Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in
Abuja on Friday, experts said the theme,
‘Understanding the Role of Genetically Modified
Organism in Enhancing Food Security in Nigeria’ was
choosing due to increasing poor yields.
They said another factor that triggered the theme was
consumers’ increasing demand for better yields for
food.
According to them, Genetically Modified Organisms
have the potential to address problems associated
with crops in the area of rise in temperature, insects
and bacteria and generate income for farmers.
Genetic Engineering Methods
Guest speaker at the lecture and the country
coordinator, Mrs Rose Gidado, opened the forum.
While giving an insight on the topic, she defined
GMOs as plants, animals or organisms whose DNAs
have been improved using genetic engineering
methods to reduce or resist pest and agents causing
harm to them which if adopted will improve growth of
plants to assist efficiency.
Other speakers at the event further explained that the
technology had the potential to significantly increase
production of plants per unit area of land which
reduce pesticides and offer safer and more nutritious
food that would contribute to environmental
sustainability.
There have been fears that GMOs could have negative
effect on persons.
But the Nigerian government had on August 27
vowed to protect the public against any harmful
effects of Genetically Modified Foods (GMO).
The Director General of the National Bio-safety
Management Agency, Mr Rufus Ebegba, made the
promise on Friday while addressing reporters at a
forum in Abuja.
He said that though the technology had its pitfalls if
not properly supervised, it remains the sure way to
improve food production for Nigeria’s growing
population.
Mr Rufus assured Nigerians that his agency would
ensure that the implementation of genetically
modified organism as alternative to improving food
production was properly regulated.
GMO is a scientific process where the gene from the
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of a specie of animal or
plant is extracted and forced into the genes of an
unrelated plant or animal for improved yield.