Such resistance is expected, as new technologies often face skepticism, especially when addressing existing issues. GMOs are no exception.
Nigeria has been grappling with food insecurity for years, facing growing population pressures and increasing cases of malnutrition and hunger. Despite governments’ ongoing efforts to boost food production, hunger and malnutrition remain widespread.
Food security has consistently been a priority for successive governments, which have made substantial investments in agricultural production. However, the persistent challenge has been the lack of quality seeds and the absence of advanced technology.
Seeds are the foundation of agriculture, and high-quality seeds are essential for sustainable farming. Traditional breeding methods are insufficient to meet the growing demand for better seeds, which is where biotechnology has emerged as a promising solution for producing quality seeds.
In Nigeria, scientists, particularly those at the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, with support from the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and other partners, have utilized biotechnology to create genetically modified (GM) seeds that offer improved quality and higher yields.
At a symposium on Biotechnology Crops: Myths, Fallacies, and Facts, experts took the opportunity to address concerns raised by opponents of GMOs in Nigeria.
One key concern raised by critics is the environmental impact of GMOs. However, studies have shown that GM crops developed in Nigeria are designed to resist insects, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Excessive use of insecticides has been a major cause of environmental pollution, but GM crops require minimal pesticide use compared to conventional crops that often need multiple chemical treatments.
Professor Mohammed Ishiyaku, the Principal Investigator of Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea, explained how modern science has created a variety of cowpea that can withstand damaging insect infestations. Farmers can now use fewer chemical insecticides, spraying only twice instead of up to eight times, which significantly reduces environmental harm and crop loss due to insects that can destroy up to 80% of the yield.
Regarding the health concerns raised by anti-GMO advocates, Professor Ishiyaku emphasized that all GM products should undergo scientific evaluation, and their adoption should be based on scientific merit rather than unfounded claims.
He further pointed out that scientific advancements have led to the development of crop varieties with improved resistance to pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical sprays. Additionally, biotechnology allows for targeted genetic improvements, such as transferring beneficial traits across species, as seen in the development of pod borer resistant cowpea.
Before this innovation, over 15,000 cowpea varieties were tested for resistance to harmful insects without success. However, through modern biotechnology, a new variety that can resist insect infestation has been developed. This technology has also been applied to maize, creating insect-resistant varieties, which could significantly improve crop yields.
Professor Ishiyaku expressed concern that resisting the use of scientific tools would be detrimental to Nigeria’s progress and its agricultural development. He urged that all scientifically developed products be subjected to proper scrutiny and adopted based on their proven effectiveness.
Professor Muhammed Umar, a Cowpea Breeder at IAR, highlighted Nigeria's food insecurity, ranking 97th out of 140 countries despite being the largest producer of cassava and cowpea. He explained that much of Nigeria's cowpea production is dependent on heavy pesticide use to protect crops from insects, which limits both yield and market demand.
To address these challenges, a new variety of cowpea resistant to pod borer has been developed. The pod borer insect damages cowpea flowers, preventing pod formation or leading to pod destruction, significantly reducing harvests. This new variety promises to improve cowpea production, ensuring better yields and increasing demand for the crop.
