Abuja: The Federal Government announced on Monday that it plans to foster public trust in biotech innovations to enhance the nation's agricultural sector. Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, the Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), shared this at a public forum organized in partnership with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the forum, themed 'Advancing Agricultural Biotechnology for Food Security and Economic Growth in Nigeria,' highlighted the Federal Government's recognition of the transformative potential of agricultural biotechnology in the country. Mustapha, represented by Dr. Rose Gidado, Director of Agricultural Biotechnology Department at NBRDA, emphasized the promise of biotech innovations in addressing agricultural challenges such as pandemics. He outlined the potential for developing resilient crop varieties, improving pest and disease resistance, and enhancing nutritional content while ensuring sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin, Director of Product Development and Commercialisation at AATF, stated that responsibly developed and effectively adopted agricultural biotechnology offers powerful tools to combat food insecurity. He noted that Nigeria, along with Kenya and Ghana, has made significant strides in commercializing biotech crops like Bt Cotton, Bt Maize, and PBR Cowpea, representing opportunities to transform lives, improve farmer livelihoods, and enhance national food systems. Okogbenin, represented by Yarama Ndirpaya, AATF Tela Programme Manager/Out-Grower Strategy Lead in Nigeria, stressed the need to overcome hurdles such as regulatory uncertainties, misinformation, and public scepticism that hinder the adoption of scientific innovations.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Patricia Lar, highlighted the monumental challenges faced by agriculture in Nigeria, including climate change, pest infestations, and soil degradation, which threaten the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. Represented by Prof. Ahmed Dan-Kishiya, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Lar expressed optimism that agricultural biotechnology could be harnessed to combat hunger in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of platforms for evidence-based dialogue to build common understanding and collaboration.