The federal government has said genome editing has the potential to address the country’s food insecurity if properly harnessed.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, said innovative approaches like maximizing the potential of genome editing would boost the country’s agricultural sector.
He noted that research has the power to drive the country’s development, particularly, in ensuring the affordability of food for all citizens.
He stated this on Monday after a meeting with the Director-General/CEO, of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NABRDA), Professor Mustafa Abdullahi, in the company of Professor Olalekan Akinbo, representative of the African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) who provided key updates on the transformative initiative aimed at leveraging genome editing to optimize agriculture and food systems across Africa.
Chief Nnaji said the initiative was to harness genome editing innovations to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and sustain economic growth in our nation; “which is beyond advancing agricultural productivity; but more about empowering Nigeria, and Africa at large, with better ways of utilizing data”.
“Through these innovative approaches to data collation, aggregation, and distribution, we are establishing a robust framework that will strengthen decision-making, improve agricultural systems, and accelerate sustainable development.
“To drive this agenda, AUDA-NEPAD engaged Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International, in consortium with AGTECH Consulting Ltd., to undertake a comprehensive landscape analysis.
“As part of this process, AUDA-NEPAD, through its consulting partners, will collaborate with relevant institutions and stakeholders within Nigeria to gather essential data for this landscape analysis. This exercise is pivotal to ensuring that we harness genome editing innovations to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and sustain economic growth in our nation,” he explained.
The Minister of Science and Technology urged all stakeholders to actively participate in the exercise, noting that collaborations would play a crucial role in shaping policies and strategies that drive innovation in the agricultural sector.
“Harnessing the power of genome editing has the potential to revolutionize our food systems and establish Nigeria as a leading African economy in agricultural innovation and food security,” Nnaji stated.