A biotechnology expert, Dr. Rose Gidado, has said that Nigeria’s adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops represents more than scientific progress, describing it as a beacon of hope, resilience, and agricultural transformation for the country.
Gidado, who is the Director of Agricultural Biotechnology Department at the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), stated this in an interview on Friday in Abuja.
According to her, the federal government’s approval of three GM crops for commercial cultivation marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s quest for food security and sustainable agricultural development.
She recalled that Bt Cotton, developed to resist the bollworm pest, was the first GM crop released in 2018 to help revive the nation’s cotton and textile industry. In 2019, Nigeria made history as the first country to release Bt Cowpea (SAMPEA 20-T)—a variety engineered to resist the maruca pod borer, which can cause up to 90 percent yield loss.
Most recently, in 2024, Nigeria commercialised Tela Maize, a drought-tolerant variety designed to resist stem borer and fall armyworm pests.
Gidado expressed optimism that harnessing biotechnology would “enhance food security, improve livelihoods, and drive economic growth,” while calling on African countries to ensure equitable access to GM technologies for all farmers, particularly smallholders.
She emphasised the need for policies that promote fair intellectual property rights, reduce seed costs, and support seed-sharing systems, to make GM seeds more affordable and accessible.
“Investing in local research and training African biotech scientists is key to empowering our countries,” she said. “Achieving this goal requires strong partnerships between universities, research institutes, and international organisations.”
Gidado, however, cautioned that the successful adoption of GM crop technologies depends on adequate infrastructure and technical capacity.
“Many African nations currently lack the resources for testing, monitoring, and scaling up GM crops,” she said, adding that building local capacity in research, seed distribution, and field trials is critical to realising the full benefits of biotechnology.
She also acknowledged public concerns about seed affordability, noting that patented GM seeds can be costly and may restrict smallholder farmers from saving and reusing seeds.
“Addressing these issues requires innovative seed distribution models, supported through collaboration between the public and private sectors as well as local organisations,” she added.
