Experts Call for Sensitization on Biotechnology In Farming

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have been called to pull resources together for effective communication and sensitization on gains of modern technology such as biotechnology in farming.

Specifically, the Coordinator of Alliance for Science, Nigeria, Opuah Abeikwen stated this during the 2022 edition of Science Hangout, an event where scientists meet with journalists and other stakeholders.

Abeikwen noted that the gains of biotechnology have been felt in South Africa with the introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) maize, and in Nigeria which has commercialised beans and cotton.

He said, “There are challenges in the agricultural system, all these years, research in conventional breeding has not been able to solve these challenges, but biotechnology has proven that it can conquer all these challenges and it continues to show that promise, we have the maize in South Africa, beans and cotton with very positive results in Nigeria.

“With our population and cultural settings and misinformation going out there, there is a need for collaboration and more partnership to foster communication of biotechnology. That is why the Alliance for Science is stepping in and we are coming up with this science hangout.” Speaking on the hangout, Abeikwen explained that it was more like an informal platform where scientists engage the media and other stakeholders in conversations that are based on scientific principles.

Speaking, the Country Coordinator of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Dr Rose Gidado, said misinformation has caused harm to the acceptability of biotechnology.

According to her, Anti-GMO has cultivated fear of the technology in the heart of Nigerians who are mostly emotional when it comes to negative stories. “Some of the challenges we are facing are people talking badly of the technology, antagonizing our efforts. In the cause of telling people the science behind the technology so that they can be comfortable, and confidence will be reposed in them, as soon as you are done, you may think that you have succeeded in doing that, but suddenly the Anti-GMO will go and say their own, and you know that people listen more to negative stories,” Gidado pointed out.

Agro Nigeria