By Seun Adams
The United States Department of Agricultural-Foreign Agriculture Service in Nigeria (USDA) Counselor, Mr. Christopher Bielecki, has acknowledged that Nigeria is one of the continental leaders that has made progress in use of biotechnology to drive food security.
Recall the success and inspiring stories attained by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and its research partners as showcased at the just concluded International Conference on Biotechnology 2024 (ICoB24) on the recent commercialization of the Tela Maiza crop, PBR Cowpea and BT Cotton and how this breakthrough is revolutionizing good agricultural practices with tangible benefits in pursuit of food security.
The NBRDA’s DG/CEO, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has acknowledged testimonies from farmers across the country who are benefiting from products of modern biotechnology in the country such as the pod borer resistant cowpea that is helping farmers overcome the devastating impacts of marcuca vitrata that causes 80 percent destruction on the farmers’ field.
“Our farmers are also planting Bt. Cotton, another innovative product from modern biotechnology that is changing the game in cotton farming and the hope of the textile industry revival is on course.” The DG, asserted.
It is on this premise that USAD, said the United States is therefore willing to support the country in its food security drive using its biotechnology tools and biosafety goals.
Bielecki, made the disclosure at a workshop and training for influencers and reporters on biosafety/biotech regulations, organized by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Environment.
He said: “I am pleased to join you once again at the Abuja edition of this training: “I appreciate the host of this event, the National Biosafety Management Agency, most especially it’s DG, Dr. Yemisi Asagbra, and all media personnel present.
He added that the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is proud to partner with the agency to organized these series of trainings with the aim of supporting the country in advancing it’s agricultural biotechnology and biosafety regulations as they play a critical role in boosting food safety, rural livelihoods, and adaptation to climate change.
According to him, the first edition of this training was held in Lagos two weeks ago where the department received feedbacks on how the workshop helped media professionals increase their scientific knowledge of these novel technologies, and their understanding of the role of the agency in ensuring safety in the use and application of modern biotechnology.
We hope this second edition achieves same purpose as well and more, he added.
“Sometime in July, we also partnered with the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency to organize a national symposium on agricultural biotechnology and food security titled: “Sharing is Believing”.
“The symposium was a platform for Nigerian agricultural biotechnology researchers and experts to share advances, discuss challenges, and debunk myths and misconceptions about the technology.
According to him, agency’s specific objective is to promote agricultural trade between Nigeria and the United States, explaining that USDA is at the forefront of working collaboratively with local partners to support the development of Nigeria’s domestic agricultural systems.
“We do this by providing fellowship and exchanges training programs, and events held in Nigeria, such as this one that we are happy to be supporting.
“We believe advancements in agricultural biotechnology, coupled with a science-based, transparent, and timely regulatory framework can give farmers more tools to produce food, which will help not just drive economic empowerment for farmers and rural communities, but also reduce food insecurity in Nigeria, just as it is doing in the United States.”
He acknowledged that Nigeria has become a continental leader in developing and evaluating new crop varieties for its local farmers utilizing modern agricultural biotechnology and as such, today’s specialized communication training is aimed at enlightening participants to the science of agricultural biotechnology and on the regulatory frameworks of NBMA to ensure safe use and application of modern biotechnology.
He added that supporting this workshop is our own little way of upholding a standard of excellence for communication experts and opinion influencers.
My hope is that insightful discussions and enlightenment will ultimately foster a network of informed journalists and opinion influencers who can contribute to not just the national, but the international, dialogue on biosafety and modern biotechnology, he said.