Kenyan feed manufacturers push for access to biotech feed ingredients

Feed millers in Kenya have warned that the rising costs and chronic shortages of animal feed raw materials will persist unless they are allowed to access affordable biotech feed ingredients that are readily available on the global market.

The millers, drawn from the Association of Kenya Feeds Manufacturers (AKEFEMA), said escalating costs and persistent shortages of raw materials have pushed commercial feed prices up by approximately 30%,  increasing production costs and threatening sustainability of poultry, dairy, pig and beef enterprises.

AKEFEMA Chair Joseph Karuri noted that feed accounts for more than 70% of egg production costs for small-scale poultry farmers and between 36 and 50% of milk production costs, depending on the production system.

“Many feed manufacturers have been forced to scale down operations, while others have closed altogether. Several are currently operating at only 50 – 60% of installed capacity. This has far-reaching consequences for livestock farmers, rural livelihoods, employment and national food security,” said Karuri.

The millers now want to be granted access to import biotech yellow maize and soybean – the principal ingredients used in animal feed. More than 80% of soybean and approximately 30 percent of maize traded globally are biotech.

These products are widely available, competitively priced and have been safely used for decades in livestock feed worldwide. “Accessing equivalent quantities of non-biotech products has become increasingly difficult and expensive, reducing the competitiveness of Kenya’s feed industry,” observed Karuri.

Although the Government of Kenya lifted restrictions on importation of biotech food and feed products in 2022, subsequent court petitions suspended implementation pending judicial determination. Consequently, the industry has remained unable to access these feed ingredients despite continued shortages and rising costs.

The feed industry players wondered how it is difficult for Kenya to allow importation of biotech feed products whereas other countries including the United States, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria and several European nations have safely used biotech maize and soybean meal in animal feeds for many years.

They also called for science-based implementation of existing biotechnology policy, introduction of appropriate duty and tax measures, and continued regulatory oversight under Kenya’s biosafety framework.

“The industry believes these measures will reduce feed production costs, improve livestock productivity, strengthen food and nutrition security, stimulate investment, expand exports and create employment across the livestock value chain,” Karuri remarked.

ISAAA AfriCenter Director Dr. Margaret Karembu reaffirmed the global safety record of biotechnology, noting that 29 countries currently import biotech products for food, feed and processing.

She asked for more coordination within the feed sector between the manufacturers, policy makers, researchers, regulators and end users saying this is key in removing handles and ensuring the feed industry becomes more competitive.

“If we want to be competitive, we need to reduce the many hurdles and challenges that our feed sector faces. In so doing, the sector will be able to provide us with cheaper eggs, milk and meat because we are seeing increasing demand for animal protein as lifestyles change,” said Karembu.

The millers were meeting in Nairobi under the auspices of the Africa Science Dialogue, an ISAAA AfriCenter-led platform that provides a neutral space where policymakers, regulators, researchers, industry players, the private sector, media and civil society can engage in constructive dialogue on emerging issues and innovations in agriculture, environment and health. The meeting was attended by more than 50 feed manufacturers from Kenya and across Africa.