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Agricultural Biotechnology in Kenya

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Agricultural Biotechnology in Kenya
Agricultural Biotechnology in Kenya
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Introduction Agricultural biotechnology is one scientific invention that continues to cause debates within the world. Although one country may see great benefits for the technology, another may reject it due to cultural and ethical beliefs. Within the following paper, it will be a goal to research the background of biotechnology and to determine if this invention can solve many problems within the continent of Africa and specifically the country of Kenya. It is no secret that Kenya has been under developed as well as under privileged for quite some time. In order for Kenya to develop and reach its potential of a business partner with other countries, it must find a technological advancement to not only provide for its own population but also provide substance to other areas as well. The use of agricultural biotechnology holds this promise for Kenya. We will take a look at not only the culture of Kenya but also explore the positive and negative impacts that biotechnology may have on this third world country.

Kenya’s Culture

Kenya is a republic government that achieved independence on December 12, 1963 and within the next year joined the Commonwealth of Nations. Jomo Kenyatta, a member of the large Kikuyu ethnic group and head of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), became Kenya 's first President. The minority party, Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU), representing a coalition of small ethnic groups, dissolved itself voluntarily in 1964 and joined KANU (US Department of State, 2011). As of August 2010, Kenya made a referendum of its constitution and now has an executive, legislative and judicial system. The National Assembly has a number of members that are elected for 5 year terms. The Executive Branch consists of a president (chief of state, commander in chief of armed forces), prime minister (head of government), and two deputy prime ministers. The Legislative Branch consists of a



Bibliography: ABSF, (Retrieved October, 2011). Status of biotechnology in Kenya. Retrieved from http://www.absfafrica.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid =11 Africa Travel (Retrieved Nov 2011). Go Africa. Retrieved from: http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.mapfacts.kenya.htm Avita Medical, L KARI, (Retrieved October, 2011). Kenya agricultural biotechnology support project. Retrieved from: http://www.usaid.gov/locations/subsaharan_africa/sectors/ag/biotechnology/kenya_ag_bi otech_support.pdf Kebaso, G Kenya finally publishes bio-safety bill. (2007, September). Bivision. Development through biotechnology, 6, 1. Retrieved from http://www.biovisioneastafrica.com/publications/Vision_6.pdf Mareck, E Ndiritu, C. (Retrieved Oct. 2011). Kenya, biotechnology in Africa: why the controversy? University of Pennsylvania - African Study Series, Retrieved from http://www.cgiar.org/biotech/rep0100/ndiritu.pdf Nevin, T Scoones, I. & Glover, D. (2009, August 13). Africa 's biotechnology battle. GM Watch.Nature, 460, 797-798. Retrieved from http://gmwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11409:fricas- biotechnology-battle Taverne, D USDA (Retrieved October, 2011). Biotechnology. Retrieved from http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=BiotechnologyFAQs.xml&na vid=AGRICULTURE US Department of State (Retrieved November, 2011) Wambugu, F. (1999, July 1). Why Africa needs agricultural biotech. Nature, Vol.400, Retrieved from http://www.stradanove.net/news/testi/bio-02b/africa.pdf

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