Questions answered here: - What is the state of genome (gene) editing in agriculture in Nigeria and the rest of the world? - How can genome edited crops increase Nigeria's agricultural products competitiveness on the international stage?
Genome (gene) editing refers to the techniques scientists use to alter the DNA of organisms such as animals, plants, and bacteria. It offers the ability to customise the genetic makeup and make precise changes to the physical traits of organisms.
Concerning the specific application of gene editing in agriculture, it can be used to ensure that food crops and animals develop strong resilience to environmental pressure such as adverse climate, diseases, and pest pressure. It augments the process of organisms breeding, with certain outcomes, in some cases, able to replicate outcomes found in nature. Here, we will be focusing on gene editing as it concerns crops.
The Nigerian agricultural sector is vital to the social and economic progress of the nation. However, while the agricultural sector contributes 23.78% of Nigeriaâs GDP; it contrasts with the proportion of total exports accounted for by the agricultural sector in 2022 at just 2.23% (â¦598.16 billion).
The evident disparity between the agricultural sectorâs contribution to GDP and the proportion of the export mix depicts the poor state of Nigeriaâs agricultural competitiveness compared to other nations within and outside Africa, as well as the inability to achieve proper profitability and productivity with Nigerian farmed products.
The term âcompetitivenessâ here, refers to the countryâs agricultural productsâ ability to compete effectively with those of other countries in international markets. It includes not being able to produce and offer agricultural goods that meet international standards, are in demand, and can sell at competitive prices compared to similar products from other countries.
In this article, we will explore the methods by which Nigeria can improve in this regard by utilising the science of genome editing.
Genome Editing in Agriculture
Genome editing is a tool that enables scientists to manipulate the DNA sequences of organisms with a high degree of accuracy and elicit specific traits within the organism’s genetic code. This tool holds a wealth of possibilities in agriculture, from improved crop yields to climate and disease-resistant plants.
While several methods of genome editing have been developed over the years, CRISPR/Cas9 has grown in popularity to become the most widely adopted technique. It uses an enzyme (Cas9) and an RNA (Ribonucleic acid) molecule as a guide to cut and modify specific DNA sequences in a precise and targeted manner, thereby introducing specific changes into the genetic code. Such changes may include modifying DNA sequences or deleting and inserting specific genes.
One of the most widely advocated benefits of genome editing has been its potential to improve crop quality and yield. It can be utilised to develop crops with higher than usual nutritional content. A good example is rice enriched with beta-carotene, also called Golden rice, developed by scientists.
Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A and is essential for keeping the bodyâs visual and immune systems healthy. This genetically modified rice could play a pivotal role in the battle against malnutrition, especially in developing nations. Normal rice lacks vitamin A and Golden rice could be a cost effective solution for combating vitamin A deficiencies amongst rice eating populations.
Scientists have also developed crops that produce higher yields, illustrated through the development of maize plants capable of producing more kernels per ear, resulting in a 50% increase in grain yield compared to unmodified plants. This science holds immense possibilities for solving issues related to food security.
Disease and pest resistance are also major benefits of gene-edited crops. By making crops resistant to diseases and pests, which are amongst the largest contributors to harvest losses, food security could be improved, and farmers will benefit from increased gains.
Genetically modified tomato plants resistant to devastating fungal diseases like Powdery mildew are a perfect example of the application of genome editing to disease immunity for crops. The disease causes leaves to gradually turn yellow, twist, buckle, die, and fall off, exposing fruit to sunburn. Scientists have created versions of tomato plants that can resist infections even when brought in contact with high levels of fungus. Additionally, specific varieties of cotton and maize have been developed that are toxic to some insectsâimproving their resilience towards pests.
Finally, resilience to adverse environmental conditions stemming from climate change is also a crucial advantage of genetically modified crops. Crops better adapted to changing climate are likely to be recovered in the event of shocks such as drought or excess rainfall. For example, scientists have developed a durum wheat type that is more resistant to drought. These crops would greatly benefit areas that are prone to severe droughts as a result of climate change.
There are many other examples of how genetically modified crops have added immense value to society and come clutched in tight situations. Take the Rainbow papaya, for example, which has virus-resistant traits. Scientists developed it following a ringspot virus outbreak that threatened Hawaii’s papaya industry and Hawaiian papaya farmers’ livelihoods. The crop began to be commercially planted in 1998 and has since grown in popularity amongst Hawaiian farmers. Today it is exported across the world to countries such as Japan. According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), the farm incomes of genetically modified crop adopters grew by $261.3 billion between 1996 and 2020. This is equivalent to an average farm income gain of $112 per hectare. 72% of the gains were attributed to improved crop yields, with the remaining 28% coming from cost savings.
Genome Editing in Nigerian Agriculture
The state of genome editing research in Nigeria is still in its infancy, but the country has made significant strides towards achieving its proper application in the agricultural sector.
Nigeria was the first country in Africa to create and release guidelines on genome editing through the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). However, there is no evidence that genome editing work or research is ongoing in the country. Nigerian scientists are yet to fully adopt and begin applying gene editing technology to crop and livestock improvement.
While genome editing technology application to agriculture in Nigeria has yet to commence, several opportunities exist within the current climate of the sector. These potential applications could unlock widespread competitiveness and value for Nigeriaâs agriculture if adequately planned and executed.
Application to Diseases and Pests
One of such applications, as mentioned earlier, is in cutting down the impact of diseases and pests on crop yields. According to the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLs), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, disease and pests caused losses of up to 80% of crop yields across some farms in 2022.
The major affected crops are maize, rice, sorghum and tubers across areas such as Abia, Adamawa, Rivers, Ebonyi, and Osun, amongst others. These affected crops constitute integral ingredients in the diets of millions of Nigerians and are vital for national food security and nutrition.
Additionally, farmers under the National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria in 2023 lamented the outbreak of a major pest known as Tuta Absoluta that affected 300 hectares of crops and resulted in billions of naira worth of losses for tomato farmers during planting season.
Five of the 12 Northern Nigerian states responsible for 85% of the countryâs tomato production were affected by this pest, including Kaduna, the biggest tomato producer in the country. The outbreak’s impact and the resulting decline in tomato production led to a spike in local tomato prices.
Genome editing presents a solution to the disease and pest problem Nigerian agriculture faces. For instance, researchers have utilised genome editing to develop a species of cowpea plants that are resistant to the legume pod borer insect pest. The legume pod borer is infamous for perennially plaguing cowpea farmers across Africa and, in severe infestations, has caused yield losses of up to 70 to 80%.
Such techniques could be applied towards developing variations of popular Nigerian crops such as tomatoes and maize to make them resistant to major pests and diseases. This holds significant promise for reducing crop losses and improving yields.
Application to Climate Resilience
The application of gene editing to climate resilience in crops is another potential application that must not be overlooked. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and droughts pose significant agricultural risks. Climate-resilient crops with high tolerance to these various climate-related pressures would be a significant step forward.
Nigeria was ravaged by severe flooding in 2022, which according to NAERLs resulted in â¦700 billion worth of agricultural-related losses. These were a combination of crop losses, damaged transport networks, washed farmlands, and destroyed livestock and fish resources.
Drought also remains a major concern for many farmers across the country as several regions, like Borno, are prone to irregular rainfall patterns. Scientists from the University of California recently discovered that the correct number of copies of a specific group of genes could stimulate longer root growth, enabling wheat plants to pull water from deeper supplies. This modification to root architecture allows the plants to withstand low water and high drought conditions.
Additionally, researchers have developed highly drought tolerant maize plants. These genetically modified climate resilient plants could benefit Nigerian farmers in adversely affected regions and contribute to the Nigerian agricultural industry’s overall productivity and competitiveness.
Crop losses driven by diseases and flooding contribute to rising food prices and inflation across the country. Gene editing presents a possible solution to ensure stable food supply and prices through improved crop yields.
Challenges to genome editing in Nigeria
Several challenges hinder the full adoption and proliferation of genome editing across the Nigerian agricultural industry. Some of these challenges include regulation, ethical considerations, technology access, biosafety, and socio-economic implications, amongst others.
Touching on challenges related to regulation, despite Nigeria being one of the earliest African countries to release guidelines on gene editing, there is still a lack of clear and comprehensive policies specifically tailored to gene editing in agriculture, neither is there an implementation roadmap.
This absence of proper regulatory oversight could result in uncertainties and inconsistencies amongst farmers, breeders, and researchers regarding the safety requirements, approval, and commercialisation of genetically edited crops.
As with many sectors in Nigeria, access to the right technology and infrastructure is a major hindrance to the proliferation of gene editing within the Nigerian agricultural sphere. Smallholder farmers and research institutions are especially affected by the limited access to necessary infrastructure for geneting. Substantial investments into capacity building, infrastructure development, and training are necessary to guarantee the proper adoption and application of gene editing in Nigerian agriculture.
Genome editing raises some ethical questions related to the possible unintentional consequences of changing the genetic makeup of organisms.
Some of these questions include; What are the potential unintended environmental consequences of releasing genetically edited crops into the environment?, How can we ensure that genome-edited crops intended for consumption are safe for human health? What are the potential long-term effects of genetically edited crops on agricultural ecosystems and biodiversity?, etc.
Communicating with the public and stakeholders is necessary to boost awareness and understanding of genome editing. Building trust and addressing possible apprehensions about genetically edited crops are essential steps toward public acceptance and support. Additionally, ensuring that genome editing is conducted with appropriate oversight and adheres to ethical guidelines is vital. Additionally, outside Nigeria, genetically edited crops are facing similar challenges and being limited in various ways. However, many nations are beginning to issue guidelines for them indicating a surge in popularity and increased desire for acceptance. In some areas, certain genetically modified crops are even required to be labelled as such.
How gene editing solves some of the challenges to Nigeriaâs global competitiveness
The challenges to global competitiveness that Nigeriaâs agricultural sector faces are vast. However, some of these challenges, including low productivity, climate change/ environmental challenges, and post-harvest losses, may be alleviated through gene-editing techniques.
The low levels of productivity usually recorded in Nigerian agriculture often stem from traditional farming techniques and insufficient access to modern inputs such as quality fertiliser and seeds.
These factors contribute to lower yields and decreased competitiveness for Nigerian agricultural products in international markets. Gene-edited crops that improve yields could contribute to a boost in productivity and overall competitiveness. Another example of a country that has seen economic benefits from using genetically modified (GM) crops is India. India is one of the world’s foremost adopters of GM cotton, and its widespread adoption has resulted in significant economic benefits for the country’s agriculture sector. Cotton yield improvements of 30% to 50% have been reported in various regions of India, which have contributed to higher incomes for cotton farmers.
As the countryâs agriculture remains incredibly vulnerable to climate change, extreme weather events, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures, it is necessary to find ways to adapt and adopt sustainable practices capable of mitigating risks. Genome-edited crops resistant to high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and other adverse environmental conditions would be game changers. Nigeria has post-harvest loss problems as well. The country is estimated to lose 50% of all crop production annually to post-harvest losses, according to the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI). Through gene-editing and developing more durable and long-lasting crops, Nigeria could lower the number of crops it loses post-harvest, boost food supply, lower consumer prices, improve food security and magnify productivity.
