Groups Reject Planned Introduction of Genetically Modified Maize, Cotton in Nigeria

 Maize

No fewer than 100 rights groups and faith-based organizations have opposed attempts to introduce genetically modified (GM) cotton and maize into Nigeria's food and farming systems.

In a petition submitted to the National Biosafety Management Agency, NABMA, the groups cited many serious health and environmental concerns and the failure of these crops especially GM cotton in Africa.

The petition was signed on behalf of the groups by Mariann Orovwuje, food sovereignty manager, Environmental Rights Action, ERA and Friends of the Earth International and Nnimmo Bassey, director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HoMEF.

The action followed an application by Monsanto Agricultural Nigeria Limited to NABMA for the release of genetically modified cotton (Bt cotton, event MON 15985) into markets in Zaria and other towns in Kaduna State.

The company also applied for the confined field trial (CFT) of two genetically modified maize varieties, (NK603 and stacked event MON 89034 x NK603) in multiple locations in the country.

But in their objection to the commercial release of the products in Nigeria, the rights groups raised the alarm that the move was coming after the dismal failures of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso.

Mr. Bassey of HoMEF said, "We are totally shocked that it should come so soon after peer reviewed studies have showed that the technology has failed dismally in Burkina Faso.