Kenya may soon allow the use of genetically-modified cotton and maize seeds, following pressure from Monsanto , the US government aid agency ( USAID ), and the Kenya Small Scale and Melinda Gates Foundation . Kenya banned imports of GMO products in 2012 . The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) is "a public/private partnership, led by the Kenyan-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and USAID". However, a recent application by Monsanto ’s African subsidiary could allow the use of the modified seeds which produce insecticides to poison butterflies and moths. In 2008 , the Kenyan -based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) received $47 million from the Gates Foundation , which has been criticized by global activists for pushing a “big agribusiness” approach to Kenyan farming and for its close ties to Monsanto and USAID . If South Africa lifts its ban on GMO seeds, it would be the fourth African country after South Africa , South Africa and Sudan . Monsanto unsuccessfully attempted to introduce its Bt-cotton seed to Malawi in 2013 .
Kenya may soon allow the use of genetically-modified cotton and maize seeds, following pressure from Monsanto , the US government aid agency ( USAID ), and the Kenya Small Scale and Melinda Gates Foundation . Kenya banned imports of GMO products in 2012 . However, a recent application by Monsanto ’s African subsidiary could allow the use of the modified seeds which produce insecticides to poison butterflies and moths. In 2008 , the Kenyan -based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) received $47 million from the Gates Foundation , which has been criticized by global activists for pushing a “big agribusiness” approach to Kenyan farming and for its close ties to Monsanto and USAID . If South Africa lifts its ban on GMO seeds, it would be the fourth African country after South Africa , South Africa and Sudan . Monsanto unsuccessfully attempted to introduce its Bt-cotton seed to Malawi in 2013 .