A scientist at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, has highlighted the cost-effectiveness and ease of use of genome editing technology in crop improvement.
Akinbo, who is the Technical Lead of the Genome Editing Initiative at the AUDA-NEPAD Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation, noted on Friday that genome editing can accelerate the development of elite crop varieties.
Akinbo explained that genome editing is a growing aspect of biotechnology that allows scientists to manipulate the genome, which contains the entire genetic information found in a cell of various living organisms.
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“It is based on the use of engineered Sequence-Specific Nucleases (SSNs) to induce DNA double-stranded breaks at precise loci in the genome,” Akinbo said while emphasizing that a significant feature of this technology is its ability to alter a plant’s genome without incorporating foreign DNA.
Discussing the importance of biotechnology techniques for food security, Akinbo mentioned genetic engineering as one such advanced technology being utilized in developed countries to achieve food sufficiency.
“It involves exploring knowledge of the functional genomics of species and organisms, by incorporating specific DNA sequences coding for desirable traits into crops of interest. This involves using tools of gene transfer such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, electroporation, particle bombardment, and calcium phosphate-mediated gene transformation,” Akinbo explained.
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According to Akinbo, Nigeria must adopt novel technology in agriculture and completely overhaul its food system to ensure food security.
He pointed out that Nigeria currently faces a food deficit, spending up to $10 billion annually on food importation to feed its ever-growing population. While Nigeria leads globally in the production of crops like cassava and yam, this is due to an annual increase in land area under cultivation rather than improved productivity in terms of yield.
Akinbo highlighted that post-harvest losses, which can be up to 60% in some crops, occur at various stages of the food system, making food unaffordable and unavailable to many.
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“In 2019, Africa spent $43 billion on food importation, which is forecast to hit $90 billion by 2030. The decline in per capita food production on the continent is partly due to population explosion which is not matched with adequate food production. This has resulted in widening the gap between food production and associated consumption, according to Africa Common Position on Food Systems Food Security,” Akinbo concluded.
