NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has taken a major step toward the commercial adoption of genetically modified (GM) potatoes, with the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) inviting public views on the proposed cultivation of a disease-resistant variety engineered to combat late blight—a crop disease responsible for billions in annual losses.
The application follows the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro), which is leading efforts to introduce the new variety through modern biotechnology.
The genetically modified potato—a blight-resistant version of the popular ‘Shangi’ variety—has been developed to incorporate three late blight resistance genes derived from wild potato relatives.
The modification aims to help farmers reduce their heavy reliance on fungicides, while ensuring better yields and crop resilience.
“Kalro is seeking to introduce disease resistance traits into Shangi by incorporating genes from wild relatives of the potato,” said Nema Director General Mamo Mamo in a public notice.
If approved, the new GM variety could be grown commercially in Kenya’s major potato-producing regions, including Nyandarua, Nakuru, Meru, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Kiambu.
Blight: A Costly Threat to Food Security
Late blight, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, is the same disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s.
In Kenya today, it remains a serious agricultural threat. Kalro estimates annual losses of up to 23% in yields, equivalent to Sh15.4 billion in economic value.
In severe cases, the disease can wipe out up to 60% of a crop if left untreated.
Despite the widespread use of fungicides—up to 15 applications in a single season during heavy infestations—around 80% of Kenyan potato farmers struggle to afford consistent disease control, leaving them vulnerable to blight outbreaks.
Kalro also warns of increasing fungicide resistance, which could render current treatments less effective over time.
GM Potato Shows Promise in Trials
To address these challenges, Kalro partnered with the International Potato Centre (CIP) to develop and test a GM version of Shangi that maintains the taste and popularity of the original, while offering strong resistance to blight.
Field trials conducted over five planting seasons in Naivasha, Molo, and Muguga demonstrated the variety’s ability to survive infections that decimated conventional potato crops.
“This biotech potato will protect farmers from devastating losses and reduce reliance on expensive and potentially harmful fungicides,” Kalro said.
Environmental and Health Concerns
The EIA report submitted to Nema outlines potential risks and mitigation measures linked to the introduction of the GM crop.
These include increased water use, greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion and vegetation loss, waste generation, public and occupational health risks, and broader climate change implications
Nema has called on the public to submit oral or written feedback within 30 days from the date of the notice.
The views will be evaluated before any approval is granted for the next stage—National Performance Trials, which are a prerequisite for commercial release.
If successful, the GM potato could become the first genetically modified food crop approved for open cultivation in Kenya since the lifting of the GMO ban in 2022.
