To mark this year’s edition of World Food Day with the theme ‘Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future’ public health experts and food sovereignty activists including our deputy executive director Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje issued a strong warning to the Nigerian government and demanded an immediate halt to the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into the nation’s food system during an X (Twitter space) event hosted by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
GMOs infringe upon fundamental human rights, and will deprive Nigerians of the right to “safe food for a better life and better future.”
The event focused on the far-reaching implications of modern agricultural biotechnology on consumers, farmers, and the environment, highlighting the detrimental effects on the country’s food system.
Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, Deputy Director at Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, echoed her concerns, pointing to the lack of consumer choice due to inadequate labeling practices.
“Our socio-economic system does not support the right of consumers to choose,” she stated. “Consumers cannot differentiate between genetically modified and non-modified products, and our markets are not equipped to separate organic foods from GMOs.”
Further exacerbating the issue, Orovwuje added, is the dependence of farmers on biotechnology seed companies for seeds due to the declining productivity of GM seeds after the first generation.
“This undermines the tradition of seed saving and sharing among local farmers,” she emphasized.
Joyce Brown, Public Health Expert and HOMEF’s Director of Programme emphasized that the theme of the year’s event, ‘Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future,’ is incredibly relevant.
“We urge the Federal Government to conduct a thorough review of their decisions regarding GMOs through the lens of human rights.”
Brown asserted that the majority of Nigerians oppose GMOs due to their economic, environmental, and health implications. The government’s continued approval of permits for these products, she argued, constitutes a direct violation of the people’s rights.
Dr. Segun Adebayo, Deputy Director of the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research, exposed flaws in the GMO approval process. He highlighted the insufficient transparency, with notifications of applications only appearing on the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) website, of which many Nigerians are unaware. Adebayo also criticized the lack of risk assessment reports on the NBMA website, indicating a lack of due diligence. He stressed the urgent need to review the NBMA Act, citing the presence of key GMO promoters within the board, including the National Biotechnology Development and Research Agency.
Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir, a Molecular Biologist, highlighted the direct threat GMOs pose to the right to a safe environment.
“Studies have shown that GMOs designed for pest resistance increase dependence on synthetic pesticides, harming non-target organisms like pollinators and soil organisms,” he said. “This leads to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and ultimately, negative impacts on food productivity.”
Casmir further emphasized the detrimental effects of Bt crops, which utilize antibiotic markers linked to increased antibiotic resistance.
Lovelyn Ejim, a farmer and women farmer group leader, presented a viable alternative: Agroecology. This approach, she explained, utilizes ecosystem principles in agricultural management, ensuring sustainable food production while addressing social and economic barriers. Ejim urged the government to support the development of markets for organic products and focus on achieving food sovereignty by providing more support to smallholder farmers.
The call for a moratorium on GMOs in Nigeria reflects a growing global movement advocating for food sovereignty and the right to choose safe, sustainable food systems. The Nigerian government’s response to these demands will have significant implications for the health, environment, and future of the country’s food system.