By Ongaga Ongaga
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has released an updated list of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and related products commercially approved around the world as of June 2026, highlighting the growing global adoption of biotechnology in agriculture, livestock and health sectors.
In a document titled “List of Globally Commercialized Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) (Plants, Animals, Microorganisms and Veterinary Vaccines), and their derived products as at June 2026,” the Authority notes that dozens of countries have approved various GMO products for cultivation, processing, food, feed and other uses.
Also Read
According to the NBA, genetically modified soybean, cotton, maize and canola remain among the most widely commercialized GMO crops globally.
The report shows that GMO cotton is cultivated in several African countries, including Kenya, Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Nigeria and Malawi.
The Authority further states that GMO maize is commercially grown in countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia, while Kenya is listed among nations that have approved GMO cotton for food, feed, processing and other uses.
The report identifies 34 commercialized GMO plant varieties worldwide, including soybean, maize, cotton, papaya, potato, apple, sugar beet, squash, alfalfa, plum, roses, carnations and chrysanthemums.
Beyond crops, the document indicates that genetically modified animals have also entered commercial use.
These include genetically modified salmon, GloFish and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are commercialized in countries such as the United States, Canada and Brazil.
The NBA report also highlights the commercialization of genetically modified microorganisms, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), as well as genetically modified veterinary vaccines used in countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia and Colombia.
The publication comes as Kenya continues to debate the role of biotechnology in addressing food security, climate change and agricultural productivity.
Supporters argue that genetically modified crops can help farmers combat pests, diseases and drought, while critics continue to raise concerns about biosafety, environmental impact and seed sovereignty.
Kenya lifted its decade-long ban on GMO imports in 2022, paving the way for the adoption of selected biotech crops under the country’s biosafety regulatory framework.
The National Biosafety Authority maintains that all approved GMO products undergo scientific risk assessments before authorization for use.
