The Real Benefits and Risks of GMOs for Nigerian Agriculture

In Nigeria, the argument for and against the use of GMO seeds has become polarized between the government, scientists, environmentalists and farmers over time. As food security turns into a more pressing concern for the country, with fast population growth and climate change, the dialogue around GMOs becomes more relevant. In this sense, Nigeria and the rest of the world still need to pose the question of whether genetically modified crops constitute a promise for sustainable agricultural development or represent an irremediable threat to the environment and human health.

Nigeria’s engagement with genetically modified crops is at a crossroads. This has positioned the country as a leader in biotechnology adoption in Africa, with 33 GM crop events already authorized and GMO corn as the second food crop after Bt cowpea to be adopted in the country, with regulatory approval granted in January 2024. But as this has been achieved, there has also been significant backlash and public debate on what this means for Nigeria’s 70 million smallholder farmers.

It doesn’t get any higher. Comprising over 220 million people, Nigeria has the strongest food insecurity problem on the continent and is projected to double its population by 2050. Droughts have become more frequent in northern farming regions, and crops are lost to insect pests, such as the fall armyworm, annually- losses that run into billions of naira. In this context, advocates point to GM crops as a technological solution for Nigeria, one that will allow for increased yields, pest-resistant crops, drought-tolerant crops and therefore food for the increasing population.

As Nigeria attempts to move forward in this contentious space, it is imperative for all involved, policymakers determining agricultural policy, farmers deciding what crops to plant, and consumers worried about what is on their table, to understand the complex nature of the public discourse surrounding GMOs in Nigeria.

 

The State of Agriculture in Nigeria: A Context for the GMO Debate

Nigeria’s agriculture sector, representing close to 24% of the total national GO, is riddled with challenges. A steady and dependable supply of food is therefore of utmost importance for the continent’s most populous country. The United Nations predicts a population of no less than 400 million for Nigeria by 2050, which will put an unprecedented strain on agricultural systems in the country. Farmers suffer from low yields, pests, drought, and soil degradation, creating a food insecurity problem.

As a possible answer to this dilemma, genetically modified crops have been introduced. GM crops engineered for pest, disease, and environmental stress resistance have been touted as a food security “breakthrough” for Nigeria. Yet whether we should adopt or reject them is a rising controversy. In Nigeria, the discourse around the use of GMO seeds is thus not merely a technical discourse, but one laden with implications for public health, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.

 

The Benefits of GMOs in Nigeria

1. Improved Crop Yields and Food Security

The most promising of these advantages in Nigeria has been the ability of genetically modified crops to dramatically boost crop yields. Among other GMOs, pest-resistant and drought-tolerant varieties, including Bt cotton, Bt maize and drought-resistant varieties have been developed. As stated in a research report by the National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA, “GMOs offer the potential for an increase in food production in Nigeria between 20-40% which is very necessary to cater for the food needs of our growing population”.

Especially in a context where food security is an issue, GMO crops might offer the opportunity to fill that gap. This could be more efficient in terms of hectares, given that this country has little arable land, and genetically modified crops can have higher yields per hectare. This may assist in addressing food scarcity, reducing staple crop prices such as maize and rice, and positively impacting smallholder farmers’ livelihoods.

 

2. Resistance to Pests and Diseases

Pests, for example, have locally been one of the greatest obstacles to increased productivity in agriculture in Nigeria. The maize weevil is one prolific pest that brings great damage to maize crops, a basic food for millions. Pest-resistant GMO maize lowers the use of harmful chemical pesticides. The result is a cheaper production cost and a farming process that is safer for the environment and human beings.

 

The Risks and Challenges of GMOs in Nigeria

1. Environmental Impact and Biodiversity Concerns

But critics of GMOs in Nigeria also argue that their long-term environmental effects are unknown. Local ecosystems could be altered by the introduction of GMOs in ways that cannot be predicted. For instance, one instance of unintended consequence could be the cross-pollination of non-GMO crops. This represents a threat to biodiversity since the genetic pool of naturalized plant species could be affected.

On top of that, the use of more GMOs may create a dependence on specific crops and reduce the diversity of agricultural products being cultivated in Nigeria. If this resistance were lost, eventually, there would be a pest-related agricultural disaster with non-resistant crops and massive crop loss.

 

2. GMO Health Risks in Nigeria

While proponents of GMOs claim that crops engineered by these methods are safe for human consumption, the opposition doubts the health impacts in the long run. Opponents cite research that indicates GMOs may be responsible for new allergens or toxins in the food supply and could be a contributing factor in conditions such as food allergies or even cancer. Although the Nigerian Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) controls the safe implementation of biotechnology in agriculture, there is still a general mistrust amongst Nigerians of the government’s guarantees on the health safety of GMOs.

On top of that, they fear that insufficient research into the long-term human health impacts of GMOs may result in “unpredictable health crises down the line”. As a result of the inconclusiveness of evidence that GMOs are absolutely safe, public opinion is polarized.

 

3. Socioeconomic Implications for Farmers

The second major aspect has to do with the economics for Nigerian farmers. Smallholder farmers in Nigeria generally can’t afford to procure GMO seeds, which tend to be costlier than conventional seeds. This may result in increased economic inequality, as only the wealthy and more commercially driven farmers will have access to the benefits of GMO technology.

Also, many farmers are afraid of being trapped in a cycle of dependency on multinational seed companies. In countries such as the U.S., where GMOs are common practice, farmers must annually buy new seeds because GMO seeds are patented, and thus farmers may not save leftover seeds for replanting. In the case of Nigeria, this might translate to small-holding farmers not having seed sovereignty rights and becoming dependent on foreign corporations for next season’s planting.

 

Nigerian Biosafety Regulations: A Path Forward?

Nigeria has established a system of regulation for agricultural GMOs. This is why the Nigerian Biosafety Management Agency NBMA was established to handle the introduction of GMOs into the country, and their release into the environment. They should also ensure that GMOs are safe for human health and the environment.

But some doubt the NBMA’s capacity to enforce these regulations. Worries over “insufficient” observation and testing of GMO plants under real-world conditions are prevalent, as are calls for more stringent policies that will necessitate long-term research on GMOs before they are allowed general commercialization.

 

Nigerian Farmer Perspectives on GMOs

There is variation in Nigerian farmers’ perceptions and conceptions of GMOs. On one hand, there are the farmers who have benefited from the use of GMO crops that generate higher yields and are pest-resistant. In this way, these farmers see GMOs as a useful tool in their battle against a growing climate crisis, soils depleted and pests.

Also, some farmers don’t rely on GMOs because of the risks they could introduce. These farmers are concerned with the effects on soil, environmental and human health down the road. They also distrust the government’s ability to regulate, and fear that the adoption of GMOs will mean the discontinuation of traditional practices and seeds.

 

Public Debate on GMOs in Nigeria

Controversy over GMOs has been great in Nigeria, with heat on both sides. GMO supporters highlight them as an important avenue towards food security in Nigeria. They also cite as an example the positive results of GE technology in other nations like the U.S. and Brazil, which have used it to increase agricultural productivity.

But those against them see GMOs as a threat to the environment, human health, and conventional farming. They propose a more conservative approach and stricter transparency in GMO approvals.

 

Conclusion

It appears that the debate surrounding GMO seeds in Nigeria will not be resolved anytime soon. Genetically modified crops, on the one hand, show great potential in Nigeria’s quest for food security and its agricultural productivity. The latter, however, is a non-issue when the real question marks come from the unknown long-term environmental and health impacts, and the socioeconomic implications for the farmers themselves.

Public trust in biosafety in Nigeria will be built through continued transparency, engagement, and a dedication to farmer welfare and environmental protection. Ultimately, it will be Nigeria’s ability to reconcile innovation with tradition, food security with food sovereignty, and technology with social justice that will determine the successful path of biotechnology in Nigeria.

As Nigeria’s public discourse on GMOs unfolds, the country’s experience will prove insightful to other African nations embarking on a similar path of agricultural shift. How Nigeria fares with GM crops will not only determine the country’s food future but also provide an important example for the introduction of sustainable biotechnology into the agriculture of developing countries.

If done correctly to avoid the pitfalls of these sticky situations, Nigeria stands to prove that developing nations can reap the rewards of agricultural biotechnology without losing control of their food supply or undermining the position of smallholder farmers, which is the backbone of African agriculture.