NGO seeks clarifications on GMOs
Every Woman Hope Centre (EWHC), an NGO, on Tuesday called on Nigerian scientists and all stakeholders to handle the issue of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) with scientifically proven information.
The Executive Director of EWHC, Mrs Edel-Quinn Agbaegbu, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
“We have been active in the promotion of proper regulatory process in the application of the technology in Nigeria, with the view to preventing any adverse effect on human health, animals, plants and the environment.
“And there have been a lot of distortions, misrepresentation of facts and misconceptions in the information already dished out about GMOs and this is quite unfortunate; it is an embarrassing development in Nigeria.
“Therefore, stakeholders should properly and effectively pass on their messages as regards the issues of biosafety foods as long as they are backed by credible scientific evidence,’’ she said.
Agbaegbu noted that there were accusations and counter-accusations concerning GMOs but urged all parties to be professional and unbiased about their findings on the benefits or otherwise of GMOs.
“ The world is moving to modern technology and Nigeria should not be an exception. Do we really wish to have a science-based society or should we let ourselves be governed by prejudices and misconceptions?
“Some stakeholders like Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Women Environmental Programme and Initiative for Peace, Empowerment and Tolerance are calling for more scrutiny of the activities of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA)
“For example, they are saying that the issuance of permit by NBMA to Monsanto Agricultural Nigeria Limited for confined field trials with genetically modified-insect/pest resistant NK603 and MON89034 X NK603 maize in Nigeria and commercial release into market of genetically modified-insect/pest resistant BT.cotton should be nullified.
“And I ask again: Is the call based on scientific evidence that the health of Nigerians and the environment is in danger? Or is it an attempt to set Nigeria backward to the era of crude agriculture?’’ she asked.
Anti-GMOs activists alleged that NBMA and Monsanto did not organise public hearings to seek the views of the public before the licence was granted and that the two agencies did not take into consideration the prevailing health and environmental concerns around GMOs.
Agbaegbu said that EWHC was a key advocate of good governance which engaged in public enlightenment, advocacy and research activities.
“From our findings, biotechnology or GM crops have been offered as a modern crop development tool to address the onslaught of pests and diseases, the vagaries of weather and other challenges facing growing crops.
“It gives higher economic and yield benefits, freedom or reduced infestations from cotton bollworm or corn borer and dramatic reduction in pesticide use and frequency of spraying.
“And the above factors motivated the adoption of GM cotton in three countries namely China, India and Philippines,’’ she added.
Agbaegbu said that four countries in Europe — Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic and Slovakia — grew more than 136,000 hectares of biotech maize in 2016, an increase of 17 per cent from the 2015 figure; reflecting the need of the European Union (EU) for insect-resistant maize.
“Also in 2016, Brazil increased its cultivation of biotech maize, soybeans, cotton and canola by a remarkable 11 per cent, maintaining its ranking as the second largest producer of biotech crops after the U.S.
“In Brazil, biotech soybeans account for 32.7 million hectares, out of the 91.4 million hectares grown worldwide, and in 2016, a total of 26 countries, consisting of 19 developing countries and seven industrial countries, grew biotech crops.’’
Agbaegbu stressed that global development and sustainability issues nowadays were based on science.
“Biotechnology is one of the tools necessary in helping farmers to grow more food on less land.
“However, the promises of biotech crops can only be unlocked if farmers are able to buy and plant these crops, following a scientific approach to regulatory reviews and approvals.
“Granted that our health and biodiversity are indeed our strength, all efforts should, therefore, be concentrated towards ensuring its adequate protection and preservation through effective biosafety regulations,’’ she said.
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