News in Brief
– Nigerian biotechnology agencies assure the Senate that tested and regulated GM crops pose no threat, but offer potential benefits like increased yields and poverty alleviation for farmers and the economy.
– They emphasise strict safety assessments and address concerns about security risks like ‘terminator genes’ and sterile seeds.
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) have responded to concerns raised by the Global Prolife Alliance regarding the safety and security of genetically modified (GM) crops in Nigeria.
In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, both agencies emphasised that rigorous testing and regulations ensure the safety of approved GM crops, which offer potential benefits for farmers and the nation.
GMO is short “genetically modified organism” and refers to a plant, animal or microbe whose genome has been manipulated in a way to alter its naturally occurring characterisitics. Usually, it is done to make a favoured characteristic more prominent and an unfavoured one less prominent (or dormant) by using high-tech genetics engineering tools. GM or gm is used as a prefix when referring to particular organisms that have undergone this process.
Addressing safety concerns and safety fears
NABDA Director General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, clarified that approved GM crops in Nigeria, such as the pod borer-resistant cowpea and drought-tolerant TELA maize, have undergone thorough biosafety assessments before receiving approval for commercial planting.
He maintained that there is international scientific consensus on the safety of several GM crops, supported by organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Furthermore, Mustapha addressed security concerns, stating that the transgenic crops do not contain ‘terminator genes’ or produce sterile seeds. He stressed that strict scientific evaluations and regulatory processes govern the release of any genetically modified organism, ensuring potential risks are effectively addressed.
Echoing these assurances, the BSN’s president, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, emphasised that the approved genetically modified crops have been assessed for safety to meet the highest standards. She went on to highlight the potential benefits of these crops, such as poverty alleviation, economic growth, and food security, particularly for smallholder farmers and the broader agricultural sector.
Ultimately, by addressing safety concerns and highlighting potential benefits, NABDA and BSN aim to facilitate an informed discussion on the role of GM technology in Nigeria’s agricultural development.
