GMO opposition lacks basic knowledge, says expert

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As the Institute of Agriculture (IAR) Bt cowpea is about to be officially released for farmers in Nigeria, an expert in crops Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), Mr. Okon Unung has described those who are opposed to it as lacking prerequisite knowledge about plant breeding, saying one should endeavour to ask for their background whenever they raise the issue.

Speaking at the Science Hangout for this month tagged “Enhancing Public Knowledge on Safety and Socio-Economic Benefit of GM cowpea in Nigeria‘’ the guest speaker, Mr. Okon said most people who argued against GMO technology do not have the basic knowledge of the subject matter adding that somebody with food processing background cannot be compared to a genetic plant breeder, on the issue of GMO.

He explained that there were various reasons for opposing views, especially economic reason for those who feel their jobs would be taken away by the time the technology is fully adopted.

Okon said that the clinical trials on the safety of Bt cowpea for human consumptions and environment have shown no significant difference just like the conventional ones adding that the necessity for the introduction of the new improved technology was borne out of the need to provide resistance against borer pest attack which none of the existing accessions  can resist.

The guest speaker added that the bt cowpea had ability to give 20% increase in yield as against the conventional varieties with less cost on pesticide expenses pointed out that GMOs was the most regulated crops in the practice of agriculture as no one would force anybody to purchase the products.

However, there were suggestions on the need for major stakeholders to embark on more aggressive sensitization and education on the new improved technology through the agricultural extension officers and the media, for proper acceptability and entrenchment towards commercialization programme of the Government towards food security.