Kenyan scientists push for female farmers’ access to biotechnology – Genetic Literacy Project

Dr. Felister Makini, Deputy Director General (crops) at the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), noted that African women play a critical role in ensuring food security. She urged the government to make farming easier for them by providing modern tools such as biotechnology. As African women, we are the ones who suffer most whenever drought and food shortages strike, despite the availability of technological solutions to these problems, she said. We need to speak with one voice and advocate for a predictable policy environment. I have children and a family to protect. I cannot advocate for something that I know would affect them she added.

On her part, Prof. Caroline Thoruwa, Chairperson, African Women in Science and Engineering (AWSE), noted that for Africa to advance in agri-biotech, women must be involved. It is time to tell the public about the positive side of biotechnology. We need to raise up the status of women in biotechnology and also encourage women to network in order to achieve the noble goal of sharing their science, she said.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:AFRICAN WOMEN IN BIOSCIENCES CALL FOR SUPPORTIVE POLICIES ON BIOTECHNOLOGY

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Kenyan scientists push for female farmers' access to biotechnology - Genetic Literacy Project