Some Nigerian biotechnologists say biotechnology is key to strengthening Nigeria’s food security, healthcare, job creation and economic diversification.
Rose Gidado, Edet Imuk, a soil scientist, and Charles Adetunji said this in separate interviews on Thursday in Abuja.
They said biotechnology could help Nigeria address low agricultural productivity, rising food imports, endemic diseases, climate pressures and weak industrial capacity.
Ms Gidado said agricultural biotechnology could deliver crops with higher yields, pest and disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional qualities.
She cited Nigeria’s pod-borer-resistant cowpea and TELA maize as examples of technologies that can improve farm productivity while reducing pesticide use.
“Biotechnology can solve specific agricultural problems faster when combined with conventional breeding, irrigation and effective extension services,” Ms Gidado said.
She further said that improved crop productivity could raise smallholder farmers’ incomes, reduce food imports and strengthen Nigeria’s resilience to climate-related production challenges.
Mr Imuk said biotechnology could also improve soil health through bio-fertilisers, biopesticides and other biological solutions, particularly in areas experiencing land degradation and declining productivity.
He said biotechnology should complement sound soil management practices rather than replace conventional agricultural methods, noting that local conditions must guide technology adoption.
“Healthy soils remain fundamental to food security, and biotechnology can provide useful biological solutions for restoring productivity and reducing dependence on some chemical inputs,” Mr Imuk said.
Meanwhile, Mr Adetunji said that medical biotechnology could strengthen health security through local production of vaccines, diagnostics, medicines and other biopharmaceutical products. He said developing domestic capacity would reduce dependence on imports, conserve foreign exchange and protect Nigeria from international supply-chain disruptions.
According to him, biotechnology can also support industrial development through enzymes, biofuels, biodegradable materials, biofertilisers and other products derived from Nigeria’s agricultural resources and biodiversity.
He said that its economic benefits would depend largely on Nigeria’s ability to commercialise research findings and build stronger links between universities, research institutions and industry.
Mr Adetunji said intellectual property protection, pilot plants, venture capital, incubators and clearer regulatory frameworks were necessary to move innovations from laboratories into viable businesses.
The experts said Nigeria’s young population, biodiversity and large agricultural base provided opportunities to develop a competitive bioeconomy capable of creating skilled employment.
They stressed that biotechnology would deliver its greatest socioeconomic impact when research outputs were transformed into accessible products, enterprises, jobs and practical solutions for Nigerians.
(NAN)
