Benin, Oct. 17, 2024 (TheGavel) – Public health and food experts have raised alarms over the gradual introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into Nigeria’s food system, labeling the practice as potentially harmful to the health of consumers and the environment. This was the focal point of discussions during a webinar hosted by the Home of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) to mark World Food Day 2024.
The experts urged the Federal Government to take urgent measures to address the growing presence of GMOs in the country’s food supply, warning that the use of these organisms threatens Nigerians’ right to safe and nutritious food.
Joy Brown, Director of Programme at HOMEF, highlighted the dangers posed by modern agricultural biotechnology, particularly in relation to consumer rights, farmer welfare, and environmental sustainability. “We are using this event to highlight the implications of modern agricultural biotechnology on consumers, farmers, the environment, and the overall food system,” Brown said.
Brown, a public health expert, stressed that the approval of GMOs by the government violates the fundamental rights of Nigerians, urging authorities to consider the human rights implications of their decisions regarding GMOs.
Another speaker, Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, expressed concern over the inefficiencies in the nation’s regulatory system, particularly regarding product labeling. She explained that consumers often lack the ability to identify genetically modified products due to poor labeling practices.
“Our markets are not designed in a way that allows consumers to easily differentiate between organic foods and GMOs,” Bassey-Orovwuje noted. “This is a critical issue of consumer rights.”
Bassey-Orovwuje also criticized the dependency of farmers on biotechnology companies for seeds, arguing that it undermines traditional seed-saving practices. “The productivity of genetically modified seeds declines after the first generation, forcing farmers to rely on purchasing new seeds each season,” she said.
Dr. Segun Adebayo, Deputy Director at the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research, pointed out flaws in Nigeria’s GMO approval process. He emphasized that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) does not provide sufficient risk assessments or transparency during the approval of genetically modified products.
“Many Nigerians are unaware of the NBMA’s website, and there is no clear risk assessment report indicating that due diligence was done before these GMOs were released,” Adebayo stated. He called for a review of the NBMA Act to address the shortcomings in the nation’s biosafety regulatory framework.
The experts collectively called on the government to strengthen regulatory measures, improve transparency, and protect the rights of consumers and farmers from the potential risks associated with GMOs in Nigeria’s food system.(NAN)
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