The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated that there is a dire need to advance in modern agricultural biotechnology as over 800 million people are malnourished worldwide.
Its Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Dominique K. Kouacou, made the revelation during a high-profile panel discussion at the ongoing International Conference on Biotechnology 2024 (ICoB24) in Abuja.
Kouacou also noted the pivotal role of agricultural biotechnology in transforming agrifood systems globally, adding that more than 3 billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet, while in Nigeria, over 18 million people are at risk of food insecurity.
He stressed that the demand for food is rising steadily due to increasing populations and incomes, and the resources to meet this demand, such as land, water, and soil, are finite and increasingly threatened by environmental degradation and climate change.
Represented by Dr Ayodele Majekodunmi, he explained that systems must produce more food with greater nutritional value and less environmental impact, noting that there is a growing demand for non-food agricultural products for energy and feed, further straining resources.
“These systems must also be resilient to pests, diseases, climate change, and other shocks. There is a need to ensure that biotechnology in agriculture is significantly advanced for the understanding of complex mechanisms in plants, animals, and microorganisms.”
“As a specialised technical support agency, we continuously review traditional, maturing, and emerging biotechnologies for agrifood systems transformation. By carrying out this, it will facilitate knowledge sharing as a neutral broker through its various statutory bodies and direct support to governments according to national priorities,” he stated.
On genetically modified organisms, he opined that biotechnology encompasses much more than what we have today, stressing that it is essential in the livestock sector for developing high-yield breeds, feed production, and improving the diagnosis and monitoring of zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases.
Another speaker, Acting Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Dr. Khalid Ishiag, highlighted the importance of high-quality seeds for improving crop yields, food security, and sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.
Represented by Dr. Ebirade Zidafamor, Ishiag emphasised that seed certification ensures seeds meet specific standards, guaranteeing genetic purity, physical quality, and viability.
“Effective quality control processes, like testing and inspection, are vital for maintaining seed quality. We want to stress the need for strong regulatory frameworks to enforce seed quality and certification standards,” he remarked.
In his contribution, Dr. Okelola Folarin stated the benefits and relevance of plant varietal protection to food security, noting that it encourages the development of new crop varieties, promotes innovation in plant breeding, enhances farmers’ access to high-quality seeds, supports sustainable agriculture, and protects the intellectual property rights of breeders.
Dr. Folarin, however, recommended increasing awareness and capacity building, enhancing legal and institutional frameworks, strengthening collaboration among stakeholders, and leveraging technology and innovation for efficient PVP systems.
The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and the panel moderator, Dr. Rose Gidado, postulated that biotechnology has the potential to revolutionise various aspects of Nigerian life, from healthcare to agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Gidado maintained that modern biotechnology holds immense promise for transforming Nigeria for the better, describing it as a game-changer, transformer, and a beacon of hope for a brighter, healthier, and more sustainable future.
