GMOs ARE SAFE — DG NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH DEVPT AGENCY
REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU
Nigerians have been enjoined to embrace biotechnology, especially in the area of agriculture to ensure food security and tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
The Director-General, National Biotechnology Research Development Agency, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, made the call in Owerri at a one day agricultural biotechnology workshop organized for early careers and young farmers in Imo State.
He said the programme was to encourage youths to embark on research that would help find solutions to poor agricultural yield, environmental degradation and pollution.
Professor Mustapha claimed that genetic modified organisms (GMOs) are healthy to both humans and the environment, noting that the innovation had given rise to the production of maize, cowpeas and cottons that are insect-resistant and high yield.
“We have people that are highly demanding maize, most especially in the poultry farming and you see how egg and chicken are very very expensive.
“So by having higher availability of maize and then the quality of maize that is very strong, the chicken and egg and all these associated feed that you use corn to produce is going to come down.
“We are telling people that they should embrace the technology, it is very very safe and there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
The Director General noted that scientist in the country had started producing organisms and supplying same to farmers to improve their yield, adding that efforts would be intensified to increase accessibility.
The Imo State Governor, Chief Hope Uzodimma, represented by the Director General Imo State Investment Promotion Agency, Professor Jude Nzeako, described biotechnology as a revolution in agriculture that would boost production.
He gave an assurance that his administration would empower the youths that had shown interest in biotechnology to improve the living standard of the people.
“In the next six months to one year you will be seeing new crops, new biotechnology products that can lead to food security.
“We have modified foods that the international community is exporting to us so there is nothing wrong now for us to begin to modify products to take care of diseases that are inherent in the system,” he insisted.
The President of the Biotechnology youth Vanguard in Imo State, Ms. Esther John, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the workshop.
She added that the workshop had afforded her the opportunity to learn that biotechnology was not just about manipulating genes but a solution to food crisis and environmental challenges.
The theme of the workshop, which was attended by both young farmers and students of biotechnology in tertiary institutions in the state, is “Cultivating Tomorrow’s Agricultural Innovators: Inaugural Workshop for the Agricultural Biotechnology Young Vanguard.”
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
