In a continuing attempt to inform Nigerians about the safety of genetically modified crops, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), has solicited the help of medical professionals to close the biotechnology knowledge gap in the country.
Speaking at a one-day sensitization programme for medical practitioners in Abuja with the theme “science, safety and benefits of agricultural biotechnology products,” he said collaboration with the medical professionals will further bridge the awareness gap among consumers.
“Nigeria is faced with challenges of rapid population growth and urbanization hence the need to double food production by 2050; In essence, Nigeria is growing poorer, and the agricultural environment is deteriorating. Seed varieties perform low and are obsolete and do not correspond to the new climatic factors. There is high pressure of insect pests and diseases. Soil fertility is low and there is lack of capital funding for investments,” Prof. Abdullahi said.
He urged doctors and other key players to support the federal government’s efforts to increase food availability and productivity by working with NABDA to expand Nigeria’s biotechnology expertise, noting that the nation needs modern technology for increased and sustainable food production.
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According to the DG, it is crucial that medical professionals who work with the public on a daily basis are informed about all the safety measures put in place by the government to make sure that the use of the technology doesn’t hurt Nigerians or the environment.
The DG argued that going by the crucial responsibilities medical professionals play in patient care and other crucial facets of the nation’s healthcare system, it is vital that medical professionals are at the forefront of this discussion.
Given the number of GM crops that have been successfully created and sold, as well as the large number of others that are in various phases of development, he highlighted that the deployment of biotechnology in Nigeria has produced great rewards. The workshop is anticipated to close all knowledge gaps between agricultural scientists and medical professionals on the effects of GMOs, according to Dr Rose Gidado, Director of the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology at NABDA.
Dr Gidado noted that scientists have used living things and biological processes to improve life on earth through the use of biotechnology, and he added that biotechnology application has become extremely necessary in almost all sectors of the economy, particularly in the health sector, where various vaccines are saving lives.
“The application of biotechnology cuts across various fields ranging from medicine to industry, environment and agriculture, among these sectors, agriculture is the most important, because agriculture provides food without which human cannot survive in addition to serving as the resource factor for other sectors including medicine, industry and environment.”
The one-day sensitization workshop was organized in cooperation with the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), the National Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC).
