Scientist and lecturer from the University of Nairobi Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, Dr Catherine Kunyanga: Embracing food biotechnology among other numerous agricultural technologies and innovations that are developed to increase agricultural productivity should not be viewed negatively because food insecurity and hunger are a reality in Kenya right now. Adopting GMOs however without addressing other challenges currently facing small scale farmers won't create any significant impact. GMOs are not the immediate solution that Kenyans need to attain food security.

Tick vectors widely occur in vast regions in Africa. They transmit pathogens causing major tick-borne diseases (TBDs) which cause high mortalities and reduced production in livestock. The diseases area major constraint to profitable livestock production, food and nutrition security and economic well-being of smallholder farmers in many areas in Africa. The invasive blue tick Rhipicephalus microplus is a highly efficient vector of tick fevers caused by the pathogens Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale. This notorious tick is rapidly spreading into many African countries2.

Every second, an animal dies of a tick-borne disease in Kenya. Ticks and the diseases they spread hinder the profitability of livestock farming in the country, as up to 80% of the animals are affected. Yet, livestock keeping contributes close to 10% of the total value of all goods and services produced every year in Kenya1. These diseases cause financial losses of more than KES 30 billion per year in the country2. All major types of livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats and camels are affected by diseases such as East Coast fever (ECF), babesiosis, anaplasmosis and heartwater3.

take your time to decide your course of events.it is important.