Scientists, farmers, others meet to share knowledge on biotech

Scientists met with farmers and other stakeholders in Abuja Thursday for a special session on “Sharing is Believing” at the current 2024 International Conference on Biotechnology.

The session was organised by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria Chapter, under the auspices of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The event sought to increase public, industry, and policymakers’ awareness of Nigeria’s agricultural biotechnology achievements and future opportunities, as well as to foster better collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders in the country.

Dr Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director, Africa, Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), said farmers in Africa lose everything every time because of insects, poor infrastructure, climate change, and poor extension services among others.

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“We have that responsibility as researchers, as policymakers to create the enabling environment to create change in the system,” he said.

He told farmers to ignore unnecessary misinformation, adding that the technology has been consumed in many countries for decades, noting that life expectancy in the countries that have had GMOs for decades is still better.

Dr Kanangire emphasised that it was abnormal to accept it in other areas and not accept it in food, noting that vaccines, which are injected directly into the bloodstream, are direct products of biotechnology.

Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), said that biotechnology “is at the forefront of scientific innovation, transforming healthcare, agriculture, environmental conservation, and beyond. We are not just witnesses but active participants in a revolution that promises to redefine our future.”

He stressed the need for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, as “no single entity can advance biotechnology alone; it requires concerted efforts from governments, research institutions, private sector stakeholders, and the global community.”

On her part, Dr Rose Gidado, Director, agricultural biotechnology at NBRDA, said that “overall, the project aims to promote a supportive environment for agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and advocacy to enhance food security and crop production.”

The event was attended by agricultural biotechnology researchers and scientists, policymakers, non-governmental policy influencers, representatives from the agricultural industry and agribusinesses, farmers association representatives, professional association representatives such as the Genetic Society of Nigeria, the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association, the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology and other international organisations.