Daniel Slunge was one of the hosts when a delegation from the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP) at the University of Nairobi visited FRAM.
Small-scale farming in Kenya was on the agenda when a group of researchers from the FRAM Centre and the University of Nairobi gathered in Gothenburg at the end of August. The aim was to discuss the collaboration and go through results from ongoing studies on how to manage chemical pollution in Kenya.
Sweden is a highly developed country while Kenya is a developing country. But even though the two countries are so different, they share links when it comes to chemical pollution.
Chemicals travel between Sweden and Kenya in many forms. For instance, vegetables and flowers are imported to Sweden, while pesticides are exported to Kenya.
Since the two countries are connected regarding chemical pollution, The FRAM Centre conducts a case study together with the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP) at the University of Nairobi. The case study is on how to manage chemical pollution in Kenya, around Lake Victoria.
At the end of August, a group of researchers from Kenya visited FRAM to present and discuss the results from three ongoing studies that are part of a large case study on how to manage chemical pollution in Kenya.
Lena Gipperth and Daniel Slunge from the FRAM Centre were hosts during the meeting where the following studies were presented:
How smallholder farmers’ knowledge, risk perceptions, and practices link to the use of pesticides along the river Kuja, presented by Prof. Richard Mulwa.
Governance study on pesticides in Kenya, presented by PhD student Susan Yara.
Environmental Tools for Chemical Pollution in Kibos, presented by PhD student Frida Book.
The focus of chemical management in Kenya tends to be on large-scale farmers and mining, but little attention is directed to small-scale farmers.
“Since increased pesticide use is promoted towards small-scale farmers, improved governance of pesticide usage is needed. When it comes to legislation, a ‘one-fits-all’ approach must be avoided”, said Susan Yara from the University of Nairobi.
In this video, FRAM researcher Prof. Lena Gipperth and CASELAP researcher Prof. Collins Odote talk about the linkages between the two countries and the collaboration between the two universities.
Video (3:14)
Differences in management and policies on chemical pollution between Kenya and Sweden?
In this video, Lena Gipperth from the FRAM Centre for Future Chemical Risk Assessment and Management Strategies at the University of Gothenburg and Collins Odote from the University of Nairobi talk about the linkages and the collaboration between the two universities.
