How biotech is transforming farming

Esther Gitau, a farmer in Naromoru, longed to eat beans but had given them up due to digestive discomfort.

“I had completely stopped eating beans because they caused stomach upsets and excessive gas. But ever since I started using biofortified beans, I haven’t had any problems,” she says.

The variety she now grows, known as Nyota beans, is rich in zinc and iron—earning them the nickname ZIron beans.

“These beans are very nutritious, especially high in zinc and iron. They perform well, especially when you use certified seeds—not second-generation ones. Just one kilogram of seed can yield over 40 kilograms at harvest. Even in the market, they sell well,” Gitau adds.

What Is Biofortification?

Biofortification is the process of enhancing the nutritional content of food crops by increasing their vitamin and mineral levels during plant growth. Unlike fortification, which adds nutrients after harvest (such as adding vitamin D to milk), biofortification builds nutrition directly into the plant as it grows.

It’s like upgrading your food while it’s still in the ground, so that by the time it’s harvested and eaten, it already contains essential nutrients.

Gitau says awareness campaigns have helped local communities embrace the new varieties.

“People in my area know these beans are good, and they’re enjoying them,” she says.

Today, Gitau supplies her beans to manufacturers and distributors of nutrient-dense food products. One of these is Delish N Nutri, founded by James Muturi, who notes that one of their flagship products is High Iron Beans (HIB).

“They’re high in iron and also in zinc—though zinc isn’t highlighted in the name. The beans also have other benefits, such as quick cooking time,” Muturi says.

He explains that the beans were developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) in collaboration with the Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA).

While some consumers are still unfamiliar with biofortified beans, Muturi says that once they understand the benefits, they become repeat customers.

“The market response has been excellent. Even schools are adopting them. Some have reported that children who regularly consume the beans are meeting their iron requirements for growth,” he notes.

Biofortification is just one example of how science and biotechnology are being used to improve food quality and agricultural resilience, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Selective breeding (crossing plants naturally) and modern biotechnology, including genetic engineering, are both used to enhance crops.

According to Prof Douglas Miano, a Kenyan virologist and biotechnology expert, biotechnology involves using scientific techniques to improve the quality or output of agricultural products.

He explains that scientists may use genetic engineering, which results in genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or more recent methods like genome editing.

“Genetic modification involves introducing a gene from another species into a plant or animal,” he says. “It’s like borrowing a useful recipe from one living thing and using it to improve another. For instance, adding a trait that makes a plant pest-resistant or better suited to drought conditions.”

Genome editing, on the other hand, tweaks the DNA of a plant or animal without adding foreign genes—akin to fixing a typo in a sentence.

“You are editing the genetic code—removing or altering specific parts of the DNA to create a better product,” Prof Miano says.

Dr Fanuel Letting, a seed scientist, highlights how biotechnology is being used to build resistance against pests and diseases, particularly in the face of climate change.

“With shifting climatic patterns, we’ve seen increased pest and disease outbreaks that reduce crop yields. Scientists have developed solutions such as genetically modified crops that repel pests—examples include BT maize and BT cotton,” he explains.

Mahmoud Omar, a cotton farmer from Dumbani village in Kwale County, began farming in 2014. Five years later, he was introduced to BT cotton seeds developed through biotechnology.

“I got the seeds from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). They were much better than regular seeds. I planted an entire acre. Previously, I used over 12 pumps of pesticide—now I use none because the seeds are pest-resistant,” he says.

Today, Mahmoud harvests over 1,200 kilograms of cotton per acre, compared to just 300 kilograms previously.

“BT cotton is also drought-resistant. I use just one and a half kilos of seed per acre and can harvest up to one and a half tonnes. The only challenge is access to manure. But overall, BT is very promising. I’ve sensitised my fellow farmers, and cotton has now become our cash crop,” he says.

Prof Miano acknowledges there is still some public misunderstanding about GMOs, which leads to conflicting interpretations.

“When you alter an organism’s genetic makeup, the information flows from DNA to RNA, and then to proteins—these proteins create the desired traits. It’s crucial to verify that the resulting product is safe, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly,” he says.

Neolithic Revolution

He emphasises that GMO products that have been thoroughly assessed and approved are safe for consumption and the environment.

The term “biotechnology” was first coined in 1919 by Károly Ereky to describe the use of living organisms to convert raw materials into useful products.

Indeed, the use of biotechnology in agriculture dates back to the Neolithic Revolution, when early farmers began selecting and breeding the best-suited crops. Over time, they discovered that certain organisms and their by-products could fertilise soil, restore nitrogen, and control pests—long before genetic modification existed.

Kenya’s biotechnology policy, formalised in 2006, aims to promote and regulate safe biotechnology for socio-economic development. It prioritises research in biosciences and supports sustainable industrial development of biotech products.

In 2009, the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) was established to regulate all GMO-related activities. Its role is to ensure the safety of human and animal health, as well as protect the environment from potential risks associated with GMOs.