The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) has advocated the adoption of biotechnology-driven crop production to enhance food security and economic prosperity in Nigeria.

The agency reassured the public of the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops for human consumption and the environment, noting that there has been no recorded threat from their application in Nigeria so far.

The Director-General of NBRDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, gave the assurance on Monday in Kano during a sensitisation workshop for farmers, extension workers, and seed producers from Kano and Jigawa states.

Professor Mustapha explained that the approval of genetically modified crops and related improved crops varieties follows a rigorous process supervised by the National Biosafety Management Agency. He also sought to demystify concerns and campaigns against the technology.

The Director-General stated that adopting GM crops would improve farmers’ livelihoods through increased yields and early harvests. He added that the technology has the potential to significantly address food insecurity through enhanced productivity.

“GM crops are designed to resist pests and diseases that normally destroy crops. Because the plants are stronger, farmers can achieve higher yields per hectare more food for their families, more produce to sell, and increased income.

“By implication, the adoption of GM crops will reduce spending and lower the risks associated with chemical applications. Many farmers spend heavily on pesticides, which can be expensive and dangerous if misused. With GM crops, farmers will use fewer chemicals, reduce input costs, and better protect their health and that of their families,” he said.

According to the DG, “Before GM crops are approved for use by farmers in Nigeria, they undergo a thorough evaluation process led by the National Biosafety Management Agency.

“The crops are examined by experts to ensure they are safe for humans and the environment. Many countries around the world have been using GM crops for over 20 years, with no proven harm to human health,” Professor Mustapha explained.

The Chairman of the Seed Company Association, Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya, also expressed confidence in the capacity of regulatory agencies to ensure seed safety and dismissed allegations about harmful seeds in the country.

Kibiya emphasised that Nigeria must adopt genetically modified crops to achieve food security, noting that traditional agricultural practices alone are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of the country’s growing population.

“For Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, the need for technology to improve and increase crop production is inevitable. Those opposing GMOs are, in effect, resisting development.

“These technologies are being developed in our own universities, not imported blindly. As someone who has been involved in agriculture and seed production in Nigeria for decades, I can confidently say that GMOs are safe.

“Beyond agriculture, many of our medicines are products of genetic engineering, and the technology has advanced globally except in places where resistance holds progress back,” Kibiya added.