Verenardo Meeme

Kenyan digital journalist, Jim Israel Mwanda named 2025 @OfabAfrica Journalist of the Year! He wrote the winning piece after his visit to confined field trials of #GMpotato in Kiambu County, Kenya. READ MORE👉🏾 aatf-africa.org/kenyan-digital… #AATFAfrica #foodsecurityke #gmosinkenya

Raila Odinga was a true champion of democracy. A child of independence, he endured decades of struggle and sacrifice for the broader cause of freedom and self-governance in Kenya. Time and again, I personally saw him put the interests of his country ahead of his own ambitions. Like few other leaders anywhere, he was willing to choose the path of peaceful reconciliation without compromising his core values. Through his life, Raila Odinga set an example not just for Kenyans, but across Africa and around the world. I know he will be missed. Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family and to the people of Kenya.

@nytimes An enigma in Kenyan politics has rested. Condolences to his family and friends.

Breaking News: Raila Odinga, a former prime minister and a towering figure of Kenyan politics, died at 80. nyti.ms/4qc9Yi6

I am participating in the 2025 #WAFI Conference in Beijing, Pinggu District. Today, we planted trees in support to Pinggu's green strategy. Thank you, Prof @ShenggenFan for a wonderful and successful conference, and for inviting @aatfafrica and myself as a guest and speaker.

@SokoAnalyst Nonsense! @WilliamsRuto has nothing to do with the report that was authored by independent Researchers. Check facts before posting

President Ruto has commissioned a report called “The Cost of Delay”, claiming that Kenya has lost billions by postponing the adoption of GMO seeds. But let’s be clear: we are not naive. We will not surrender our seed sovereignty to the interests of Bill Gates or any multinational agenda. There are strong reasons why we must resist rushing into GMOs: 1. Seed security and dependence Once GM traits are patented and controlled, farmers may lose their right to save, reuse or exchange seed freely. Dependence on corporations for annual seed purchases undermines our autonomy. 2. Threat to biodiversity and resilience Indigenous seeds and landraces—adapted over generations to Kenyan soils, climates, pests, and diseases—are a living reservoir of resilience. Flooding our fields with engineered varieties risks eroding that genetic diversity. 3. Economic control and inequity Large agribusinesses could monopolize traits, control pricing, and dictate terms—marginalizing smallholder farmers. The power imbalance is real. 4. Unforeseen health & environmental risks The long-term impacts of GMOs are still contested. There are legitimate concerns about gene flow, ecosystem disruption, new pest resistances, allergies, and so on. 5. False “losses” narrative The “cost of delay” report estimates that delays in approving Bt maize, Bt cotton, and blight-resistant potatoes have cost Kenya about US $157 million over five years. But such models rest on assumptions: full adoption, no negative side-effects, ideal yield responses, and no regulatory risks. They don’t capture the hidden costs of dependence, enforcement, or corporate leverage. 6. Legal and democratic accountability The Court of Appeal has already halted GMO imports pending full hearings, underscoring that such decisions demand public scrutiny and safeguards.

Q: What is the cost of delay on releasing biotech solutions in Kenya #BtMaize: Delays of just five years have cost Kenya USD 67 million. If adoption had begun in 2019, the country could already have harvested 200,000 additional tons—a quarter of Kenya’s 2022 Maize imports. #AgTechAdoption #FoodSecurity #NutritionSecurity #AgTech #Biotech #AfricanAgriculture

Have you heard?#OFAB Media awards are now open to all journalists across Africa. READ MORE: aatf-africa.org/ofab-biotech-r… #AATFAfrica #ProsperitythroughTechnology #ScalingforImpact @ChinokoV @VMeeme @realdavidtarus @OfabAfrica @OFABnigeria @OFABKenya

@vanmeeme @ChinokoV @OfabAfrica @aatfafrica @afri_isaaa @ILRI We need to match Africa's GM crop approval timelines with global standards. Let's fast-track for our farmers' advantage!

The new study estimates Kenya’s cost of delay at US$157M—the loss from a 5-year postponement in rolling out Bt maize, Bt cotton & late blight-resistant potato. Developed by African scientists, these crops could transform food security & farmer incomes in the country. #ABBC2025.

'@Vitumbiko, a study co-author, presents a Kenya case study on the Cost of Delay in adopting GM crops, on behalf of fellow researchers, at the ongoing #ABBC2025 in Lusaka, Zambia.

In #Africa, development & approval of GM Crops takes 12–15 years compared to 7–8 in Argentina, 5–7 in the US, & 8–10 in Brazil, according to @ChinokoV @OfabAfrica PM adding that research delays deny farmers timely benefits. #ABBC2025 @aatfafrica @afri_isaaa @ILRI

Cofounder of @nashulai @ReiyiaOle and @aatfafrica's @vanmeeme present case studies in disinformation and misinformation at a bus stop and idea exchange during #ABBC2025. There were 5 case studies in total, including by Prof @mmunyeme, Carol Theka, and Dr @mmwimali. Each case study speaker presented a poster outlining the nature and impact of the misinformation or disinformation, the key actors involved in driving it, key interventions undertaken to counter it, and the resulting outcomes. The goal? To #talksciencefacts.

'@CanisiusKana highlighted @aatfafrica -led initiatives under the OFAB project—such as Seeing is Believing & Eating is Believing—which have played a key role in demystifying agricultural biotechnology and enlightening stakeholders for informed decision making. #ABBC2025

'@aatfafrica ED @CanisiusKana urges experts to safeguard their work by engaging in public education to counter misinformation and myths on agricultural biotechnology at the ongoing #ABBC2025 Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. @afri_isaaa @OFABKenya @CropLifeKenya

'#ABBC2025 is a great platform for learning about Sci-Comm and sharing our experiences in the Ag sector.

This is a bumper harvest by an Adamawa State Bt Cotton Farmer in 2023. Farmer empowerment and transformation!!!! #agric Biotechnology #Farmer empowerment #foodsecurityenhancement

Enhancing Food Security: KALRO kicks off 2-day food security youth conference in Nairobi Youth urged to take lead in securing Kenya’s food future #CitizenExplainer @YvonneOkwara

Auntie Mwendwa inspiring. Keep it up dear

Happy to be back to my alma mater @KIMC, connected with many old friends and colleagues in media and beyond @GeorgeJillo @abullerahmed

It was great to meet you HE. You are indeed a true farmers champion. Keep it up.