An agriculture analyst, Mr Segun Adebayo, has advocated the adoption of agroecological alternatives with less dependence on Genetically Modified Organisms and Crops (GMOs) to boost food security.
Adebayo disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.
Agroecological alternatives are sustainable farming practices that use ecological principles to improve soil health and reduce environmental impact.
They can help farmers adapt to climate change and transition to more sustainable food systems.
GMOs are plants or animals that have had their Deoxyribonucleic acid altered to give them new traits.
Nigeria has approved the commercialisation of some GMOs, including corn and cowpea, to address food security concerns.
However, there are concerns over the adoption of GMOs in Nigeria’s agriculture sector and debates about safety and environmental impact of GMOs.
Adebayo urged the adoption of agroecological alternatives in place of GMOs.
“Rather than embracing GMOs, Nigeria should invest in agroecological alternatives.
“Sustainable practices such as crop diversification, organic fertilizers, and public breeding programmes for indigenous seeds offer a resilient path forward.
“These methods protect biodiversity, reduce dependency on chemical inputs, and align with the nation’s cultural and environmental context.
“Countries like Tanzania, which maintain robust agricultural outputs without GMOs, demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches.
“By fostering agroecology, Nigeria can strengthen food sovereignty and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability,” Adebayo said.
He also urged the National Assembly to be proactive by banning the proliferation of GMOs in Nigeria.
“The National Assembly has the opportunity to act decisively by banning GMOs and glyphosate-based herbicides, while promoting sustainable agricultural alternatives.
“This proactive stance will secure Nigeria’s agricultural future and protect the welfare of its citizens.
“The risks tied to GMOs span public health, environmental degradation, economic vulnerabilities, and ethical concerns.
“This necessitates decisive action to safeguard Nigeria’s food sovereignty, agricultural integrity, and citizen well-being,” the expert said.
He noted that the dangers of GMOs were multifaceted and pose great risk to Nigeria’s food autonomy.
“GMOs and their associated patent systems endanger Nigeria’s agricultural autonomy.
“By granting multinational corporations control over seed markets, they undermine traditional farming practices and impose recurring costs on smallholder farmers.
“These corporate monopolies restrict access to affordable, locally adapted seed varieties, while preventing farmers from saving seeds—a cornerstone of traditional agriculture.
“United States courts have upheld patents that forbid replanting harvested GMO seeds, forcing farmers to repurchase seeds annually. Such practices inflate costs and diminish independence, threatening the viability of Nigeria’s smallholder farmers and eroding the nation’s agricultural resilience.
“GMOs also pose economic risks, while proponents of GMOs highlight potential gains, they fail to address economic vulnerabilities.
“The introduction of GMOs has led to surging costs in seed prices globally, disproportionately affecting small-scale farmers,” he said.
The expert also restated that GMO contamination poses risks to Nigeria’s export potential.
“Cross-pollination can lead to rejected exports in regions that ban GMOs, especially from organic markets, which further endangers farmers’ incomes.
“Instances of contamination have resulted in lawsuits globally, where farmers inadvertently infringed on GMO patents. This not only introduces financial instability but also demonstrates the legal complexities tied to GMO adoption.
“Also, GMOs have raised concerns over public health and environmental issues. For example GMOs and glyphosate-based herbicides are associated with significant health and environmental risks.
“Numerous lawsuits have linked glyphosate exposure to cancer, including billion-dollar settlements against some multinational GMO companies.
“Studies have revealed elevated glyphosate levels in human systems, linked to oxidative stress and potential reproductive harm,” the expert said.
He noted that environmentally, GMOs threaten Nigeria’s rich biodiversity, introducing risks of contamination to native plant species and ecosystems.
“Glyphosate, often paired with GM crops, contributes to soil degradation, water contamination, and harm to non-target organisms, compounding ecological damage,” he said.
NAN
