Biotechnology experts on Wednesday described biotechnology as a critical tool for stabilizing food systems strained by climate change, pests, and rapid population growth.
In separate interviews with reporters in Abuja, they emphasized that biotechnology is essential for food stability in developing countries, including Nigeria.
Climate-smart crops and biofortification
Prof. Charles Adetunji, a biotechnology researcher, said biotechnology enables the development of climate-smart crops.
He noted that Nigeria faces unpredictable rainfall and increasing soil salinity in some regions.
“Biotechnology helps develop drought-tolerant varieties of maize and rice that require less water or can survive dry spells,” he said.
Adetunji added that biofortification enhances the nutritional value of staples, citing Pro-Vitamin A Cassava as a prime example that addresses micronutrient deficiencies in rural communities.
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He also highlighted yield enhancement through molecular markers, which identify and breed high-yielding traits faster than traditional cross-breeding.
Pest resistance and reduced pesticide use
The professor stressed that biotechnology plays a key role in pest and disease management, noting that Nigeria loses billions of naira annually to crop destruction.
“Biotechnology offers built-in protection,” he said.
Dr Rose Gidado, another expert, said Nigeria was the first country to release genetically modified (GM) cowpea resistant to the Maruca pod borer.
According to her, this has significantly reduced the need for expensive and toxic chemical pesticides.
She disclosed that Tela maize was developed to resist the Fall Armyworm, a pest that has devastated corn fields across West Africa.
Disease-free seedlings and protein security
Gidado said biotechnology provides disease-free seedlings through tissue culture, enabling mass production of healthy, disease-free plantlets for various crops.
“Food security is not just about grains; it is also about protein,” she added.
