The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) organized a breakfast meeting on biotechnology issues on 8 June 2005 with Kenyan parliamentarians, policy makers and other stakeholders where ATPS made the lead presentation.

The informative session brought parliamentarians and other policy makers up-to-date on the biotechnology debate and Kenya's potential take on the issues.

Kenya's extensive work in the field of biotechnology was brought forth, as useful information regarding the draft biotechnology policy to be debated in parliament for enactment in the near future was given.

In this and other biotechnology activities that have been planned the central concerns for Africa revolve around questions of biosafety and regulation; intellectual property issues as they relate to indigenous knowledge; consumer information and rights; small farmers' potential dependence on imported GM seeds; and the impact on human and animal health. These concerns must be weighed against the strong evidence that biotechnology can be used to address Africa's overwhelming poverty.

The session was conducted using short, precise presentations by leading resource persons on biotechnology followed by question and answer sessions, focusing mainly on the contents of the proposed biotechnology bill and policy before the Kenyan Parliament.