Sylvester Oikeh, TELA/BMSS project manager at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, has cautioned anti-GMO activists against demonising genetically modified organisms.

Mr Oikeh assured the public in an interview that GMO products are safe.

“GMO products are safe and have come to stay in Nigeria, and what I appeal is for us to stop demonising it and embrace the technology because technology has come to stay,” stated Mr Oikeh.

The AATF project manager said increased anti-GMO technology activism in Africa with efforts to stop African farmers from growing genetically engineered crops, with court cases, is another challenge.

“Genetically engineered crops like TELA maize are safe because of the rigorous biosafety regulatory approval process involved. What we need is to work with the various agencies involved, including the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, the National Biosafety Management Agency among others that are core developers of this technology.

“This would enable us to get the best of the technology to our farmers,”
Mr Oikeh said.

He added that he was getting testimonies that farmers were happy with the technology.

He said his foundation, in partnership with NBRDA, was able to bring the technology to farmers who were excited that they had a new product to add to maize production in Nigeria.

Mr Oikeh added that with more hard work and cooperation, the product could be sustained in the hands of farmers.

According to him, a seed system that promotes the best quality of the products should be developed using interested seed companies to produce the seeds and sell them to farmers at affordable prices.

He said that comparative assessments showed GM maize and conventional maize were similar in phenotype (observable) and agronomic characteristics, except for introduced drought tolerance and insect protection traits.

The expert added that demonstrated similarities exist in the nutritional composition of GM maize and conventional maize focused on proximates, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, anti-nutrients, and secondary metabolites.

Highlighting post-GM release approval conditions, Mr Oikeh disclosed that every approval comes with stringent conditions. He said these included safety and environmental monitoring conditions, reporting conditions, stewardship requirements, movement permit requirements, and consumer information labelling.

“General safety conclusion is that farmers will use less pesticides with biotech maize, and excessive pesticides harm to pollinators will be avoided.”

He also mentioned prolonged delay in receiving environmental release and variety release approvals for commercialisation in some countries due to limited political will, as one of the major challenges.

(NAN)