At the 37th Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) Conference, experts have urged the use of successful agricultural biotechnologies to improve food security and help farmers earn better livelihoods.
They say adopting crops like PBR cowpea and TELA maize yields more and withstands tough climates better.
These crops can dramatically boost food production, ensure stable incomes for farmers, and help fight poverty.
The experts, led by Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, shared key recommendations to use biotechnology for national growth and prosperity in a report issued in Abuja.
They highlighted the need for local investment in bio-manufacturing facilities. Establishing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) centers and biomanufacturing hubs could help Nigeria produce important products like vaccines and biofertilisers locally.
Doing this can boost the economy by creating skilled jobs, reducing imports, and turning Nigeria into a biotechnology powerhouse in Africa, especially with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opening new doors.
Pushing for Public Health Improvements
The conference emphasized setting up advanced public health systems. They recommended launching a national wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) program that could warn about new health threats early.
This approach is key to protecting health, keeping the economy stable by quick reaction to health outbreaks, and using data wisely for better health management, according to the experts.
Moreover, they suggested the government enact policies based on scientific facts and encourage teamwork across sectors. This would help build a strong bioeconomy, supported by aligned biosafety and intellectual property laws to speed up innovation.
An important step is to fight misinformation and push for cross-sector cooperation while investing in people to cultivate a thriving ecosystem where new ideas can develop from labs to markets.
Biotechnology is seen as critical for Nigeria’s development, enhancing food and nutrition security, creating wealth, promoting health resilience, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
Biotechnology as the Hope for the Future
The experts called for nationwide action on these suggestions, deeming it essential for a strong, independent, and competitive bioeconomy. They noted that biotechnology is not just science; it is a vital solution to Nigeria’s major issues.
These issues include ensuring food security amid climate change, fighting widespread diseases, easing poverty, and crafting a resilient economy.
Despite having scientific talent, Nigeria struggles due to missing infrastructure like GMP facilities and molecular labs for WBE.
The annual conference, themed “Umudike 2025,” was held with a focus on innovative biotechnology for growth, food security, health, and environmental sustainability.
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