GMO: Experts advocate reform in Nigeria’s food system

Food and environmental experts on Friday called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s food system, highlighting the dangers of genetically modified organisms.

The experts made the call at the Sustainability Academy hosted by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) at the University of Benin.

The theme of the academy was, “Food Justice and Restoration”

In his address, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, HOME emphasised food justice, which he defined as the right to safe, healthy food, the rights of farmers to good seeds, land, and water, and the right of consumers to a healthy environment.

Bassey, a leading advocate for food sovereignty, expressed concerns over the growing adoption of GMOs in Nigeria, calling for the restoration of indigenous food systems.

According to him, the recent government approval of 12 varieties of genetically modified TELA Maize, threatens the rights of farmers, food security, and environmental sustainability.

“Food justice is about more than just access to food. It’s about the right of farmers to their seeds, the right of consumers to know what they eat, and the right of communities to a healthy environment,” Bassey said.

He argued that food should be a basic human right, but regretted that structural, political, and economic barriers, including poverty, flawed policies, and insecurity, had prevented many Nigerians from accessing adequate nutrition.

“Why are people hungry? What structural, political, or social factors are responsible for this? Does the current industrial agriculture system address these core issues?” he asked.

Bassey noted that malnutrition and food insecurity were rising in Nigeria due to economic hardship, inflation, climate change, and violent conflicts.

According to him, the commercial cultivation of GMOs can never address the root causes of hunger.

In his remark, Mr Princewill Igbinedion of the Edo Ministry of Agriculture canvassed for cultivation of natural foods.

According to him, the Edo government has mapped out different policies to ensure food sufficiency in the state.

For instance, he said, the state government for the first time allocated more than N70 billion for agriculture in the 2025 budget.

He urged the residents of the state to go back to farm in line with the policy of the current administration.

Earlier, Prof. Chris Omokaro, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, said the faculty had a promoter of natural foods; hence its position aligned with the HOMEF

A cross-section of participants at the session emphasised the need to restore food justice by embracing agroecology, which promotes natural farming methods, soil regeneration, and indigenous knowledge.

Initiatives such as Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and Zai technology were highlighted as successful grassroots solutions for improving soil fertility and food production.

The forum called on the Nigerian government to enforce GMO labeling, conduct independent risk assessments, and support small farmers instead of multinational seed corporations.
NAN / Foluke Ibitomi