The desert locust, generally considered one of the most devastating pests in the world to agriculture, has been hitting farmers hard in the Horn of Africa as well as the Arabian Peninsula for six months, devouring crops and pasture. With COVID-19, the situation has gone from bad to worse.

Anti-biotech activists and sentiment are entrenched throughout Africa, but U.S. farm groups and businesses are hoping a free trade agreement with Kenya will help the country break through its GMO barriers and provide an example to other nations of what the science can do for farmers and food security.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Tuesday officially notified Congress that it will negotiate a free trade agreement with Kenya.

A proposed U.S.-Kenya pact is expected to create new markets for U.S. farm commodities and equipment and promises to pave the way for new trade standards across sub-Saharan Africa.

As the presidential primary season kicks off this week, President Donald Trump will use his State of the Union message to try to sell the public on the strength of the economy and the progress he's made on trade policy.