Enhancing Food Production
The application of biotechnology in agriculture has led to significant advantages, including increased crop yields, reduced production costs, and enhanced nutritional value in food.
Nigeria faces a critical juncture, grappling with soaring food prices, security challenges, conflicts between farmers and herders, and the impacts of climate change. Records indicate that Nigeria has spent more than N7.8 trillion on food imports over the last six years, surpassing the budgets of neighbouring nations. However, the country holds the potential to transition from being a net importer to a food exporter by effectively implementing robust agricultural policies crafted by previous administrations.
Despite these challenges, hope remains. Globally, governments are investing in agricultural biotechnology to address their food demands. By 2025, the use of biotechnology in agriculture is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.0 percent.
It’s imperative for Nigeria not to overlook this trend to meet its food requirements. The nation must move beyond traditional farming tools like hoes and cutlasses to satisfy its food demand. Nevertheless, despite its efficiency, biotechnology in agriculture also carries risks.
Benefits of Agricultural Biotechnology
Similar to other sectors, technological advancements are key to rapid progress in any industry. In developed economies, biotechnology has boosted productivity, minimized environmental impact, and elevated food quality in agriculture. Through biotechnology, scientists have engineered Genetically Modified Crops (GMCs). Nigeria is among the leading African nations adopting genetically modified (GM) crops, alongside South Africa, Ethiopia, and Malawi.
A report from THISDAY in 2019 revealed that Nigeria sanctioned two GM crops, pest-resistant BT cotton and cowpea, crucial for the country’s economic development and food supply chain. Biotechnology has also enhanced seed quality elsewhere and proved more effective in improving crops that sustain the global population, including the development of herbicide-resistant varieties during harvest. Additionally, through agri-biotech, biofuels have been created to counteract greenhouse gas emissions, posing no harm to the food supply chain, as stated by crop scientists.
In September this year, stakeholders within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain rallied behind agricultural biotechnology, stressing its urgency to amplify food production in the country.
During an interactive session on navigating biotech’s frontiers for accurate science communication in Lagos, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA), highlighted biotechnology as a transformative field capable of tackling the nation’s most pressing challenges. He emphasised the need for public acceptance and understanding of agricultural biotechnology, a responsibility he believes lies with the federal government to ensure accurate information is readily accessible to all Nigerians.
He underscored the crucial role of media in communicating the benefits of agricultural biotechnology, bridging complex scientific discoveries with broader society, and facilitating informed discussions.
Risks Associated with Biotechnology
Biotechnology in agriculture poses several risks, albeit unproven. Some specific risks include the potential loss of genetic diversity, environmental impacts, and concerns about food safety. Critics argue that the loss of genetic diversity could lead to the potential replacement of native species and a reduction in crop variety.
Reports also highlight the emergence of insect resistance to crop protection as a threat to the environment. The agency responsible for agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria defended its position, citing the vulnerability of Nigerian agriculture to climate change, leading to decreased agricultural production, especially in the northern states, due to higher temperatures, prolonged droughts, floods, and other related circumstances.
Dr. Rose Gidado, the Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Department at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), emphasised that biotechnology offers tools to enhance agricultural productivity and safeguard food crops from climate changes like heat, floods, and drought.
Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), highlighted the rapid advancement of modern biotechnology and the necessity of new regulatory requirements to protect human health and the environment while leveraging biotechnology’s potential for the country.
In All
The ethical implications of agricultural biotechnology have sparked numerous debates. Scholars have voiced concerns about its ethical implications, while others champion its potential to boost food production and security, improve crop quality, and reduce synthetic pesticide use, benefiting farmers and consumers.
However, concerns about overproduction, unnatural biological diversity, and the dominance of multinational agribusiness corporations have also been raised.
Despite diverging opinions, agricultural biotechnology has a long history and has been used to enhance agriculturally important organisms through selection and breeding. The ethical discourse surrounding agricultural biotechnology reflects broader concerns about societal norms, beliefs, and values, emphasising the necessity of understanding and tolerance to prevent social conflict.
Ultimately, the ethical considerations of agricultural biotechnology entail balancing the pursuit of the greatest good for farmers and the environment while upholding sustainability.
Currently, the Nigerian government faces a pivotal decision on whether to heavily invest in initiatives driving agri-biotech development or choose to abstain due to perceived risks associated with deploying agricultural biotechnology.
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