No death linked to GMOs in 20yrs, says Prof. Ado

 

* Opposing views trail 

A renowned genetic/plant breeder, Prof. Shehu Ado has credited non-death occurrence in the last twenty years to any genetically modified seed on the globe just as many other stakeholders are opposed to the new engineering technology in the agricultural practices.

Prof. Shehu Ado, a former Executive Director, IAR, Samaru, and presently chairman, sub committee on crops at the national varietals release pointed there was no case of death record as a result of anyone eating any food being genetically modified on the globe as he advised the Muslims faithful in Nigeria to embrace the technology for its potential to increase food productivity in the country.

Ado, who was the guest speaker at the  high-level meeting on Islamic perspectives on GMOs held at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria last Sunday reiterated the need for both the Federal and States government to make provision for buffer storage in order to avoid food wastages in the country.

The plant breeder reassured Nigerians of the safety of GMO agricultural practices in our food system sustainability with crops saying that “There is no recorded death linked to GMOs anywhere in the world in the past 20 years".

He emphasized that GMO crops have undergone extensive safety testing and, if properly regulated could significantly boost food security and agricultural growth in Nigeria.

Speaking from the Islamic point of view, the quest speaker said that no religion permitted food wastages, and pointing the need for government buffer storage at the states levels for Agricutural produce.

Ado added that “wasting food or rejecting beneficial innovation is not encouraged in Islam" 

He emphasized also that Islamic principle would align with any innovation and technology capable of enhancing increase in food production to alleviate hunger and ensure sustainability as he warned that such technology must be used responsibly.

He thereby advised that the majority states government in Nigeria should replicate the building of buffer storage as being stipulated by law to check food wastages in the country.

Opposing views however posited that the practices of GMOs in our food system productivity would erode our agricultural sovereignty that is perceived as more cheaper to maintain and manage by our small holder farmers.

They expressed concerns about Nigeria’s increasing dependency on foreign biotechnology firms and the potential loss of agricultural sovereignty.

Speaking at the event Abdullahi Atta raised alarm over what he described as a “new form of colonization” through the control of patented GMO seeds by Western corporations adding that "There is a clear interest from Western countries because these GMO materials are developed and patented by them"

Atta expressed that “We are worried about being locked into a cycle of dependency especially with the use of so-called 'terminator seeds' that can’t be replanted.”

He criticized the high cost of GMO seeds pointing out that they are unaffordable for many farmers and cannot be saved or reused like traditional varieties.

"The use of GMOs will eventually lead to the extinction of our indigenous crops. We're losing control over our food systems" he warned.

Usman Mohammed, another participant, underscored the threat posed by the seeds as farmers would be compelled to buy new seeds for every planting season thereby undermining our traditional practices of seeds saving and exchange.

“For a country with millions of poor small-scale farmers, this model is simply not sustainable"  Mohammed stated.

Dr. Usuma Bugeji called for a more transparent assessment of the commercial interests behind GMO products saying that “We need to understand who benefits the most—are we truly gaining, or are we becoming just another market for multinational seed companies"

Dr. Jamilu Ismeala demanded for verifiable evidence with data on how genetically modified seeds can increase yield saying that " Yes, GMOs can improve productivity, but without rigorous data and a clear win-win structure, we’ll keep revisiting the same arguments without progress"

Dr. Mohammed Bello Waziri Dogo also shared his personal experience on how a GMO maize farm negatively affected the yield of a close by conventional cultivations.

According to him after planting GMO maize, he noticed that neighboring conventional farms—within a 60-kilometer radius—suffered significantly reduced yields. He raised the alarm over potential cross-contamination, which could have jeopardized the integrity and productivity of non-GMO crops across large areas.