Centre seeks increased advocacy against GMOs

Credit: NAN

The Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) has called for increased education and advocacy on the ills of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) crops and seeds in Nigeria.

The Deputy Director of CEFSAR, Dr Segun Adebayo, in a media interaction on Friday in Lagos, noted that the African Union (AU) is against the takeover of GMOs in the continent, hence, the need for individual countries to be wary of its proliferation.

“If the AU is against the proliferation of GMO seeds and crops in our agriculture space, then African countries should be wary against its adoption.

“The adoption of GMOs by local farmers will not be beneficial to our food security or agriculture sector in the long run.

“Unfortunately, the adoption of GMOs is already legalised, without appropriate education of local farmers on what they are cultivating,” he said.

Adebayo said the need for continuous advocacy of the ills of GMOs should be prioritised.

The expert called for the education of local farmers on the components of GMOs and advocacy against its adverse effects on humans.

“Currently, most knowledgeable agriculture stakeholders have been making agitation to undo the signing into law of GMOs in the Nigerian constitution.

“These agitations against GMOs should go beyond lip service because people do not even know the components of what they are consuming daily.

“Not in a bid to sound alarmists on the dangers of GMOs to human health and the agriculture  space as a whole, but people need to be aware of what they are eating, it is fair enough that people know what they are using their money to buy.

“That is why we are very vocal and we are educating people, via every medium to advocate a against GMOs, so people understand exactly what is going on.

“As a centre, we are doing a lot of work but the media also needs to join in the advocacy against GMOs,” the expert said.