Stakeholders examine biotechnology application in agriculture

Although, for keen observers of development, the sharp division among the major stakeholders on whether to adopt the use of biotechnology or not should be expected.For those who are against biotech application, the greatest concern is in the area of health, saying it poses safety risks to people anytime they feed on genetically manipulated food […]

Although, for keen observers of development, the sharp division among the major stakeholders on whether to adopt the use of biotechnology or not should be expected.
For those who are against biotech application, the greatest concern is in the area of health, saying it poses safety risks to people anytime they feed on genetically manipulated food items.
 But for the protagonists, issues of health implications are spurious claims that lack scientific proofs. They said that if anything, the application of biotechnology offers a ray of hope to Nigeria of tapping into the many opportunities of modern farming to feed the populace.
Indeed, the discuss as to the acceptability or otherwise of biotech has assumed an interesting dimension at the commencement of the new millennium when Nigeria became a signatory to the global Biosafety Protocol which is also known as Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2000.
The frontier of discuss was to be expanded few days ago when a global agric-business exhibition, otherwise known as “Agra Innovate Nigeria” debuted in Lagos.
 Aside a number of other issues shaping the nation’s agricultural sector, both local and international experts, investors and other stakeholders alike took time out to discuss issues relating to biotechnology application in agriculture at the event. In fact, of greater interest was the session on: “Genetic Modified/hybrid seed technology: innovations, potential applications and benefits for Nigeria.”
According to the Deputy Director General of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Kenton Dashiell, the most fundamental issue in the practice of biotech is for people to have a perfect understanding of what it is all about.
He said: “There is a need to understand what biotechnology is all about. For me, bio-technology is the use of biology to create extra technology for the farmers to improve food production. Though, I know many now talk about Genetic Modified Organism (GMO) which is a small aspect of bio-technology.  Of course, I am aware of a law being put in place in this regard but I also think it is high time we started testing some of these crops since that is lawful in Nigeria now and if after testing they are found to be highly beneficial to farmers, then they should be supported.”
For the Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Nnamdi Meko, many of the fears being raised about biotechnology are unfounded. He insisted that the agricultural sector cannot develop without employing components of bio-technology.
“The truth is that we cannot develop agricultural sector without imploring components of bio-technology.  This is because you have to do it differently. You have to make use of high yielding/improved seedlings. You have to employ mechanisation either upstream or downstream.  So, obviously, the advantages of using bio-technology far outweigh its disadvantages.”
The Director/Chief Executive Officer of National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Ibadan, Dr Sunday Aladele, also described some of the fears being expressed as “anticipated fear which is not real”. He said it is recognition of those fears that made the federal government to be cautious about allowing the full-fledged use of bio-technology.
In his expert counsel, Prince Emma Ajayi, Managing Director/CEO, Swiss Biostadt said: “I have always told people who have been raising eyebrows about the GM crops that after all the major products of these crops are into food, feed, fiber and fuel. If we cannot start with food and feeds because of alleged health implications that these may have on human, I think we can start with fiber and fuel where they are not directly interfering with human beings. If we are through with those two, then, we can experiment with others too (that is food and feed).  Cotton, for instance, we don’t eat it. So, why not try with it? Why don’t we see how this will reflect on clothes that come out of such cotton?”
Interestingly, each of the stakeholders spoken to agreed that the introduction of bio-technology will significantly improve the nation’s agricultural sector, generate more employment and aid the country in its quest to be self-sufficient in food production.
While giving an update into the yet-to-be-passed Nigerian Bio Safety Bill currently before the National Assembly which many industry players said would be needed to regulate the practice of biotechnology, Rose Gidado, the Country Coordinator, Open Forum on
Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), who also works with National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said the possibility is high that the bill which has passed critical stages in the parliament will soon become a law.
She said: “As we speak, the bill is receiving attention both at the Senate and the House of Representatives. Public hearing was held for the bill last three weeks in the Senate…When the House resumes, it is expected that the bill would be looked into again. It will be deliberated on by the Committee of the whole. They said since the bill has been passed before and a public hearing held, the bill does not need to pass through all the rigorous processes of the past.”
While addressing journalists at the opening of the two-day summit, the minister of agriculture Dr Femi Adesina said in the last three years, Nigeria has been able to attract $5.6 billion into agricultural from investors both within and outside Nigeria.
Not a few stakeholders, therefore, believe that with the introduction of biotechnology within the sector, the nation stands the chance to benefit on a bigger scale, diversify its economy and reduce dependence on proceeds from sale of oil.