GMO controversy: baseless,no proof says IAR Prof. Abba

Prof. C.A Abba

A science don at the Institute for Agricultural Research has described the hue and cry against Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) as very baseless saying there was no scientific proof to substantiate any allegation for now in the country as no such seeds are in the hands of farmers.

Prof. Abba responding to question from Food Farm News on allegation of Monsanto GMO seeds in circulation particularly cotton, tomato and maize said there was no scientific proof against whatever anybody must have been saying, pointed the new technology is still going through evaluation on farm, and until proven beyond superiority in terms of yield, pest resistant  and consumption over other varieties of ours that it can be recommended for the National committee for Varieties registration for official release.

The IAR professor pointed that he was not aware of any GMO seeds that has been registered for commercialization on tomato and maize saying any improved seeds in commercial circulation must have gone through the on farm trials and scientific evaluation with farmers’ acceptance before it can be recommended to National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop, Livestock Breeders and Fisheries at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Bio-technology (NACGAB), Ibadan, Oyo state.

He added that presently no GMO seeds can be traced to any farmers but pointed the BT cotton was the only Monsanto seed that was still undergoing farm trails and scientific evaluation cum observation to ascertain all the specified attributes, and until this has been sufficiently proved that it could be recommended for national release for the interest of the entire nation

 Prof. Abba stated that “the controversy over GMO is uncalled for. No GMO products will go to farmers without being scientifically checked. The BT cotton of Monsanto has been given to us and it is already going through evaluation on the field to check its ability to resist pest diseases without being injurious to animals and at the same time give higher yield advantages over our existing varieties. It will be confirmed if it can check any disease, increase yield and guarantee safety. We will ensure that all these characteristics are better than the ones we have in Nigeria as we all have stake in the country and it will be illogical to bring into the country any product that will damage or kill our people. As it is, nobody has a single fact or proof that a product of GMO has caused any havoc as BT cotton that was brought by Monsanto has not got to the farmers.

He added that “Nigeria has a process of improved seeds registration. No variety will be registered for commercialization without passing through the process. BT cotton is still going through the scientist evaluation, and until this process is sufficiently justified that it can be recommended to the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crops, Livestock Breeders and Fisheries at the NACGBRA at Ibadan for official release and commercialization.

Prof. Abba dismissed the impression of people’s thinking about tuta absoluta and army worm diseases that ravaged both tomato and maize crops recently in the country as having nothing to do with GMO products but rather the usual pest which is still undergoing scientific observation for effective prevention.