Nigeria is making remarkable progress in leveraging agricultural biotechnology. With robust regulatory structures, real-world adoption of biotech crops, and growing public engagement, the country is setting the pace for innovation in Africa. Sustainability and confidence will grow as awareness spreads and more biotech solutions reach Nigerian farms.
Suppose Nigeria can increase and boost Research & Development (R&D) investment, streamline regulations, build public trust, equip farmers, and engage the private sector. In that case, it can become Africa’s leader in safe, climate-smart agricultural biotechnology, helping to secure food supply and economic growth.
Agricultural biotechnology for food security is about using modern biological techniques to improve crops, livestock, and agricultural systems so that they can produce enough safe, nutritious, and affordable food, even under challenges like climate change, pests, and limited resources.
Agricultural Biotechnology is the use of new scientific techniques based on our understanding of DNA to improve crops and livestock that are not possible with conventional breeding alone.
Biotechnology is seen as essential to improve food security, climate resilience, and economic growth by helping farmers manage pests, drought, and nutrition deficiencies. Biotechnology provided innovative tools to improve agricultural productivity and safeguard food crops from the impacts of climate change, such as heat, floods and drought.
Agricultural biotechnology uses tools like genetic engineering, molecular markers, tissue culture, and bioinformatics to develop plants and animals with improved traits. It can:
- Increase yields
- Improve nutritional quality
- Enhance resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses
- Reduce post-harvest losses
Nigeria can strengthen and expand its agricultural biotechnology sector by focusing on five main areas:
1. Strengthen Research & Development (R&D)
Increase funding for NBRDA, universities, and agricultural research institutes so they can develop more locally relevant biotech crops (drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, nutrient-rich varieties).
Encourage public–private partnerships so biotech innovations move faster from lab trials to farmers’ fields.
Support regional research hubs to reduce dependence on imported biotech solutions.
2. Improve Regulatory Efficiency & Transparency
Streamline approval processes so that promising crops can reach farmers without unnecessary delays.
Enhance biosafety monitoring with stronger post-release tracking of biotech crop performance and safety.
Adopt clear genome editing guidelines so that CRISPR-based and other precision-breeding techniques are not overregulated as GMOs.
3. Expand Public Awareness & Trust
National biotech education campaigns through radio, TV, social media, and community outreach to counter misinformation.
Demonstration farms & “Seeing is Believing” programs where farmers and the public can see biotech benefits firsthand.
Include biotechnology in school curricula so the next generation grows up with accurate knowledge.
4. Build Farmer Capacity
Training on biotech crop management to ensure farmers understand planting, pest control, and post-harvest handling.
Subsidies or credit access for smallholder farmers adopting biotech seeds.
Support farmer cooperatives to improve adoption rates and collective bargaining for inputs.
5. Encourage Private Sector & Market Development
Attract biotech seed companies with favourable investment policies.
Develop seed distribution networks to ensure timely and affordable access to biotech seeds nationwide.
Promote export opportunities for biotech-based products where regulations permit.
How Biotechnology Supports Food Security
Food security depends on four pillars:
- Availability – Enough food is produced locally or imported
- Access – People can afford and physically reach food
- Utilisation – Food is safe, nutritious, and culturally acceptable
- Stability – Supply is reliable over time
Biotechnology addresses each:
- Availability:
- Genetically modified (GM) crops like drought-tolerant maize or pest-resistant Bt cotton boost productivity.
- Biofortified crops (e.g., Golden Rice enriched with Vitamin A) tackle nutrient deficiencies.
- Access:
- Higher yields and reduced production costs can make food cheaper for consumers and more profitable for farmers.
- Utilisation:
- Improved nutritional content (e.g., high-iron beans, protein-rich sorghum) helps combat malnutrition.
- Stability:
- Crops resistant to climate extremes and diseases ensure consistent harvests year after year.
Challenges & Considerations
- Regulatory approval and biosafety frameworks
- Public perception and misinformation about GMOs
- Equitable access to technology for smallholder farmers
- Intellectual property rights that can limit seed saving
- Environmental concerns like potential biodiversity impacts
- African Development Bank (AfDB) and other international government agencies should mobilise funds for establishing agricultural processing zones in all Nigerian states, and efforts should be aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening value chains.
- International bodies in their support should mainly focus on mechanised farming equipment, farmer training, and service centres to transition Nigeria from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
- The Nigerian government should significantly increase funding for GMO technology, because public support remains minimal. The budget allocated for most time is limited, and Nigeria need a stronger political and financial commitment to fully harness agricultural biotechnology, especially given emerging innovations like TELA maize. Nigeria has made strategic strides in agricultural biotechnology—setting up regulatory institutions, approving biotech crops like TELA maize, and launching infrastructure hubs. However, domestic funding remains limited, and large-scale investments have been mostly external (e.g., Brazil, AfDB). To truly scale biotech-driven solutions for food security, sustained domestic investment and stronger R&D support are vital.
- Nigerian government should help already established biotechnology hubs across the six geopolitical zones, focusing on genetic engineering, crop improvement, and support for biotech startups leveraging Nigeria’s biodiversity.
The Future Of Agricultural Biotechnology
- Genome editing (e.g., CRISPR) for precise, low-cost improvements without introducing foreign DNA.
- Synthetic biology for creating entirely new traits.
- Microbiome engineering to improve soil health and crop resilience.
- Climate-smart biotech crops tailored to local conditions.
By Joseph Omode)
Joseph Omode is the editor in chief of Alexa News Nigeria (www.Alexa.ng) and the Chief Executive Officer of Alexa Media Services. Joseph Omode is a multifaceted professional with over a decade of diverse experience spanning media, brand strategy and development, public relations and reputation management, communication and media relations, content creation, design and visual branding.
His career spans various industries, including hospitality management, oil and gas, education, and community development, demonstrating his versatility and ability to adapt his skills to different challenges.
His career, marked by adaptability, continuous learning, and a dedication to creating meaningful change, positions him as a forward-thinking person equipped to drive innovation and impact across sectors.