Technology hasn’t only changed the way we live, love, and work; it has also transformed farming as a whole. From agriculture to education, technology has turned the wheel forward while setting the pace in areas that seem resistant to its incursion and intervention.
Talking about the effect of technology on agriculture, Nigeria seems to be caught between techno-optimists and sceptics: people calling for extreme caution and restraint in ways technologies like Genetically Modified Crops are approved and adopted by farmers.
‘Biotech Experts at war’
On February 7, 2024, the Chairman of Global Prolife Alliance, GPA, Dr. Philip Njemanze, wrote a scathing letter to the National Assembly calling for a total ban on genetically modified foods, saying they are a threat to national life. Titled National Security Threat: Biotech Terrorism Using GMO seeds, Dr. Njemanze Salvo alleged that GMO foods, like corn, contain an Epicyte gene linked to sterilization, saying that allowing such foods will amount to the mass sterilization of Nigerians.
Reacting, the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), through its President, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, noted that Dr. Njemanze’s position is primordial and archaic. “This position is not only unfounded but also not backed by any scientifically proven evidence.”
‘Bone of contention’
For the past two years, Nigeria has had a tough time battling critics over approving genetically modified crops. “Over the past decade,” an investigation by Premium Times asserts, “the adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), commonly referred to as GM seeds by crop farmers, has been a subject of intense debate among scientists, environmentalists, and even food activists in Nigeria and globally.”
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) said at least 33 major food crops have been genetically modified globally. Of these, four (maize, cowpea, cotton, and soybean) have been officially approved for commercialization by Nigerian authorities, with Nigeria listed among the six African countries leading in biotech crop adoption across the continent.
What are GMOs?
GMO (short for “genetically modified organism”) is a plant, animal, or microbe in which one or more changes have been made to the genome, typically using high-tech genetic engineering, in an attempt to alter the characteristics of an organism, US National Human Genome Research Institute stated. In addition, GMO is a technology that allows scientists to create plants, animals, and microorganisms by manipulating genes in a way that is impossible via traditional or natural processes. Brazil, Argentina, India, Paraguay and China were among the 10 countries that planted the most GM crops in the world
The Good of GMO
Tela Maize Project, one of the approved GMOs in Nigeria, was originally known as the Water Efficient Maize for Africa Project, according to a report. In 2019, the country first joined the Tela Maize Project. “The project is perceived to have been driven by the move to develop a high-yielding maize variety that would be drought tolerant amidst lingering climate change effects, and at the same time be resistant to the highly virulent Fall ArmyWorm pest (FAW) that ravaged several corm fields across the country in 2016, the report noted.
Transgenic crops, according to a Vanguard newspaper investigation, have been engineered to express traits that confer resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Adopting genetically modified crops can reduce Nigeria’s reliance on chemical pesticides while promoting a more sustainable, environmentally friendly approach to agriculture. The Nigeria Biodiversity Management Agency’s DG has also said the Tela Maize hasn’t been launched in the country, dousing tension while clarifying the situation on the ground.
The Bad and the Ugly
Genetic manipulation of crops poses a grave concern for food systems and human and environmental health, Joyce Brown, Programs Manager, HOMEF, declared. “Glyphosate, a significant component of roundup-ready herbicide which accompanies a majority of genetically modified products, has been said to be a possible agent causing serious health defects. In his words, Professor Lateef Sanni, Executive Director of Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), emphasized that Nigeria cannot continue to rely on breeders from other parts of the world for hybrid seeds.
What must be done
To achieve food security and combat hunger, there’s need for a multi-pronged approach that aligns policy, research, and science communication.
While increase investment in research and innovation for agricultural biotechnology is key, there is also the need to educate and train more scientists specializing in agricultural biotechnology.
This will ensure a skilled workforce to conduct this vital research.
By addressing both the benefits and potential concerns of GMOs, the country can create public awareness and trust.
Through a comprehensive strategy, Nigeria can ensure the safety of GM foods while leveraging their potential to end hunger and malnutrition
