The National Biotechnology Development
Agency has said genetically modified beans would be available in
commercial quantity across Nigerian markets on or before 2019.
The NABDA Director General, Prof Lucy
Ogbadu, who said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the November edition of
Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), revealed that Nigeria
would soon witness abundant beans as the GM cowpeas (or beans) would be
released into the market in large quantities in two or three years’
time.
She said the cowpea, which is currently undergoing field trials, is safe and wouldn’t pose any health risk to Nigerians.
“Rules are being followed in its
production. Our Ethical Committee is working day and night to ensure
that no rule is breached. Nigerians should be rest assured that the GM
beans and other crops which will be available later in the country would
be safe for consumption. In 2-3 years’ time, cowpea should be ready in
commercial quantity in the country”, Prof Ogbadu said.
She dismissed “the insinuation” that GM
foods are unhealthy; saying over 100 Nobel Laureates had signed a
petition to guarantee its safety.
Credit: dailytrust