The introduction and promotion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have sparked significant tension and division within the agricultural sector, particularly when it comes to their role in improving food security. While proponents argue that GMOs hold the potential to address global food scarcity, opponents express concerns over their impact on biodiversity, human health, and traditional farming practices.
GMOs are organisms whose genetic makeup has been altered using genetic engineering techniques to achieve specific traits, such as increased resistance to pests or enhanced crop yields. Supporters of GMOs, including large agricultural corporations, advocate for their widespread adoption, believing they can significantly improve crop productivity, reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, and help secure food supplies in the face of growing global demand.
However, many farmers and environmental groups oppose the use of GMOs, citing a range of concerns. These include the potential environmental risks, such as cross-contamination with non-GMO crops, and the potential for health hazards from consuming genetically modified foods. Furthermore, critics argue that the dominance of large agribusinesses in the GMO market could lead to the loss of agricultural sovereignty, with corporations controlling the seeds and influencing farming practices, particularly in developing countries.
This has raised fears of undermining local farming traditions, eroding biodiversity, and shifting control away from local communities.
Currently, the agriculture industry is divided, with no clear consensus reached between farmers, agribusinesses, and governments on the future of GMOs. As the debate continues, the broader question remains whether genetically modified crops are a viable solution to global food insecurity or whether their risks outweigh their benefits.
in an interview with The Nation, the Director for Centre for Arid Zone Studies, University of Maiduguri,Prof Daniel Musa Gwary, emphasised the need for further research and public awareness on the long-term impact of consuming genetically engineered foods.
He called for greater collaboration between the agricultural and medical sectors to ensure a unified approach to the issues surrounding GMOs.
While he acknowledged the potential benefits of GMOs for food security and industrial development, he stressed the importance of more research to provide accurate and convincing information to all stakeholders, including farmers, seed companies, traders, and consumers.
His words: “if they look at other countries that have rejected GMOs,they become very skeptical about why Nigerians should accept it. There is a need to actually increase food production to meet demand and it is being seen that the use of GMOs can meet that requirement yet people are skeptical of the safety of GMO seeds. That is the problem.”
He posited that crops that are breed to resist first time diseases are okay. “I go with them. But those that are actually manipulated to bring in some foreign genes but yet medically and otherwise they are safety for our consumption is why we need to do a little more research. We have to do it both scientifically and medically to convince Nigerians beyond reasonable doubt that it is safe for our consumption. We should do a little more research both agriculturally and medically. The two branches of science should embark on research to convince the public before we can accept it and publicise their production.”
A plant breeder and the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) , Imo State University (IMSU) , Owerri, Prof Martin Onuh discussed the challenges and benefits of different seed technologies in farming.
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He emphasised that farmers are generally more inclined to accept seeds produced through conventional breeding methods, which are seen as familiar and less controversial.
While acknowledging that GMO seeds have been shown to increase food production, he pointed out that there remains significant hesitation among the public to adopt GMO foods due to perceived risks and concerns about their safety and long-term effects.
Onuh called on the government to create designated areas for traditional seed activities, ensuring that these practices continue to thrive, while also supporting the promotion and adoption of GMO seeds. This balanced approach, he suggested, would allow for the best of both worlds in addressing food security challenges.
He emphasised that local seeds are integral to farmers’ livelihoods, as they can be harvested, stored, and replanted each year, unlike GMO seeds, which have an annual shelf life.
He explained that farmers are avoiding GM plants because the seeds from these crops cannot reproduce after harvest.
He also raised concerns about the use of Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs), or ‘terminator seed’ technology, which prevent GM plant seeds from germinating, even if they are bred with wild relatives or cultivated on their own. The lack of viable offspring, he noted, prevents farmers from saving seeds for future planting.
Early last year, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) responded to concerns raised by the Global Prolife Alliance about the safety of GMOs. In their letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, NABDA and BSN emphasised that genetically modified crops, such as transgenic cowpea and TELA maize, have undergone rigorous testing and regulatory processes to ensure their safety before being released for commercial planting.
Director General of NABDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, highlighted that these GM crops are designed to benefit smallholder farmers by increasing yields and reducing production costs. He further stated that there is a broad international consensus on the safety of GM crops, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other global bodies. The crops, according to him, have been genetically engineered to resist pests, diseases, and environmental stress, are expected to ensure a more stable and abundant food supply.
The President , BSN, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu echoed this sentiment, stressing that the genetically modified crops have been thoroughly assessed to meet the highest safety standards.
Uzochukwu added that these crops will contribute to poverty alleviation, economic growth, and provide significant benefits to Nigeria’s smallholder farmers, the agricultural sector, and local communities.
However, a coalition of food safety experts, scientists, and farmers, including the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), raised concerns about the long-term health risks of GMOs and their negative impact on food sovereignty and security. The coalition advocated for agroecology principles, the revival of extension services, and the establishment of seed banks to support sustainable farming.
The Director of Programmes, HOMEF, Joyce Brown, emphasised that GMOs pose health risks and contribute to poverty due to the need for farmers to continuously buy new seeds, as GMO products cannot be reused. She criticised the unnatural nature of GMOs, pointing out the genetic manipulation involved, such as transferring genes between unrelated species, which she sees as a distortion of natural processes.
She also argued that Nigeria’s food insecurity problem cannot be solved through GMOs but requires addressing underlying issues such as poverty and lack of support for small and medium-scale farmers. She called on the Nigerian government and other African governments to recognize the unique aspects of local agriculture and adopt sustainable practices that align with local realities.
Last year, the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) led by Prof. Qristtuberg Amua, raised significant concerns regarding the introduction of the ‘Tela maize’ genetically modified crop into Nigeria. According to. Amua, the crop, despite being officially approved and introduced in collaboration with the Federal Government and NABDA was not engineered in Nigeria, contrary to official claims.
Additionally, Prof. Amua highlighted that Tela maize was rejected in Mexico, which adds a layer of skepticism regarding its safety and suitability for use in Nigeria. CEFSAR’s partners, including the Alliance for Action on Pesticide in Nigeria and Environmental Rights Action, have voiced their concerns and called on the government to provide more evidence supporting the necessity and safety of GMOs, particularly in light of the rejection of Tela maize elsewhere.
Amua also underscored CEFSAR’s mission to protect public health and ensure the safety of food in Nigeria.
