In the face of mounting agricultural challenges, experts have reaffirmed the critical role of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in ensuring food security, emphasizing that modern biotechnology can revolutionize food production in Nigeria.
This was the focal point of discussions at a session titled “GMOs: Modern Biotechnology, Biosafety, and Fears,” organized on Thursday in Abuja by the Rufus Ebegba Centre for Leadership and Environmental Sustainability (RECLES), a non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental and agricultural advancement.
Highlighting the transformative power of technology in shaping economies and societies, the founder of RECLES, Dr. Rufus Ebegba acknowledged the growing debates around GMOs and urged skeptics to voice their concerns so that misconceptions could be addressed through informed discussions.
“Science and technology have always driven human progress. The debate on GMOs should be based on facts, not fear,” he stated.
Dr. Rose Gidado, Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Department at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), provided insights into the science of GMOs.
She explained that genetic modification involves altering an organism’s genetic material through precise engineering techniques to enhance desirable traits.
According to her, GMOs offer multiple advantages, including: pest and disease resistance, reducing the need for chemical pesticides, herbicide tolerance, making weed management easier and cost-effective, improved nutrient content, enhancing the quality of food, drought-resistant crops, ensuring stable yields amid climate change, and environmental sustainability, with benefits such as reduced carbon emissions, zero-tillage farming to prevent soil degradation, and improved water conservation.
Beyond agriculture, she noted that biotechnology plays a significant role in health, industry, and environmental protection.
Addressing concerns about GMO safety, Dr. Gidado reassured that scientific consensus globally affirms that GM crops are as safe as conventional crops.
She emphasized that while all food production carries some level of risk, the idea of “zero risk” is unattainable.
Speaking on the regulatory framework, Mr. Abisabo Adamu, Principal Scientific Officer at the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), detailed the agency’s role in ensuring that GMOs are used safely in Nigeria.
He explained that stringent biosafety measures are in place to protect human health and the environment, ensuring that GMOs are handled responsibly from production to consumption.
“Biotechnology has been a cornerstone of medicine and agriculture for decades. Our job is to ensure it is applied safely and effectively,” Adamu said.
As Nigeria faces increasing food security challenges, experts at the event stressed that embracing modern biotechnology, while adhering to strict safety standards, could be a game-changer in achieving sustainable agriculture.
The conversation around GMOs, they agreed, must move beyond fear to informed discourse, with policies and public awareness initiatives ensuring that Nigerians fully understand the benefits and risks of biotechnology.
The future of food security, they concluded, lies in innovation, science, and responsible policymaking.
