Nairobi: In response to the challenges posed by climate change, Kenya is advancing the production and adoption of climate-smart seed varieties, aiming to enhance the nation's food security. The initiative, supported by government and agricultural stakeholders, focuses on promoting drought-resistant seeds suited to the country's changing climate conditions. According to Kenya News Agency, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Director of Seed Certification and Plant Variety Protection, Simon Maina, highlighted that in 2024, 37% of newly released seed varieties were climate-smart. This reflects a growing emphasis on developing resilient agricultural practices. Maina noted the significant rise in the production of climate-smart maize varieties, indicating a shift towards more durable crop options. Annually, Kenya produces approximately 50,000 metric tons of certified seed, supported by over 200 registered seed companies, 70 of which specialize in key crops like cereals, pulses, and horticultural products. Maina further detailed the efforts over the past decade to develop drought-tolerant crop varieties, including maize, sweet potatoes, cassava, and sorghum. These varieties are also engineered to resist diseases such as Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) and Fall Armyworm (FAW). During a media café organized by the Africa Science Dialogue and the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB-Kenya), Maina discussed the ongoing review of the National Seed Policy (2010), which aims to promote high-quality seed availability through both public and private sectors to bolster food security, conserve biodiversity, and reduce poverty. Dr. Stephen Mugo, the Director of the Center for Resilient Agriculture for Africa, underscored the robust seed regulatory framework in Kenya, ensuring seed quality and safety. He elaborated on the three primary types of seeds used by Kenyan farmers: Landrace seeds, Open-Pollinated Variety (OPV) seeds, and hybrid seeds. Landrace seeds, which are traditional and carry cultu ral significance, contrast with OPV seeds that can reproduce true to type when isolated properly. Hybrid seeds, on the other hand, are bred from two different varieties and often exhibit superior traits such as enhanced yield, drought, and pest resistance, and quicker maturity. Dr. Mugo also touched on the role of genetically engineered seeds, or GMOs, which are designed to incorporate genes from other organisms to confer desirable traits like drought tolerance. Despite the advancements in the seed sector, Dr. Mugo pointed out that misinformation continues to obstruct the acceptance of improved, climate-smart crops in Kenya. He emphasized the necessity for collaborative efforts to address these misconceptions to secure the country's agricultural future and food security.