The global evolution in science has lead to the emergence and adoption of agricultural biotechnology in many parts of the world. Agricultural biotechnology is a technology that allows scientists to produce seeds and crops that can withstand biotic and abiotic environmental stresses such as pest and insect diseases, extreme temperatures, climate change effects and drought by modifying the genes of plants using Genetic Engineering. Plants that are produced using genetic engineering techniques are called genetically modified crops (GM crops) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The adoption and use of GM crops in developed countries such as USA, Brazil, China, India, Argentina, Canada and South Africa have resulted in a significant impact in the agricultural sector.

 

However, the introduction of agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria and the journey towards adopting GM crops on the Nigerian soil has been greeted with hysteria, and “Anti-GMO” controversies have ensued. This is not quite surprising. With the broken educational system in Nigeria, poor teaching and understanding of science and biology, Nigerians become easily gullible to “fictions” rather than factual information. Some of the major areas of controversy include; environmental impacts, food safety, market and economic issues.

Let me categorically state, that GM crops have not been commercialised in Nigeria and therefore are not found in the Nigerian grain market as against the widely spread rumours that GM crops have been released. However, the regulatory agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating the use of GMOs in Nigeria, known as National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has announced that some GM crops are currently undergoing confined field trials in different parts of the country and will soon be commercialised after due approvals.

 

One the issue of environmental impacts, there’s a widely spread fiction by “anti-GMOs” lobbyists that the use of GM crops will create superweeds and destroy biodiversity. This is unscientific, GM crops are just another way of using herbicides and the use of herbicides for many years has not resulted in superweeds. Also, GM crops are much easier to breed into different crop varieties since they contain only one or a few new genes added, thus increasing biodiversity. It is also a false belief that “genes” can flow from GM crops and pollute other crops in the environment. Gene flow takes place between all crops whether GM or non-GM. Conventional hybrid crops can readily pollute local GM crops varieties.

 

The notion that GM foods are not safe and unhealthy without any scientific evidence has continued to spread like wildfire. Therefore it is noteworthy to mention, that in the history of humankind no food has ever been subjected to such rigorous tests and field trials as those derived from GM crops. Many people have died as a result of allergy and toxins from conventional crops. Nonetheless, in our fertile continent, South Africa is the largest producer of GM crops and is ranked 9th in the world. Staple foods such as maize are genetically modified and consumed for about 20years with no effects on human health. To buttress my points on the safety of GM foods to man and his environment, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) stated in 2004 that “No deleterious effects from consumption of foods derived from GM crops discovered in anywhere in the world”. Equally, in 2010 the EU Commission Directorate for research stated: “No new risks to human health or the environment from any GM crops commercialised so far”.