The Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) has stated that modern biotechnology is not only vital for food security and healthcare advancement but is also shaping the future of international trade and diplomacy.
The President of BSN, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu made this assertion during an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.
She warned that any country that ignores the advancement and integration of modern biotechnology “does so at its peril.”
Uzochukwu highlighted the role of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), which has been tasked with promoting biotechnology across Nigeria and supporting the deregulation of biotech products, following two decades of collaborative research and development.
She explained that population growth and climate change continue to demand the bioengineering of crops for traits such as drought resistance and improved yields on a much larger scale.
“Like electricity or airplanes, genetic engineering can be used for both good and bad. That is why the Federal Government established the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA),” she said.
According to Uzochukwu, under international treaties, every country using biotechnology is required to establish a regulatory agency to ensure the safety of biotech products.
She urged the NBMA to shift its regulatory approach from being “process-based” to “product-based.”
“This means the agency should focus on the safety of the final product, regardless of the method used to produce it,” she explained.
She reassured Nigerians that the NBMA is mandated to verify the safety of genetically engineered food products before their commercial release, and that there is no cause for public alarm.
However, she expressed concern over funding, pointing out that many science and technology agencies rely heavily on donor support, especially beyond personnel costs.
“With donor funding now in decline, we hope the Nigerian government will step in and increase investment in science and technology, especially biotechnology,” she said.
