Researchers are confusing us with GMO, hybrid seeds, say farmers...

The Nigerian farmers under the aegis, All Farmers Association of Nigeria ( AFAN) have cried for a rescue over the superiority of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) and hybrid seeds that are being bred by our researchers saying the situation is very confusing.

GMOs probe, official says farmers are aware

 

As effort to probe already released Genetically Modified ( GM) crops' improved varieties into Nigerian markets by the lower chamber of the National Assembly is ongoing, the Director,  Agricultural Biotechnology Agency,  Dr. Rose Gidado has posited high farmers' awareness of the new improved technology especially in cotton, cowpea and maize.

Editorial: Embark on GMO enlightenment on dos and don’ts now

 

The new scientific exposition on the recently released transgenic maize varieties into the Nigerian seeds market has taken a new turn with speculation of  being able to actually contaminate other surrounding conventional  maize farms, the reason why all plant breeders, the coordinating Biotechnology Agency of the Federal Government ( FG) at the states and local government where farmings activities are actually carried out must immediately embark on massive education and enlightenment of farmers on why they should not plant conventional maize varieties too close to anywhere transgenic maize are planted.

Press Release: Former President Goodluck Jonathan is Africa’s Agriculture Technology Ambassador

L-R: Dr Canisius Kanangire, AATF Executive Director, Dr Goodluck Jonathan,former President of Nigeria, Prof. Emmanuel Ikani, Executive Director, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services.

Former Nigeria President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has accepted AATF’s appointment as Africa’s Ambassador for Agricultural Technology. 

NISS Registrar endorses GMO seeds for farmers

Soil expert, Registrar/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), Prof  Victor Chude has endorsed Genetically Modified (GM) seeds for the use of farmers to enhance high yield production towards food security.

GM seeds good for soil bio diversify, says NBMA DG

Director-General (DG), National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr. Rufus Ebegba

Adoption of Genetically Modified (GM) Seeds have been said to have higher potential to protect soil biodiversity being able to reduce numbers of  time chemical pesticides we apply to checkmate pest and diseases that usually destroy our traditional seeds from giving the maximum commercial foods production.

Rising Population:Experts, others endorse Bt innovations for food security

Scientists, farmers, media and civil society at a recently held science journalists hangout in Abuja have supported adoption of  biotechnology (Bt) to galvanize our agricultural commercialization for better earnings and job creations against our rising population.

GMO: FG cautioned against foreigners funding bio safety regulation

The Director General (DG), National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr. Rufus Ebegba has warned Federal Government (FG) not to allow foreign donors to champion funding of the safety regulations of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) products, just as he hailed the Federal high court judgment delivered last week Wednesday.

GMO, a panacea not to sleep on empty stomach, says NABDA DG

 The application of Genetically Modified Crops (GMOs) technology into our food security programme has a solution to avert people from going to sleep without food in their stomachs, said the DG/CEO National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha. Prof. Mustapha stated this at a GMO food largess hosted by Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) as guests were treated to delicacies made from bt cowpea beans.

Senate insists on GMOs thorough regulation, passes bill to committee on environment

In a bit to ensure healthy food consumption and soils management against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) products, the senate presided over by Sen. Ahmad  Lawan has passed to second reading a bill presented to amend some areas of an act provision for National Bio-Safety Management  Agency (NBMA).

GMO: DG, Media Guru demand support for research, investigative journalism

The Director-General (DG), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha has advocated Government’s proper funding of research for more generation of improved technologies for commercial foods productivity, just as the Managing Director, Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Martins Oloja  stressed the need for financial support to investigative journalism towards accurate facts for national development.

IAR receives certificate to commercialize GMO maize

The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria has received a certicate of Tela maize open cultivation in Nigeria.  

More GMOs for release, says NABDA DG

·       ARCN points Bt cowpea scarcity

Lt Pretty AIT, Middle Rt Vincent Daily Trust both winners of OFAB Grant.

The Director-General (DG) National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha has said five more Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops will soon be released into the Nigerian markets for more improved yield to stem down food prices.

Science, not fear, will drive Ghana’s decision on its first GMO crop, regulators vow

 

Ghana’s government says science, not fear-mongering will guide its decision on whether to approve its first genetically modified (GM) crop.

Kenya and Nigeria progress as Uganda falters

 

Though several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, are making tremendous strides in their quest to develop and commercialize genetically modified crops, it’s not the same story in Uganda.

GM maize progresses in Nigeria as farmers struggle with drought and insect pests BY NKECHI ISAAC

As farmer Ahiaba Sylvanus recalls, it never used to be necessary to spray maize, millet, and guinea corn with pesticides in the Nigerian state of Kaduna, where he lives. But the recent long drought, likely resulting from climate change, weakened the cereal crops, which were then attacked by insects.

Bad press and wild claims have unfairly slowed GM crops on the continent, African scientists say BY JOSEPH MAINA

South African scientists are urging governments across the continent to take concrete actions to enhance the acceptability and adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMO) — a move they say could unlock the region’s vast food potential.

Book review: Jennifer Thompson’s ‘GM Crops and the Global Divide’ offers lessons drawn from the history of the agricultural biotechnology revolution, for activists to CRISPR advocates

 Jennifer Thompson

  I’ve spent the last few weeks reading “GM Crops and the Global Divide,” the new book by Jennifer Thomson, emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town. Though the original title was “GM Crops:

Nigeria moves forward with nitrogen-efficient GMO rice

 Still basking in the euphoria of commercializing sub-Saharan Africa’s first genetically modified (GM) food crop — insect-resistant cowpea —Nigeria has begun moving toward the environmental release of an improved GM rice.

Farmers, seed companies embark on GM cowpea trials for certified seeds

Almost a year after the official registration and release of genetically modified cowpea at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) in Ibadan by Institute for Agricultural Research Institute (IAR), the multiplication trial of the new improved variety into foundation and certified seeds has now been embarked upon by 53 farmers and seed companies across the states in a day training conducted by IAR scientists and African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AAFT).