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Tag: Biotechnology

  • Biotechnology is solution to threats of droughts, looming hunger, says NBDRA DG

    Biotechnology is solution to threats of droughts, looming hunger, says NBDRA DG

    Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustache, said on Monday that the threat of famine and drought can best be addresses through the use of biotechnology. 

    Speaking at a sensitization workshop on Genetically Modified Organism for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Prof Mustapha said the use of biotechnology can also help address issues of climate change that has impacted negatively on food production in the country. 

    He said the workshop was important to address lots of misconceptions about genetically modified organisms and their impact on food production and human health. 

    This workshop was organised by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria Chapter — an initiative of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) — under the auspices of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA).

    The NBRDA boss said, “This sensitization workshop comes at a critical time when the developing and the underdeveloped countries around the world are grappling with compounded challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, biotic and abiotic stresses and the need for inclusive economic growth. 

    “Responsibly developed and effectively adopted agricultural biotechnology offers a powerful set of tools to address these interconnected problems.

    “Today, biotechnology is more relevant than ever, especially as the government faces the dual threats of drought and impending famine. 

    “To counter these, it is turning to climate-smart agricultural solutions such as high-yielding, drought-tolerant maize, herbicide tolerant soybeans, bacterial blight-resistant potato, pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea and disease and insect-tolerant cotton — innovations that have the potential to significantly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Nigeria.

    “Among the leading innovations in this field in Nigeria are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their products. Scientists in Nigeria have harnessed this technology to develop crops like Bt cotton, Bt maize and PBR cowpea, which have since been commercialised. 

    “These are not just scientific milestones, they are real-world solutions that transform lives, improve food systems and strengthen farmer resilience.

    “However, we must also acknowledge the hurdles. In our increasingly connected world, information is a powerful currency. Social media and digital platforms have expanded access to knowledge and created new communities and networks. 

    “This connectivity has benefited many countries in the Global South, enabling data sharing, learning across borders and more strategic decision-making.

    “But it has also come with a downside: the troubling rise of information disorders — namely, misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. These distortions of truth are dangerous because they lead people to make decisions based on inaccurate or false information. 

    “In the context of GMOs and biotechnology, this has contributed to public skepticism, regulatory uncertainty and slow adoption of technologies that could improve millions of lives.

    “That is why this forum is so crucial. It provides a platform for evidence-based dialogue, where diverse voices can come together to ask questions, share insights and build mutual understanding around biotechnology and its place in our agricultural future.

    “In a time marked by an overflow of both facts and falsehoods, the role of the media — as truth-bearers and defenders of democracy — has never been more vital. Your work goes beyond reporting. You are charged with scrutinising, analysing and contextualising the issues, especially those as consequential as food security, technology and public health, through the lens of evidence-based reporting.

    “As media practitioners, you wield tremendous power; the power to shape public opinion, influence policy and drive societal transformation. Your narratives can spark innovation, build trust in science, foster unity and empower communities. But with this power comes a deep responsibility: the duty to uphold integrity, objectivity and accuracy in everything you publish.

    “This workshop seeks to build meaningful partnerships between the media and the scientific community. It urges you to engage researchers, consult credible sources and present scientific developments in ways that are both compelling and easy to understand for the public.”

    He said further that the strategic goals of the workshop is “to raise awareness about the dangers of misinformation in science and technology; Create safe spaces for dialogue on contentious issues such as GMOs in food, and the broader challenge of addressing hunger in Nigeria and develop effective counter-narratives that can help reduce misinformation in the Nigerian media landscape, particularly around GMOs and their products.”

    Read Also: Nnaji: biotechnology will lead to higher economic growth

    Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran said it was 

     essential to acknowledge the divergent views on GMO products, adding that “On one hand, proponents of GMOs argue that these organisms can enhance crop yields, improve nutritional content, and foster sustainable agricultural practices. 

    “On the other hand, critics raise concerns about the potential risks associated with GMOs, including environmental degradation, health implications, and economic threats to local farmers. 

    “Some argue that GMOs can contaminate local genetic resources, undermine food diversity, and increase hunger.

    “Today, we have the opportunity to listen to experts on this very important issue. Our goal is to make informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of Nigerians and the environment. I encourage our members to be attentive and I look forward to a thoughtful and nuanced discussion on this critical issue”. 

  • Biotechnology ‘to solve challenges in agriculture’

    Biotechnology ‘to solve challenges in agriculture’

    Director General of National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, has said the benefits of biotechnology are vast and profound.

    Mustapha spoke yesterday in Abuja at a Biotechnology and Biosafety Workshop for Farmers Association organised by Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria chapter, an initiative of African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) under auspices of NBRDA with International Food Policy Research Institute’s Programme for Biosafety Systems (IFPRI-PBS).

     The workshop was aimed at equipping farmers with knowledge and tools to harness biotechnology for sustainable agricultural development.

     He noted the deployment of modern biotechnology in agriculture reduces use of harmful chemicals on farms and preserves the environment.

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     Mustapha added from enhanced crop yields and improved nutritional content to resilience against pests, diseases, and adverse environmental conditions, biotechnology offers opportunities to propel the country’s agricultural productivity.

     He noted by harnessing biotechnology, the country will safeguard livelihoods and ensure food security. .

     AATF Regional Representative for West Africa, Dr Jean Baptiste, said AATF will support farmers by advocating policies that foster an enabling environment for innovation, and facilitating access to technologies and resources that enhance farming.

     He said agriculture is not just a livelihood, but a calling, a cornerstone of the economy, and a pathway to food security, empowerment, and environmental sustainability.

     National President of Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Bello Abubakar, said farmers require trainingand sensitisation on technologies to be abreast with modern seeds and input.       

  • Optimising agricultural biotechnology potential for growth

    Optimising agricultural biotechnology potential for growth

    With Nigeria’s population expected to hit 300 million by 2030, achieving food security has become a major challenge. Insecurity, access to land, and climate change are, however, negatively impacting agricultural production. Thus, the growing realisation of the need to deploy agricultural biotechnologies to boost food production, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Farming has become a challenge to smallholder farmers in many parts of the country. This is due to unpredictable weather and inaccessible climate-smart farm input.

      In recent months, climate change-induced disasters have surged with unexpected and excessive rainfall and floods causing massive damage to the ready-to-harvest crop and threatening the food security and livelihood of smallholder farmers.

      To boost productivity and income and sustain the livelihoods, farmers not only have to adopt good farming practices but also must have access to new high-yielding, drought- and disease-resistant varieties. The reality is that some farmers don’t have access to varieties that are drought resistance.

      Others don’t have access to varieties known for early maturity, high yielding, and large cobs potential.

     For instance, the demand for maize is increasing; with the main driver coming from the growing need for poultry feed. The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) recently warned that the sector was facing imminent collapse, following the scarcity and soaring prices of maize, a vital feed for birds, The operators said this crisis posed a serious threat to the advancement of the poultry sector and puts over 25 million jobs within the value chain at risk.

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    The Chairman, Lagos State chapter of PAN, Iyiola Mojeed, decried the high cost of maize, soy and wheat, the major components of feed production, even as he called on the government to stop the importation of frozen foods. The association’s chairman lamented that owing to the hard times his members had been subjected to, many have been forced out of business.

    According to him, “the availability and prices of maize, soy and wheat, the major components of feed in our industry, have gone to the extreme, meaning that production of eggs and other poultry products is at risk in the country, which normally shouldn’t be.”

    In Asia where, the government has made tremendous progress in the production of maize and other staples that happened because of the hybrid maize seed industry, supported by investment incentives within the sector, presence of competitive products, and support R&D by local seed companies. Also, studies buttressed the presence of ideal technologies and technical expertise across the seed value chain.

    Indeed, study published by PG Economics in the UK, it noted that in 2020, African farmers earned an estimated $282 million from growing genetically modified (GM) crops.

    In addition, those farmers across the globe earned an estimated $18.8 billion in additional benefits from growing GM crops. Despite this, study posited that gm crops are grown commercially in less than 10 per cent of Africa’s 54 countries.

    For experts, application of biotechnology would boost national food production. Therefore, strengthening and scaling seed production of various crop varieties in Nigeria through biotechnology would be a game-changer for the long-term sustainability of the agricultural industry, they said.

    This was one of the key points of a Agricultural Technology and Biosafety Sensitisation Workshop for the Media organised by the National Biotechnology Development Agency, the African Technology Foundation and Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa.

    The organisations have been working with the National Seeds Council, research institutes and partners to produce good seed varieties and making suitable germplasms and market-ready hybrid and GM products available for testing, validation and registration in the country.

    For  Head of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology and Biotech Awareness Unit, Mrs Iweajunwa Ogochukwu, Nigeria has a more urgent need to adopt GM organisms for agricultural improvement, with challenges such as climate change and population growth.

    She believes the agriculture industry is entering a new chapter with the biotechnology component supporting the sector, stressing the importance of GM products in the government’s quest to achieve food self-sufficiency. This is because the period will usher in a wave of high-yielding crop varieties.

     Her words: “The aim of this workshop is to enlighten and keep the participants abreast with the developments in Ag. Biotech and how such changes can improve lives and general well-being of Nigerians.’’

    She also said agricultural biotechnology offers farmers the potential to produce more food and create a competitive sector capable of generating more jobs.

    In addition that access to innovative biotechnology such as GM would help them to deliver increased yields.

    According to her, the strategic objectives for biotechnology were to guarantee food security and self-sufficiency through improvements to agricultural productivity.

    The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been a contentious issue across the food sector.

    Indeed, public perceptions and political debates on the risks and benefits of agricultural biotechnology have grown as people continue to be wary of GM crops, due to concerns about the cost of seeds, issues surrounding herbicide resistance and worries about allergens and safety.

    Such fears were unfounded, according to Mrs Ogochukwu, who added that no adverse reactions had been found in any approved GM products in the market.

    For her and the rest of the speaker, advances in plant biotechnology have allowed the development of GM varieties that have significantly impacted agricultural management and improved the grain yield.

    Director, Department of Agricultural biotechnology, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Dr. Rose Gidado, described biotechnology as a tool to feed the future. This is because so many products have emerged from the process to boost agricultural productivity, sustainability,  growth, and nutritional security.

    According to her, NABDA is working with other agencies to support the deployment and commercialisation of various varieties of GM for nutritional improvement.

    Gidado said biotechnology has been recognised as one of the most significant frameworks for development in the nation, adding that its application in agriculture, enhances the production of nutritious food crops and increases farmers’revenue. She noted that biotechnology application had become very necessary in almost all sectors, especially in health where various vaccines are saving lives.

    She said the government is advancing agricultural technology to achieve food security. She said Nigeria approved its first biotechnology crop Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) cotton for commercialisation in 2018.

    She added: “Next Nigeria approved the commercial release of Pod Borer Resistant Cow pea (PBR cowpea; AAT709A) in January 2019. In December 2020, Nigeria became the first African country to issue gene editing guidelines.”

    According to her, Nigeria will continue to deliver notable achievements in biotechnology research and development – spurred by strong support of the government.

    Major biotechnology achievements, she noted, included TELA maize, developed for fall army Worm and Stem Borer resistance by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, which was approved by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).

    Other modern biotechnology crops,  which have been commercialised, she  continued,  include insect-resistant beans and cotton, Herbicide Tolerant (HT) soybeans, Virus Resistant Cassava with Elevated Iron and Zinc developed by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI).

    GM TELA Maize varieties have been released to farmers by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University.

    TELA maize varieties, to Dr.  Gidado, are genetically modified to tolerate mild drought and to protect against certain insect pests, especially stem borer and fall armyworm (FAW).

    The variety produces nine tonnes per hectare as against three tons by the best producing maize variety in Nigeria. She noted that many campaigns had been undertaken to   enhance the understanding of policymakers, regulators, and technical experts about biotechnology applications in crops, livestock, fisheries and aquatic resources, as well as the role of biotechnology in spurring agricultural innovation.

    She said: “No trace of ill-health or safety concerns have been traced to the already two commercialised biotech crops, Bt Cotton and PBR Cowpea,   in the market. For sure, Nigeria is on her way to achieving zero hunger.”

    She expressed concern that anti-GMO activism has stalled the adoption of genetically engineered crops.

    On the propagation of scientific facts on biotechnology and addressing the misconceptions, the Director said the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) is doing a lot in Nigeria. She said the Forum had been facilitating constructive conversations among key stakeholders and decision-makers on agricultural biotechnology.

    She  explained  that OFAB, a project of Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is being implemented in 10 African countries—Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi and Rwanda.  

    With the state of emergency declared in the food and agric sector, she maintained that the integration of technology tools into  agriculture has become a necessity.

    She observed: “It is expedient to note that agricultural biotechnology alone is not going to be an all-sufficient approach but for sure, it will definitely revolutionise national food production.”

    Director-General/Chief Executive of the NABDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, noted that the country is experiencing rapid population growth, necessitating a need to double food production by 2050.

    To overcome these obstacles and increase food production for the public, he called for the deployment of cutting-edge technological tools such as modern biotechnology.

    For most successful adoption, he urged senior editors to provide a balanced view, incorporating diverse perspectives on biotechnology-related issues to facilitate public discourse that would help shape policies that prioritise safety, equity, and sustainability in agric biotechnology.

    He urged reporters to highlight success stories and instances of agricultural biotechnology applications, highlighting real-world examples of how biotechnology has benefited agriculture that can enhance the public and illustrate the palpable advantages of this breakthrough.

    Director-General/Chief Executive, National Biosafety Management Agency, Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra said Nigeria has the appropriate legal regime to regulate the application of the GMO technology in agricultural production.

    She noted that to safeguard human health, the rapid progress of modern biotechnology has given rise to new regulatory needs while taking advantage of the opportunities offered by it.

    She observed: “The application of modern biotechnology under a legal framework can, therefore, be a valuable tool for addressing the several global and national concerns/challenges in the areas of human health, agriculture, environment and industry.”

  • Nigeria eyes $1.37tr global biotechnology market

    Nigeria eyes $1.37tr global biotechnology market

    Director General and Chief Executive, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has called for an increased private sector to enable the nation to ride on a crest of entrepreneurial success and innovation to explore the global biotechnology market estimated at $1.37 trillion.

     According to him, biotechnology is emerging as a sunrise sector with a number of Nigerian organisations demonstrating successes in bio innovation and bio manufacturing is a highly anticipated and sought-after outcome, adding that the country was warehousing a promising biotech industry that needs more attention.

    Speaking at an Interactive session on Navigating Biotech Frontiers for Accurate Science Communication held in Lagos, Mustapha,  indicated that a number of  factors would aid  the  expansion of  the  sector, including  demand for  bio agriculture products boosted by  integration of technology into  plant breeding .

    He continued that the agency is supporting the agriculture sector with the infrastructure to make a transition from small scale to science driven farming with research for advanced technologies. 

    He posited: “Biotechnology, as many of you know, is a transformative field that has the potential to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation and the world at large. From agriculture to healthcare, from environmental conservation to industrial innovation, biotechnology is at the forefront of driving positive change. However, for agricultural biotechnology to reach its full potential, it must be understood, accepted, and embraced by the public. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that accurate and balanced information about agricultural biotechnology is readily available to all Nigerians. This will empower them to make informed decisions about its applications and impacts on our society.”

    He said for biotechnology to achieve its full impact, the media must play a crucial role in informing the public about advancements and their implications.

    His words: “It is the bridge that connects complex scientific discoveries with the broader society, translating technical jargon into understandable language, and fostering informed discussions. Therefore, it is imperative that we engage in a constructive dialogue on how the media can better cover agricultural biotechnology, biosafety and related topics.”

    Director General/CEO National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra,  reiterated  that  only confirmed safe genetically modified organisms (GMOs) GMOs  are  permitted in Nigeria.  She  maintained  that NBMA is committed to ensuring proper regulation of modern biotechnology and its products so that it does not cause harm to human health and the environment.

    The agency, she explained, ensures this through the application of laws, policies, regulations, guidelines, knowledge, techniques, measures, equipment, and procedures for minimizing potential risks that modern biotechnology and GMOs might pose on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking into account risks to human health and the environment.

  • Improve research for lecturers, students of Biotechnology, says don

    A professor of Biotechnology at the Ota, Ogun State based Covenant University (CU), Olawole Obembe, has urged the three tiers of government to further develop secondary and tertiary education.

    Obembe of the Department of Biological Sciences, is also seeking improved research in biotechnology, adding that the discipline should be based on long-term training rather than through seminars and workshops. This, he said, is in addition to aggressive funding of specialised biotechnology centres and agencies such as the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA); National Centre for Genetic Research and Biotechnology (NACGRAB); and Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), among others.

    Delivering CU’s 19th inaugural lecture at the university premises, Obembe, appealed to authorities across Africa to increase capacity for food production. This, according to Obembe, becomes necessary, particularly amid the grim prediction by the United Nations that an additional two billion individuals are most likely to be malnourished by 2050.

    Obembe, who spoke on the topic: “Subdue and dominate the earth: Plant Biotechnology for sustainable development’, admonished authorities to leverage plant biotechnology, which he described as the panacea for food, feed and fibre production.

    He said, “It is noteworthy that while the world’s population is increasing phenomenally in fulfilment of the mandate of creation, the size of the planet earth remains fixed and its resources also remain finite. This challenge has had its effect on socio economic development and the overall quality of life.

    “Plants are pivotal to the existence of life on the earth and in situations whereby population growth is exceeding food production, agriculture is as never before crucial to the economies and environments of the world.

    “Modern agriculture must meet the demands of the ever increasing population and expectation of improved living standards, in the presence of frightening harmful consequences of diminishing arable land and environmental pollution, plant biotechnology offers the world significant opportunities to subdue and dominate over the challenge of ever growing demand for food, feed and fibre production, as well as the need for good health and well-being, ensuring that more efficient use of the world’s limited resources and consequently contributing to sustainable development.”

    Obembe said Africa has the opportunity of profiting immensely from agricultural biotechnology because of its large population, rich yet uncultivated arable land which could be fully maximised.

    He continued: “African countries have the greatest potentials to benefit from modern agricultural biotechnology. This is due to the fact that about 70 per cent of the populations derive their livelihood from farming. The agriculture is the single largest employer of labour worldwide, providing income for 40 per cent of the current global population.

    “Agriculture contributes the largest source of income and jobs for poor rural households. Globally, 500 million small farms, most of which are still rain-fed, produce about 80 per cent of food consumed in major part of the developing world. It is noteworthy that 65 per cent of Africa’s workforce is employed by the agricultural sector, which also contributes 32 per cent of the continents’ gross domestic product.

    “Agriculture accounts for one third of Nigeria’s GDP and it is the leading employment sector, as it employs over two third of the country’s total workforce. Thus unlocking this sector holds the key to socio-economic transformation in African countries in general and Nigeria in particular. Africa is home to over half of the world’s uncultivated arable land and as such has limitless opportunities to leverage on new technologies.”

    Obembe noted that plant biotechnology may not directly play a role in attaining sustainable development goals (SDG4) which seeks to ensure quality and all-encompassing education for all, yet it can make indirect contribution by reducing hunger, poverty and improve health.

    “By increasing the wealth generating opportunities of the resource poor farmers in rural communities with provision of better crops, they (mall scale farmers) could afford to enroll their children in school, thereby increasing the percentage of school children.

    “It is generally believed that education is the foundation for improving quality of life as well as the key that will enable the achievements of several other sustainable Development Goals. With quality education, people can break from the cucle of poverty and can live healthier and sustainable lives, and in tolerance among other people thereby contributing to more peaceful societies.”

  • Improve research for lecturers, students in Biotechnology, says don

    A professor of Biotechnology at the Ota, Ogun State based Covenant University (CU), Olawole Obembe, has urged the three tiers government to further develop secondary and tertiary education.

    Obembe, of the Department of Biological Sciences, is also seeking improved research in biotechnology, adding that the discipline should be based on long term training rather than through seminars and workshops. This, he said, is in addition to aggressive funding of specialised biotechnology centres and agencies such as the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA); National Centre for Genetic Research and Biotechnology (NACGRAB); and Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), among others.

    Delivering CU’s 19th inaugural lecture at the university premises last week, Obembe, appealed to authorities across Africa to increase capacity for food production. This, according to Obembe, becomes necessary particularly amid the grim prediction by the United Nations that an additional two billion individuals are most likely to be malnourished by 2050.

    Obembe, who spoke on the topic: “Subdue and dominate the earth: Plant Biotechnology for sustainable development’, admonished authorities to leverage plant biotechnology, which he described as the panacea for food, feed and fibre production.

    He said, “It is noteworthy that while the world’s population is increasing phenomenally in fulfilment of the mandate of creation, the size of the planet earth remains fixed and its resources also remain finite. This challenge has had its effect on socio economic development and the overall quality of life.

    “Plants are pivotal to the existence of life on the earth and in situations whereby population growth is exceeding food production, agriculture is as never before crucial to the economies and environments of the world.

    “Modern agriculture must meet the demands of the ever increasing population and expectation of improved living standards, in the presence of frightening harmful consequences of diminishing arable land and environmental pollution, plant biotechnology offers the world significant opportunities to subdue and dominate over the challenge of ever growing demand for food, feed and fibre production, as well as the need for good health and well-being, ensuring that more efficient use of the world’s limited resources and consequently contributing to sustainable development.”

    Obembe said Africa has the opportunity of profiting immensely from agricultural biotechnology because of its large population, rich yet uncultivated arable land which could be fully maximised.

    He continued: “African countries have the greatest potentials to benefit from modern agricultural biotechnology. This is due to the fact that about 70 per cent of the populations derive their livelihood from farming. The agriculture is the single largest employer of labour worldwide, providing income for 40 per cent of the current global population.

    “Agriculture contributes the largest source of income and jobs for poor rural households. Globally, 500 million small farms, most of which are still rain-fed, produce about 80 per cent of food consumed in major part of the developing world. It is noteworthy that 65 per cent of Africa’s workforce is employed by the agricultural sector, which also contributes 32 per cent of the continents’ gross domestic product.

    “Agriculture accounts for one third of Nigeria’s GDP and it is the leading employment sector, as it employs over two third of the country’s total workforce. Thus unlocking this sector holds the key to socio-economic transformation in African countries in general and Nigeria in particular. Africa is home to over half of the world’s uncultivated arable land and as such has limitless opportunities to leverage on new technologies.”

    Obembe noted that plant biotechnology may not directly play a role in attaining sustainable development goals (SDG4) which seeks to ensure quality and all-encompassing education for all, yet it can make indirect contribution by reducing hunger, poverty and improve health.

    “By increasing the wealth generating opportunities of the resource poor farmers in rural communities with provision of better crops, they (mall scale farmers) could afford to enroll their children in school, thereby increasing the percentage of school children.

    “It is generally believed that education is the foundation for improving quality of life as well as the key that will enable the achievements of several other sustainable Development Goals. With quality education, people can break from the cucle of poverty and can live healthier and sustainable lives, and in tolerance among other people thereby contributing to more peaceful societies.”

  • Society urges FG to invest in biotechnology to avert food crisis

    Society urges FG to invest in biotechnology to avert food crisis

    Prof. Benjamin Ubi, President of Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, has advised the Federal Government to invest massively in Biotechnology to achieve food security and avert the impending food crisis across the globe.
    Ubi gave the advice in his keynote lecture at the Biotechnology awareness week and capacity building workshop in Umuahia.

    The occasion was organised by the Centre for Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia.

    The president of the society said that the rising global population and the growing impact of global warming and climate change posed serious adverse effect on agriculture production all over the world, hence the need to check the development.

    Ubi, a Professor of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Ebonyi State University, said that sub-Sahara Africa “is highly threatened by hunger and malnutrition.”

    He said that although Nigeria was not yet in the danger zone, “the country is presently at moderately high hunger.” adding that urgent measures became imperative to develop the nation’s diverse food crops through biotechnology.

    He said, “Nigeria is lucky because it has a diversity of food crops but we should not be lazy.Rather, we should find ways to develop and harness the crops for greater economic benefits and nutritional value.”

    The professor said that with biotechnology, Nigeria could achieve improved crop variety with the resultant high agricultural yield.

    In an address of welcome, the Acting Director of the institute, Dr Emmanuel Ekundayo, said that “Biotechnology is changing the world of science and the way of life of human beings around the world.”

    Ekundayo further said, “Modern biotechnology is creating breakthrough products and technologies to combat debilitating and rare diseases, feed the hungry, reduce environmental footprint, use less and cleaner energy.’’

    According to him, modern biotechnology also ensures ‘’safer, cleaner and more efficient industrial manufacturing processes.”

    He said that at least, “13.3million farmers around the world used agricultural biotechnology to increase yields, prevent damage from insects and pests and reduce farming impact on the environment.

    Ekundayo, however, expressed concern that the level of knowledge and capacity to achieve breakthrough in producing biotechnology was pitifully low in Nigeria.

    He listed the challenges limiting progress in biotechnology in Nigeria to include “intellectual apathy, paucity of facilities to do research in biotechnology and the low level of awareness about the potentialities of biotechnology.”

    He also called for investment in biotechnology, especially in the establishment of functional centres of excellence in biotechnology in the universities and research institutes across the country.

    Ekundayo, who said that forward-looking nations of the world were investing massively in biotechnology, called on the government to take cue from such countries toward the development of modern Biotechnology.
    “Capability in modern biotechnology will be a major factor for economic competitiveness in the 21st Century.”

    He said that the workshop was “designed to stimulate interest and promote knowledge about biotechnology in MOUAU and its environs in line with the mandate of the centre.”

    In a goodwill message to the workshop, Prof. Joseph Ukpabi, the Acting Executive Director, National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, described the potential of biotechnology as enormous.

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    Ukpabi was represented by a Director in the institute, Dr Ifeoma Ukwuonu.

    He said that the institute had acquired “decades of experience in the application of modern biotechnology tools in breeding, seed multiplication, disease diagnosis, food chemistry and industrial applications.”

    He also said the institute was ready to collaborate with MOUAU and other institutions in research on biotechnology that would be of mutual interest and for the nation’s economic viability.
    The Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Francis Otunta, expressed the hope that the workshop would come up with recommendations that would help in the development of biotechnology in the university.

    He was represented by the Deputy VC (Academic), Prof. Madu Iwe.

    The Chairman of the opening ceremony and Director, MOUAU Extension Centre, Prof. Ike Nwachukwu, commended the centre for organising the programme.

    He said that the recommendations that would emanate from the workshop would be beneficial to farmers, Nigeria and humanity in general.

    Nwachukwu described the theme of the workshop, ‘’Biotechnology: Key to sustainable food security,’’ as apt, in view of the current challenges facing agriculture and the environment.

    Read:Cuba to partner Nigeria in medicine, biotechnology

  • ‘Nigeria yet to tap benefits of biotechnology’

    ‘Nigeria yet to tap benefits of biotechnology’

    Prof. Lucy Ogbadu is the Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), an agency saddled with the promotion, coordination and deployment of cutting-edge biotechnology research development, processes and products for the socio-economic well-being of the nation. In this interview with Assistant Editor, Blessing Olaifa and Agriculture Correspondent,   Olugbenga Adanikin, she speaks on the prospect and challenges of running a technology-based agency, her mandate as new Vice President for International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) based in Italy, vis-à-vis issues of modern biotechnology and global politics of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Excerpts:

    Tell us about your mandate at NABDA

    The activities of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) are widespread, vast and covers the areas of agricultural biotechnology, medical biotechnology, environmental biotechnology and the recent area of biotechnology which deals with engineering, even though the genetic engineering is also found in all aspect of this sector, a particular department is dedicated to such activities which is genomics. So this essentially are the areas we look at in biotechnology but most importantly, whatever we do here must have positive bearing on the lives of Nigerians and beyond, which will make impact to the development of Nigeria.

    Let us look at the aspect of agriculture, the government is focusing on diversification, what role does the agency play?

    If the government desire is to use biotechnology to diversify the economy, there can be no other way of doing it except through biotechnology because biotechnology advances agriculture, if I may put it that way. What is biotechnology? It is the use of living things to make goods and provide the right services for benefit of mankind. So, it is essentially advanced agriculture. You cannot talk about improvement in agriculture without biotechnology. It is the technology you will now use to bring about the improvement in agriculture. So that is how closely knit agriculture and biotechnology are such that you cannot separate them. If you are talking about using agriculture biotechnology to bring improvement you are also talking about using biotechnology essentially.

    How can biotech improve farming with the use of cutlasses, what is the link?

    You see even when you have improvement in agriculture, that aspect of dredging is still there in the sense that you cannot expect improvement from agriculture without mechanisation. Even if you have been successful in bringing about improvement in the quality of seeds you are producing, even if you have succeeded in the quality of livestock, if you do not make use of technology in the physical aspect of cultivation which is mechanisation to cause you to expand your scope of production, you will still be at the elementary stage, thus the subsistence method of farming. The use of cutlasses and hoes cannot take us anywhere that is desirable for us to make any meaningful advancement in agriculture.

    To what extent is your agency contributing to food sufficiency target of the federal government?

    There is a specific agency that is devoted to that because like the definition I gave you, ours is using living things to provide services but there is another agency of government that is devoted to that aspect, it is under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, but what I am saying is that even after we have brought to hear our own efforts in this direction, if that sector is not developed and encouraged then whatever we produce or develop in terms of quality and quantity will still not be at optimal level because mechanisation has to do with the deployment of tractors which is not under our mandate. Because of our geographic location, the entire belt which we are located is convenient for agriculture, except for few places where there is desert. In the northern part of the country where there is severe impact of climate change, there is enough crop we can develop to resist drought with biotechnology. Experience has shown that even under natural environment with biotechnology and proper management, there is hardly any crop we can’t produce and even have more for exports. There is still a lot that we can do in that region. With biotechnology, crops that can withstand that environment can be developed. So there is absolutely no reason why we should be importing because experience have shown that there is hardly any crop even  those that were thought to be temperate crops that cannot grow in Nigeria, all of them under proper management in Nigeria can grow.

    What is the way out?

    The way out is to commit and devote adequate resources to this sector and ensure that the sector is well supported to carry out their responsibility.

    To what extent has the Federal Ministry of Agriculture embraced this technology?

    So far so good we have a good number of research institutes under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and all the confined field trials of all the genetically produced food crops are taken place in these research institutes, so it is to this extent that I believe that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is using the necessary effort to embrace this technology to bring about improvement in the agricultural sector. The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) in Zaria, based at ABU, National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) in Badeghi and National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike are domicile under Federal Ministry of Agriculture and they are the ones in charge of technologically-developed crops. They are the ones carrying out the confined field trials of these crops.

    Do you collaborate with them?

    Of course, we do, that is why I can call them at my fingertips, there is synergy between us and them that is why we do collaborate with them.

    There are concerns that if Nigeria embrace GMO foods it could be harmful and that the BT Cotton failed in Bourkina Faso. What is your take on this?

    I will tell you about the cotton story of Burkina Faso. Biotech cotton was introduced in Burkina Faso, and because they depend largely on cotton they were excited, because they were aware of the yield of this biotech cotton. However, the international rule requires that for you to introduce any new variety of crops you must get it adapted to the environment, you must get it to be accepted by that country, and so Burkina Faso provided a local variety of cotton into which this BT cotton was introgressed. This means that you cross-breed so that the desired character can be taken off the old variety. Burkina Faso also provided a short fibre length variety for cross breeding with the BT cotton. Initially, they were excited by the yield because the yield, by far was above what they have been used to. There was tremendous increase from their revenue generation coming from this BT cotton until the off-taking companies started to discriminate on the fibre length. They said they were interested in long fibre cotton and not short fibre cotton but it was short fibre length that was provided, so if they want the long fibre they have to wait to introgress the BT cotton into the long fibre so they will have long fibre cotton. That was the story of Burkina Faso, but the activist against that technology grabbed that and started a propaganda against biotechnology and said it was because biotech was introduced into Burkina Faso that is why this problem arose. But it is not true, the fibre length has not changed because whatever you sow is what you get. The yield has improved tremendously but the fibre length has not changed. But I want to tell you that the farmers who are cultivating this short length fibre are still not disturbed, they are happier. This is because the exposure to chemical and the impact of that on their health is now a thing of the past in the sense that they don’t have to spray up to eight times during one cropping season as it was in the past. They spray up to two times now because the biotech cotton is not an all-inclusive resistance to all pests. There are still some insects that disturb the crop so they still have to spray like two times to take care of those insects that are not covered, now which other story you may wish to refer to or is it India?

    The story of India is equally a propaganda in the sense that we have gone to India, talked to the farmers. There are three categories of farmers, the small holder farmers, the middle ones and the large scale farmers and all the three categories are happy with biotech cotton because one, the yield cannot be compared with the conventional one. Secondly, they get more money for their effort. Thirdly, they are healthier in the sense that they are no longer exposed to as much chemical on the farm as previously done, so it is all encompassing. Our own farmers are equally agitating because they know what their counterparts in Burkina Faso are enjoying they also know what their counterparts in India area also enjoying, those that have been privileged to travel out. Even in Pakistan, these are outstanding countries that are into cotton cultivation. They know what their counterparts are enjoying.

    What is the position of Nigerian farmers especially under the aegis of AFAN on GMOs?

    If I should put a call to Architect Kabir who is the President of All Farmers Association (AFAN), the answer he will provide will be more impactful, more apt in support of biotechnology than what I will give because he has seen it all, he has travelled around the world and he knows the whole stories and propaganda against biotech.

    You once said farmers may not be persuaded to embrace GM seeds, how do you intend to capture their interest since they are major stakeholders?

    May be you took half of my statement, if I say they cannot be forced to take it I must have gone further to say they do not need to be forced because they know the benefits, they see it and you do not need to preach to them, you don’t need to campaign to get them to accept. That must be what I meant and that is the story all over the world. You know farmers desire to have good seeds and it is through planting of good quality seeds they realise all other benefits associated with good quality seeds. So once they come in contact with good quality seeds even when you try to hide them they go looking for them. That is why you don’t need to campaign to farmers to pick up good quality seeds because that is the desire, that is what they desire to have. That must be what you were referring to.

    Since they have their doubts, how do you intend to convince them?

    Let me explain further because I know where you are heading to. The issue of farmers saving seeds over next planting season and having to buy new seeds every year. I believe that is where you are heading. Let me tell you the benefits of buying new seeds as against having to use the seeds from previous year. He does not need to be told before deciding which is better for him because if having to buy new seeds places you at an advantage over having to use the ones you have reserved, usually they have neighbours whose yields on their farm yields more than their own. They can see it close to their own, and that is enough to convince them on which seed to use. After all this, do we need to campaign to any farmer before they go to buy seeds they need from seed companies? No we don’t. When hybrid seeds first came it was the same story. If you continue to plant same seeds not that it will not grow but the yield will continue to decline so farmers now know this that they go straight to buy new seeds instead of reserving from their previous cropping for following year. As to the loss of jamplasm, the NABDA has a unit in Ibadan where we conserve/preserve all our jamplasm such that if we have need to refer back to them in future they are there. We have a seed bank in Ibadan. There all kinds of local seeds even before we were born are preserved in that gem bank, they are there in storage and with modern storage in biotech we have means of ensuring that all the genetic maps of all these seeds are stored for future use and reference.

    You were recently elected as the Vice President of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). What does this mean for Nigeria and Africa at large?

    To Nigeria it is recognition, and to Africa it is equally recognition in the sense that the International Centre for Genetic Engineering  and Biotechnology (ICGEB) is a project of the United Nations specifically, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). They started the programme to ensure that developing countries are carried along through biotechnology to begin to catch up with development. The essence of it is to ensure that the gap between developed countries and developing countries is narrowed through biotech so that was the main reason for setting up this centre for genetic engineering and biotech.

    How does this benefit Nigeria?

    I as Vice President, first of all as a board member, I cannot be there and not protect the interest of Nigeria. Secondly, as VP I cannot see anything that concerns Nigeria and not raise a voice on it, so definitely Nigeria stands to benefit from my contribution in that organisation, Africa in general. Being a global position, I must also be seen putting the entire organisation into consideration in whatever I do. So as they said I am first of all a Nigerian before being an African and before being a member of the global community.

  • Farmers endorse Biotechnology

    THE  President of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabiru Ibrahim, has expressed his group’s  support for the introduction of agricultural biotechnology.

    He spoke yesterday during the 2016 National Agricultural Show in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

    Ibrahim said:  “Farmers are in support of biotechnology but briefcase farmers are making noise about it.

    “We embrace biotechnology. We support it because it is the only thing that can take farmers out of poverty. If you check Burkina Faso, they are using BT cotton to ramp up the economy and Nigeria should do the same.

    “The good sign is that the clamouring from anti-GMO groups are not science-fixed. Nobody can touch the technology from the science point of view. It is sentiment and we don’t share that. We encourage people to embrace biotechnology and especially now that there is work going on to apply biotechnology to cotton.”

    Speaking on the benefits of the technology to farmers and the economy, the AFAN president said: “Cotton is a cash crop we will use to make money in Nigeria. Farmers will always have the option to discontinue subsistence farming. Genetically improve or modify seeds of corn can produce about 24 metric tons per hectare as against what we produce today, which is barely two tons per hectare. Soon, the farmers in your village will be supporting you to live in the city. He will not have to come to the city and the migration from the village to the city will stop once people can feed themselves, get some money, pay school fees, get medical care do every thing for themselves they will not come to the city.”

    On the role of the National Biosafety Management Agency, Ibrahim said: “The Bio-safety Bill that was passed shows the emphasis on safety in the use of GMO. I was a spokesman for the passage of that bill; the farmers understand that there are risks there but it can be mitigated by proper application of the technology and this is what happens all over the world. One can mitigate those risks by applying good practices and safety valves, which is why we have the Bio-safety bill and Bio-safety agency.”

  • ‘Biotechnology’ll boost farming, alleviate poverty’

    The use of modern biotechnology will boost farming and alleviate poverty among Nigerian farmers, National Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Karbir Umar, has said.

    Umar stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while commending the Senate for the passage of a bill seeking to establish the National Bio-Safety Management Agency.

    Biotechnology is the use of modern scientific techniques, including genetic engineering to improve or modify plants, animals or micro organisms.

    The National Bio-Safety Management Agency will regulate the application of biotechnology in the country and ensure that it does not have negative effect on human health and the environment.

    Umar said when the technology is applied it would boost yields and increase income of farmers in the country. “This is a welcome development; it will take our farmers out of poverty and out of subsistence farming.

    “Biotech enhances the yields of seeds; with minimum input, it will produce the desired high quantity, which when sold will increase the income of farmers,” he said.

    The AFAN chairman said the association was partnering with local and international seeds companies to further increase seeds accessibility to farmers.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to open up more windows for financing and the possibilities of processing all agricultural produce in the country.

    The chairman acknowledged that the government was making efforts to fund agriculture through the N220 billion micro, medium and small enterprise fund.

    He urged farmers to key into various government programmes and vote wisely in the forthcoming general elections, saying that if there is peace and security in Nigeria, agriculture will replace oil.