The Research Institute has made significant contributions to Kenya’s agricultural sector, including:
A. LIVESTOCK BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
1. BioRI Trypanosome bank
The institute hosts a cryobank for the storage and maintenance of several species of human and animal infective trypanosome parasites. These parasites are used at the institute and by scientists from other institutions for research.
BioRI trypanosome bank
2. BioRI Molecular Biology lab
The institute hosts a molecular biology lab that is equipped for molecular biology processes including DNA and RNA extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Gel electrophoresis, Gel extraction, Western blot, etc.
BioRI PCR lab Western blot and gel electrophoresis lab Running a PCR
B. CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
3. Development of Virus-Resistant Cassava for Africa plus nutritional enhancement (VIRCA).
The VIRCA project was launched to develop improved cassava varieties with robust and durable resistance to Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) using modern biotechnology and conventional breeding respectively.
Viral diseases affecting cassava production. Both CMD and CBSD are transmitted by insect vectors (whiteflies) and disseminated by systemically infected cutting
CBSD root-induced necrosis in a popular farmer cassava variety compared to clean transgenic improved line showing no CBSD symptoms at 12 months after planting
Viral diseases affecting cassava production. Both CMD and CBSD are transmitted by insect vectors (whiteflies) and disseminated by systemically infected cutting
CBSD root-induced necrosis in a popular farmer cassava variety compared to clean transgenic improved line showing no CBSD symptoms at 12 months after planting
4. Building resilient food production for Kenyan smallholders with Biochar and N-fixation.
Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry waste. Research on adoption of biochar technology carried out at Kakamega has proven a transformative approach to soybean cultivation, offering a sustainable solution to enhance productivity while mitigating environmental impact. Research is geared to improving soil fertility, acidity, alleviate compaction, and enhance water use efficiency, increasing its potential for revolutionizing soybean production. The project is also looking at carbon sequestration and soil restoration, to building resilient and environmentally conscious agricultural systems. As we strive to address the challenges of feeding a growing population while preserving natural resources, harnessing the power of biochar has offered a promising pathway towards sustainable soybean production and a more resilient food system.
Soybeans in plantation Biochar
5. Crop Tissue Culture
The institute has established a tissue culture laboratory for the propagation of different crop plant lets to distribute to farmers and for research.
C. ARTHROPOD BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
6. Establishment of a pilot facility for the production and research of edible insects in of Kenya.
The lab, including equipment and the seed mealworm eggs, were donated by the Slovak Government through the Slovak Aid Project in October 2021. The lab has maintained up to the 5th generation of the insects. The lab is currently working on evaluating alternative substrate sources that are more accessible and affordable in the African setting while maintaining their nutritional value. The lab’s plans include developing a product for human food and animal feed that will provide an extra source of protein at an affordable cost.
- molitor larvae (mealworms) T. molitor pupae Emerging adults from Pupae
Adult T. molitor beetles Dried mealworms Mealworm rearing equipment
7. Establishment of a Glossina pallidipes, G. austeni and G. fuscipes colonies in the entomology lab.
Colonized tsetse flies provide an avenue for laboratory-based experiments to understand the physiology, biochemistry, behavior, and interactions of these flies and their environment which include animal hosts, the trypanosome parasite, and natural symbionts. The G. pallidipes colony was established in the 80’s and was meant for use in the sterile Insect Technique (SIT). G. austeni adults were collected from coastal Kenya and a field-based insectary set up. The flies were fed on rabbits and allowed to larviposit and the larvae were allowed to develop into pupae. Pupae were sent to the tsetse fly insectary at BioRI Muguga and allowed to emerge into F1 adults. G. austeni. The colony has been established and has expanded to over 500 adult flies. The G. fuscipes colony was established y collecting adults from Ndere island in Lake Victoria, allowed to larviposit and the larvae allowed to develop into pupae. Pupae were sent to the tsetse fly insectary at BioRI Muguga and allowed to emerge into F1 adults.
austeni, G. pallidipes and G. fuscipes in rearing cages at the BioRI tsetse fly insectary
8. Expanding the toolbox for control of tsetse flies in Kenya by Working with different stakeholders to control trypanosomiasis (Nagana) disease in cattle around Shimba Hills National Reserve.
Trypanosomiasis (Nagana) transmitted by tsetse flies is the most widespread and important disease burden in the Shimba Hills National Reserve (SHNR). The cattle farmers mostly graze along the fence line of the reserve due to reduced grazing lands. This leads to constant exposure of the livestock to tsetse fly bites and hence spillage of transmissions from wildlife to livestock species. Understanding the spatial variations in disease occurrence in tsetse, wildlife species and livestock is a critical step in the development of effective and sustainable disease control strategies. Trypanosomiasis is rampant in cattle populations around SHNR, thus affecting cattle productivity in Kwale County. Disease control requires the adoption of a multifaceted and integrated management approach targeted at the vectors and parasites. Veterinary field practitioners offering treatment services to cattle farmers should use trypanocidal drugs according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and integrate the use of drugs with vector control methods to reduce the development of multiple drug resistance.
9. Institute Irradiation Unit
The institute hosts a Cobalt-60 radiation source set up by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for use towards the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for tsetse fly control. The radiation source is also used for research by other research institutions across the country.
BioRI Irradiation Facilities
D. PHARMACOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
10. Maggot insectary
The institute maintains maggots, the larval stage of the Green bottle fly, for biotherapy of chronic wounds. The Institute supplies the maggots to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and other private hospitals for the treatment of treatment of chronic wounds.
Bottle fly rearing cages Preparation of maggot substrate Bottle fly maggots
11. Small Animal Unit
The institute maintains small animals including mice and rabbits used locally and other research and academic institutions for research.
New Zealand white rabbits Swiss-white mice
E. SOCIOECONOMIC, BIO-METRICS AND OUTREACH PROGRAM
12. Enhancing gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in validation and adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies in Kenya.
Tana River County is semi-arid, traversed by River Tana. The County is inhabited by multi-ethnic pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. Tana River is frequented by recurrent drought leading to severe feed shortages & low beef cattle productivity. The project aimed to bail pastoralists from the shortage of feeds, identify productive resources available to the group and prescribe means for their exploitation to implement group projects, and ensure gender inclusivity and equity during the implementation of group projects. Two groups participated in a forge and beef finishing project supported by KCSAP from July 2020 to June 2023. The take-home lessons from working in groups were that working with groups is important especially where there is cooperation and harmony, and in working with the community there is always a need for a written and signed agreement to guide the working of the involved parties.
Pictures of the sensitization meeting held at Wenje
Karichewa group being trained on thinning in their forage far Jebvin group being taught how to cut forage using chefu cutter
13. Enhancing food safety in camel milk value chain in Northern Kenya: stakeholder engagement perspective
Camels contribute significantly to the livelihoods of the pastoralists’ households in the country. They act as a source of income through the sale of live animals and milk, as a source of balanced nutrition through the consumption of milk and as a source of transport. This study sought to establish local management practices associated with camel milk along the product value chain and associated camel diseases particularly affecting lactating camels in Isiolo and Marsabit counties. The study recommended sensitization of stakeholders within respective nodes of the value chain to enhance safety.
Production – Milk storage in plastic containers Traditional and plastic milking containers
Transportation – Milk transportation in plastic containers Camel milk vendors at the selling point
14. Enhancing access to the Improved Trypanotolerant Orma Boran Cattle Breed in Kwale County, Kenya
In the 2018-2022 County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), improvement of livestock breeds was listed top within livestock sub-sector development needs in the drier Kwale County. Therefore, the County government embarked on livestock breed improvement programs for dairy, beef cattle and goats using artificial insemination (AI) and distribution of bulls with superior genes. However, there were high mortalities of the introduced breeding bulls of up to 95% mainly due to trypanosomiasis, whose prevalence was as high as 39% in some local herds. The ramping up of AI services was also limited by silent heat associated with local zebu. This project sought to help the county government address the problem of trypanosomiasis through the promotion of the trypanotolenat Orma Boran, and leverage the installed County government AI infrastructure to speed up the use of AI services by building capacity in the use of synchronized fixed-time AI protocols. The improved trypanotolerant Orma Boran was developed by KALRO for use by farmers in areas with a high risk of trypanosomiasis infection. Achievements: First, the project enhanced the capacity within the veterinary department of the county government on the use of alternative methods to disseminate improved genotypes among producers rearing zebu. Second, 13 out of the 50 inseminated conceived after the insemination, giving a conception rate of 30% and providing evidence of success of this approach. Thirdly, at the community level, it was observed by local leaders that the FTAI approach promises wider access to improved genotype, unlike the use of breeding bulls, which tended to become private, once in the custody of beneficiary farmers. Lastly, it was observed that the expertise of the inseminator played a key role in attaining conception.
Improved Orma Boran cattle Kwale County AI facilities
One of the approaches used to keep Selected cattle put on additional feed and nutrient supplementation
Selected cattle away from breeding bulls
15. Management and Control of Camel Trypanosomosis (Surra)
Communities that have historically depended on cattle and small ruminants as a livelihood option are increasingly taking up camel rearing as a way of adapting to climate change and building climate change resilience. As more and more households adopt camels, so does the challenge of managing the numerous camel diseases abound. Even though there are many diseases constraining the intensification of camels, Surra appears to be the most widespread. By tapping into its 40 years of experience in surra research and control, the Biotechnology Research Institute of Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO BioRI) identified this concern. Consequently, KALRO-BioRI implemented a four-year study to update knowledge on existing surra management practices and document camel keepers’ access to diagnostic and treatment services, to recommend appropriate management practices to minimize the impacts of the disease. The study was undertaken in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties and covered five camel-keeping communities. The study revealed a significantly low level of knowledge in surra identification and reporting across the different camel-keeping communities. It also revealed a thin, poorly equipped animal health services delivery system with little knowledge of the current level of surra pathogen resistance to the available drugs. All these deficiencies directly contributed to increased disease prevalence and reduced camel productivity.
Ongoing Projects
- Developing Vaccine candidates and diagnostic tests for economically important diseases of livestock
- Collection of volatile and non-volatile odors from Nile monitor lizards to be applied in the development of G. f. fuscipes attractant.
- Evaluating alternative feeding substrate sources for Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworms)
The Institute focuses on laboratory-based biotechnology as a complimentary tool of research for improved food production and processing efficiency. The Institute is situated at Muguga, Kiambu County, approximately 40 km from Nairobi off Nakuru-Nairobi Highway. It has centres in Biotech and NARL Kabete.