toxicity as well as perhaps increase yield and pest resistance is compelling enough for Kiriswa to want to try.

"It is unwise to deny the developing world the opportunity to use biotechnology," Kiriswa says."The opportunity for us to try this technology should be available."

Frank Kiriswa is a former agricultural scientist and the First Secretary Economic/Political Section at the U.S. Embassy of the Republic of Kenya.

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Monsanto in Africa | Biotech Basics | Knowledge Centre

By Frank Kiriswa, Peter Rosset
...
"When you look at it from the hungry person's point of view, from somebody who comes from the Third World and you have a technology that can increase yield, the choice is clear, you want that technology," Frank Kiriswa, a Kenyan diplomat says.

Biotechnology certainly isn't going to single-handedly solve the hunger problems of the developing world.Of that much, Kiriswa can be certain.But, he is equally certain that it would be foolish to dismiss the technology out of hand.

In Kiriswa's country, hunger is real and visible and the land and climate can be harsh.Over the past decade, rainy seasons in Africa have become unpredictable and less abundant, which is devastating when one considers that 98 percent of African agricultural land is rain fed.In addition, Kenya's natural abundance of metals such as aluminum, copper and iron in the soil proves toxic to many plants.

"Even if we wanted to use conventional breeding to create a maize variety that could stand up to soil toxicities, we couldn't do it," Kiriswa says."We need to go to native Kenyan plants that won't cross with maize to find such tolerances.We need biotechnology to do it."

Kiriswa says in order for biotechnology to play a useful role in Africa and other developing countries, all parties - private companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, scientists and farmers - are going to have to come together and develop an appropriate program with biosafety and regulatory structures.In Kenya, such a program has resulted in the production of a biotech sweet potato resistant to a viral plague-a scourge that otherwise can decimate up to 80 percent of a farmer's crop.

Still, Kiriswa acknowledges there are challenges to widespread use of biotechnology in the developing world.
...
The economic, scientific and regulatory challenges of developing agricultural biotechnology for subsistence farming is great; but the potential to improve the germplasm to deal with draught and soil toxicity as well as perhaps increase yield and pest resistance is compelling enough for Kiriswa to want to try.

"It is unwise to deny the developing world the opportunity to use biotechnology," Kiriswa says."The opportunity for us to try this technology should be available."

Frank Kiriswa is a former agricultural scientist and the First Secretary Economic/Political Section at the U.S. Embassy of the Republic of Kenya.

Mr. Frank L. Kiriswa, First secretary, Political/Economic Affairs

Commercial/Trade Head/Representative

yield, the choice is clear, you want that technology," Frank Kiriswa, aKenyan diplomat says.Biotechnology certainly isn't going to single-handedly solve the hungerproblems of the developing world.Of that much, Kiriswa can be certain.But,he is equally certain that it would be foolish to dismiss the technology outof hand.In Kiriswa's country, hunger is real and visible and the land and climatecan be harsh.Over the past decade, rainy seasons in Africa have becomeunpredictable and less abundant, which is devastating when one considersthat 98 percent of African agricultural land is rain fed.
...
that could stand up to soil toxicities, we couldn't do it," Kiriswa says."We need to go to native Kenyan plants that won't cross with maize to findsuch tolerances.We need biotechnology to do it."Kiriswa says in order for biotechnology to play a useful role in Africa andother developing countries, all parties - private companies, governments,non-governmental organizations, scientists and farmers - are going to haveto come together and develop an appropriate program with biosafety andregulatory structures.In Kenya, such a program has resulted in theproduction of a biotech sweet potato resistant to a viral plague-a scourge
...
Still, Kiriswa acknowledges there are challenges to widespread use ofbiotechnology in the developing world.These countries typically lack aregulatory structure to ensure the technology employed is safe for humansand the environment.And, there is the basic issue of seed and getting seedcompanies to do the research on the necessary crops."The companies will have to recoup their investment in the development of
...
Kiriswa to want to try."It is unwise to deny the developing world the opportunity to usebiotechnology," Kiriswa says."The opportunity for us to try this technologyshould be available."Frank Kiriswa is a former agricultural scientist and the First SecretaryEconomic/Political Section at the U.S. Embassy of the Republic of Kenya.

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