By Chinyere Anyanwu
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has dismissed as false, misleading and unfounded allegations that genetically modified seeds constitute national security threats to the nation.
This was contained in a letter responding to a complaint written to the Senate President by Global Profile Alliance titled, “National Security Threat: Biotech Terrorism using GMO Seeds” and signed by Dr. Philip Njemanze.
The professionally worded response letter to the Senate President was jointly signed by the NABDA DG/CEO, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, and Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, who is the President of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN).
Director, Agricultural Biotechnology Department, NABDA, Dr. Rose M. Gidado, in a press statement yesterday, said the agency boss and Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu urged the Senate not to heed what it termed as “scientifically unfounded advice by the complainant”.
In the response letter, the agency pointed out that, “Genetically Modified (GM) crops are not a national security threat or form of biotech terrorism. They have been rigorously tested and regulated before commercial release to ensure safety for human health and the environment. GM crops have been consumed in Europe, America, South Africa, China and other parts of Asia for more than 25 years, without adverse effects.”
On the ban on GM crops by Kenya, which was cited as an example by the complainant, the agency said, “Kenya was misled into imposing a ban on GMOs in 2012, by uninformed extremist anti-GMO activists.”
NABDA boss, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, said 10 years later, in 2022, Kenya was forced to lift the ban after four seasons of drought and crop failure that were the worst it suffered in 40 years.
They pointed out that there is international scientific consensus on GM crop safety, upheld by regulatory agencies and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine globally, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), among others.
They added that Nigeria’s genetically modified products have also “passed the usual rigorous biosafety assessments before approval for commercial planting.”
On Transgenic Cowpea and TELA maize developed by Nigerian scientists, they noted that the benefit to smallholder farmers are enormous. The transgenic cowpea, according to them, is resistant to destructive pod borers, which typically destroy 80 per cent of cowpea crops. This resistance is helping farmers boost their yields several folds. TELA maize is drought tolerant and resistant to fall army worm to enable farmers optimise yield and profits.
On the high yielding TELA Maize, they disclosed that it presents significant advantages that directly contribute to the well-being of Nigerians. The advantages are increased crop yield, enhanced pest resistance, improved nutritional content, and economic advantages.
They urged the Senate to consider the “overwhelming international scientific consensus on the safety and benefits of transgenic crops and to continue supporting policies that promote agricultural innovation.”