Nigeria needs biotechnology to enhance food security – ASN

[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]

Alliance for Science Nigeria (ASN) has harped on the benefits of biotechnology saying saying Nigeria needs to deploy the science to enhance food security.

The ASN made this known in Calabar during a Science Hangout organised to boost public education on bio-safety regulations and biotechnology applications in Nigeria.

It was held in partnership with Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology and themed: Food security, socio economic development and genetically modified crops in Nigeria.

Opuah Abeikwen, the coordinator of the ASN in Nigeria said despite breakthroughs, the concept is unknown to many.

He said Nigeria is facing a major food challenge and so there is need to deploy the science to enhance food security in the country. 

“Despite the various breakthroughs that biotechnology has shown, there is still a public misunderstanding of its benefits.

“In Nigeria, a report released early this year 2022 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) estimated that the universal food crisis will affect 19.4 million Nigerians in 21 states 

“The concept of biotechnology is unknown to many, therefore, public enlightenment on its use, benefits and contributions are crucial to enhancing food security and socio-economic activities in the country.

“With a simple technique, crops can be developed to resist pests, withstand drought and increase productivity” he said.

Also speaking, the guest lecturer and Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research ABU, Zaria Professor Mohammad Ishiyaku said there is a potential for development from science which our society should leverage on.

He said the role of GM crops is to improve the productivity of the crop to enable them withstand adverse weather effect like drought, heat and improve their nutritional value. 

Rose Maxwell Gidado, the Country Coordinator of OFAB Nigeria Chapter said the application of agricultural biotechnology to create more fertile and resistant plant resources has been used to achieve food security in some advanced countries. 

In her words, “in the future, biotechnology may revolutionize the way we think.

“Technological advances have dramatically triggered the rates at which plant transformation can be achieved to meet our specific needs at every phase of life”, she said. 

On his part, Ekerete Emmanuel, a scholar from the University of Calabar decried the dearth of science communication in our communities. 

He expressed hope that the Science Hangout will help breach the gap in science knowledge among farmers in the state.