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tgenetically modified crops crops, not only in the field but also during the food process-
IFEAHYI NWDKO
ingchain.. - New research publisbed in BioMed Ce.nuaI's open aQ cess.Journal BMC Biotechnology shows that products front GM crops can be identified at low concentration, ~ bioluminescent real. time reporter (BART') technology and loop mediated Isothermal amplification (LAMP). -wIth tile combination of these tecbnlques. we were able to recognise 0.1 per cent GM contamination of maize, far below the current EUlIm1t of 0..9 percent..... Nevertheless. as part of efforts to create more public 3wan!N!SS on biotechnology applications in Nigeria. the us. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboratio," with NABDA. recently sponsored a study tour of the US. I
part of effons to attain food security across the globe. exPertS have called for the adoption of geneti-
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y modified crops as a means of providing enough
food fOr the fast·growing \\'Orld population. Genetically modified (GM) foods are produced. using the technology of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). m.IDs are organisms whose genetic material (gene) has been altered, using genetic engim!erlng techniques. They are also referred to as genetically engineered or tran.sgenk: organisms Pro( Bill Weiboldof the Universlry of MIssouri in the oncesaid that with genetic modl.fication, plants could become resistant to drought., pestS, and herbicides. among others. Weibold. a professor of PlantSciences. \\iIo stressed that the organisms are better referred to as -rransgenic Organisms" rather-than -GMOs~. bowever,said that when alI the perceptible chalIen~ \\'ere addressed in a crop, It engefr de:re:I better yield.. TbeCentre tOrSc:ience In the Puhlk Interest (CSPO. a US.based non-profit organisauon. says that one ri the benefits of transgenic cotton. IDr instnnce. is that there ","DUld no longer be any need for the poiSonous insectIclde that was hitheno used in cotton cultivation. In the case of soybeans, corn, sugar beets and canf). la, the transgenic plants are also ad\:antageous since they reduce the time required for farml.ng, as the fanners wtluld no longer need £lOt battle weeds. while they also reduce soil erosion. TransgenIc crops also reduce the population of pestS. some experts Sl)'"S, stressing the US. alone cultivates 300m 170 million acres of genetically engineered crops. Speaking in favour of OM C7"0p&, Pro.[ Bamidele Solomon. the Director-General. National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said lhat the adoption of OMOs in N"lgerta v..ould increase the farmers' yield and income. ..... hile checking }'Outh unemploymenl. - For Nigeria. the problem of IUlt getting our youths to go into agr;.culrure can be effectively addressed by the use of GMOs. - For example. if we have the herbicide-tolerant maize and soya beans., whereby fanners will no longer have to \\"eed farms: many people will be encouraged to go into farming because tltey will no longer have to labour and
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--rhe other advantage relateS to pest resistance. A lot of money goes into buying pesticides: so. If \\1l can eliminat.e then Ca:nnlng will be: quite cheaper," he says. Solomon uncIersrored the need fur Nigeria to get ready lor the onset of the biotechnology commen:ialIsation when President GoodIuck Jonathan eventually signed the BioSafety Bill into Law ShaMng slm.fiar sentiments, Pra( Anthony OlntoJrun. Dicector·GeneraI, Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council
The Study team included journalists. government
i-
cials. film makers and officials of the USDA and the . Embassy in Nigeria. Addressing members of the teaJD. Pro( Kenneth
(NASC>, said that GM crops had the potential of guarant~ ing food security in N""lgeria. He stressed that with the counay's rismg population. It would be somewhat difficult to follow conventional means of agriculture to meet the people's food requirements. Olatokun reiterated the need to apply biotechnology to genetically modify seeds for imprm."ed cultivation and barwesls. Lf you look Iii thequanrum of seeds that are requited to meet food security challenges and if we stick to the conven· tlonal methods; the yield that we are getting now cannot satisfY the nationaJ demand - But if you really want to get the quantity of seeds that is required to meet extensh-e rice production. for instance. and att:lin food security. I mink GMO is important" he adds. In Nigeria, however, the campaign for the adoption or transgenic seeds and crops in efforts to iack.le food insecu· rity challenges is not very populat: For lnstanee, the Catholic Medical Association of Nigeria is at the forefront of the campaign against the adoption of GM foods in the count:lj< The associntion stressed that OM food would be injurious to Nigerians and it bas called on Presltleru. Jonathan not to ~ assent to the Bio-Safery Bill Us chairm.an. Dr Philip NJemanze, alleged that two American biotechnology agencies WID"e the masterntinds or the processes that led to the bill's making.. The associ.:lHon warned the Federal Government to be cautious about plans to Introduce GMOs in the counlr); add· ing that ~I crops were widely rejected in EW'Ope because of some uncertainties regarding meirsaCet)t Such fears appear well-grounded. as Science DaUlt a webbased science puhUcation. recently reported that scientists had discovered a high contamination level of GM maize. usinga new technology known as Biolwninescellt Technoiog}! In its reportoC April29. 201.2, Science Daily quoted the scientists as saying: - It is imponant to be able ro monitor OM
Schneerberger of the University of Missouri said that GM foods \!i.-ere safe fur hwnan consumption. The professor Is the Programme Managet: Illinois-MISsouri Biotechnology Alllance. College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria {NAlfI in Missouri, Schneerberger stressed that Americans hat! been CQnswning GM foods for more than 1.6 years any report of health hazards. He stressed that the obligation to ensure safety given adequate consideration throughout the process m
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genetic engineering.. I. am very confident that GM foods are safe for %ens; Vi'2 have aboUllS )-ears' experience,
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we ha'ie DOl
ed any bealth problem or death arising from the conswn Han of GM foods; weeven have peop1elooking healthier. - So, at this point, I have no hesitation In commenting that the GM foods are safe." he saJd Schneerberger advised the Federal GO\'e!"1Unem mallow Ni· gena's blO-S3fety la\l."S to give room for research into GM foodS. Besides. Pro[ Henry Nguyen, a professor of GenetJ'fJ and Biotechnology at the Uruversity of Missouri, said that so far. reports about some health hazards associated with GM foods ""we mere speculations.. Bxpem are of the opinion that the Federal Government should embrace al ternative means of cultivation to boost food production in Nlgeriaand reduce the country's depen· dence on imponed food. Although President Jonathan has yet to s ign tile BioSafe(}' Bill into law, cynics have continued to query the rationale behind the countrY's intention to go into genetic modificat1on of foods when it Is blessed with vast lands suitable for COtMmtional farming. Advocatesof GM foods. nonetheless, insist that the adoption of O~IO teehnology remains the best optioo of boost· ing of food produC1ion in Nlgeria, ln line with currenlglobaJ practices.. (NANFeatures). ·Nwoko is of NelrS Agmq of Nigeria (NAN)
NSE: Market capitalisation drops by N53bn ctivities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSEl ended on a down· vard trend at the v;eekend with the market indices dropping by 0.62 per cent The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation lost N53 billion or 0.62 per cent to close at N8.S1 trlllion due to price loses. This was against the NB.57 trillion recorded
A
onThursda)t .0\.150. the AU-Share Index depreciated
by 165.8-1 points or 0.62 per cent to close
at N63.crl per share.
at 26,7IB.30 against the 26,883.76 POSted
NCR lost 6811: to close at NI3.09 per
on Thursday: Market analysts attribuled the de\.-el· opment to profit·taking by some im"eStors. The market had remained on an upward trend since Monda),
share. OTBank depreciated by 60k to close at N'&J.lO while Glaxo decreased by 50k toclose at N43 Per share. COn....ersely. Ne...."Gold led the price gainers' chart with N30 to close at N2. 652 per unit Lafurge Wapco follov.'Cd with a gain of 90k to close at N57.51. while Berger Paints gained 40k to close at N8AO per
Nigerian Bt'e'A--eries recorded the highest price loss, dropping N2.70 to close at NI35..30 per share. It was trailed by Flour Mills which lost NL98 wcJose
,bare.
Unilever rose b)' 10k to close at N4.L60 per share. while Livestock apprecimed by6k to close at NL55pershare. The \"Olwne of shares traded dropped by 8..58 percentasa totalof 255.33 nilllion shares wonh Nl.91 billion ....we trnded in 4,076 deals. This was against 279.29 mlllioD shares valued at W-98 billion II3ded in 4,478 deals on Tbwsda)t