The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has said that population growth has placed greater demand on land, water, forests, minerals and energy resources as food production does not match population growth rate.
Director General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha made this known yesterday in Abuja at the one-day North-central farmers and agric extension agents sensitisation workshop.
He noted that the world population would rise to 9.5 billion by 2050 and a quarter of the population will be in Africa.
Abdullahi noted that agricultural transformation in Africa requires a newapproach focusing on science, technology and Innovations to increase productivity for food security, and generate surplus for trade and export.
While noting that biotechnology is the way to go to overcome the challenges, he said several advancements have been made recently in Africa towards biotechnology application.
With biotechnology, he said there will be more abundant and healthy food as farmers would depend less on pesticides.
He said: ‘’There will be decreased production risks for farmers and high yields to feed a hungry, growing world population.
In her remarks, the Country Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Dr Rose Gidado advocated the need to unbundle the application of this technology for national growth to secure popular support from the masses.
She noted that the investment in awareness creation on agric biotechnology issues will deliver multiple positive responses.
“The need for safe biotechnology application, especially in agriculture is integral in the roadmap towards achieving the set objectives of improving productivity, quality of food crops and income of farmers.
“It is therefore important to sensitise the North central on the benefits of modern biotechnology practice to counter most health- related claims made by the antis”.