GMO hullabaloo

I am bombarded every blessed day with stuff on GMO crops in Nigeria on WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter (X)—everywhere. But much of what I see is pure fearmongering, pseudoscience and even anti-science.

There are legitimate concerns, no doubt; but these have been drowned in the din of misinformation. It’s in a way reminiscent of vaccine hesitancy. Many anti-vaxxers I know also share misinformation about GMOs.

In the face of soaring food prices, climate-induced droughts, and a burgeoning population projected to hit 400 million by 2050, the debate over genetically modified organisms has become more relevant than ever before.

A couple of days ago, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, declared that GMOs are "not bad for us" provided safety protocols are strictly followed, stressing the need for proper labelling to empower consumer choice. This is correct, science-based messaging.

This voice from a regulatory body comes amid a chorus of scientists defending GMO safety, challenging critics to provide concrete evidence of toxicity. Yet, social media is ablaze with calls to #BanGMOInNigeria, with users decrying it as "food colonialism," a threat to biodiversity, and even likening it to "cancer-causing crops."

Now, the scientific case for GMOs is robust and backed by decades of evidence from global authorities like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. National Academies of Sciences. WHO affirms that GM foods on the market pose no unique health risks, with no validated links to cancer, allergies, or infertility after rigorous assessments. Do your research. Google it. Enlist AI.

Are GMO crops even new to Nigeria?

Approved GMO crops, such as Nigeria's Bt cotton, which was introduced in 2018, pod borer-resistant cowpea (2019), and TELA maize (2021), have demonstrated tangible benefits: higher yields, reduced pesticide use, and resilience to pests and drought.

I saw an advocate of integrated medicine on national telly likening pest-resistant GMO crops to insecticides. She spoke with so much confidence that actually betrayed her ignorance of the molecular basis of this beneficial trait in the plant.

In this country, where pests destroy up to 80% of cowpea harvests—a staple for 20 million farmers—these traits could slash chemical exposure, boost incomes, and enhance food security.

Stakeholders at recent forums have echoed this, arguing that GMO technology is essential for Africa to meet growing food demands amid climate change. As NAFDAC's DG noted, the key is adherence to protocols, not blanket rejection.

But why the panic about GMO crops?

GMO restrictions and bans—partial and full—persist in about 30-40 countries, from Russia to Peru, not due to proven harm but precautionary principles and socioeconomic fears. Europe's 19 nations opting out of GMO cultivation cite potential biodiversity contamination and the "privatization of life" through corporate patents, which could trap smallholder farmers in debt cycles.

In Nigeria, these echoes resonate loudly: critics fear losing food sovereignty to Western influences, with some invoking Bill Gates' funding of GMO research as neocolonialism.

A recent survey by the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) claims 98% support for a ban, highlighting unlabelled GMOs slipping into markets since 2019 and unproven long-term risks.

Public mistrust, amplified by social media and historical scandals like pesticide overuse, fuels this divide—even as Nigeria has approved 33 more GMO trials since 2024.

The million-dollar question:

If GMOs are so beneficial, why the widespread resistance, both globally and here at home? The answer lies not in debunked health scares but in a tangled web of precaution, politics, and perception—issues Nigeria must navigate wisely to secure its agricultural future.

Again, this tension isn't unique to us; it's global. But in Nigeria, where malnutrition affects millions and agriculture employs 70% of the workforce, outright bans could deprive us of tools to combat hunger.

We've fed ourselves and exported produce before GMOs, some have argued, so why GMOs? Pressing climate realities demand innovation. The real issue perhaps lies with weak enforcement. Without mandatory labelling, transparent risk assessments, and protections for native seeds, fears of contamination and dependency will persist.

So, what do we do?

It's time for a middle path: We should embrace GMOs under stringent, homegrown regulations. We already have NAFDAC and the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA)—let’s strengthen them to ensure independent evaluations and enforce clear labelling. But we also need to invest in public education to dispel myths and counter misinformation.

Hybrid approaches that blend GMO resilience with agroecological practices could preserve biodiversity while boosting yields. Banning GMOs outright ignores science, unregulated adoption risks sovereignty. As Prof. Adeyeye urges, let's focus on safety and choice.

I think that Nigeria stands at a crossroads. By grounding policy in evidence, not emotion, we can harness biotechnology for a self-reliant, nourished nation.

Last weekend, the International Institute of Islamic thought for its Monthly Lecture Series chose the topic "GMO and Global Food Crisis: An Islamic Perspective, inviting an ABU Research Professor in Genetics and Plant Breeding to give the talk. We need more of such public engagements.

The government must listen to both scientists and citizens—it would be wise to convene a national dialogue now, before division deepens. Our food future depends on it.