CSOs Seek Review Of GMO Approvals, Advocate Agroecology

News in Brief:

—Civil society organisations have called for a review of GMO approvals and stronger biosafety oversight in Nigeria.

—Stakeholders advocate agroecology as a sustainable pathway to food security, environmental protection and farmer empowerment.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have intensified calls for a review of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) approvals in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to adopt agroecology as a cornerstone of the country's food security strategy.

The call was made during a media training on Biodiversity and Agroecology in Nigeria, themed "Nigeria's Food Future," organised by the Home of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and its partners.

Participants expressed concerns over the increasing adoption of genetically modified crops and called for stronger biosafety oversight across the agricultural sector.

HOMEF Warns Against Corporate Control of Food Systems

Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, warned against what he described as the growing influence of multinational corporations on Nigeria's agricultural system. According to him, proprietary seed systems and corporate-controlled agricultural technologies**** are increasingly pressuring smallholder farmers, who account for more than 80 per cent of the country's food production.

Bassey argued that Nigeria's food future should remain in the hands of local farmers rather than multinational agribusiness interests.

"Smallholder farmers produce more than 80 per cent of the food consumed in Nigeria, yet strong vested interests are trying to increase dependency on patented seeds and corporate-controlled technology. This is why we describe it as food colonialism," he said.

He also questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria's biosafety governance framework, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in GMO approval processes.

Experts Call for Greater Focus on Food Sovereignty

Public health expert Dr Ifeanyi Casmir urged policymakers to expand the food security conversation beyond food availability to include food safety and food sovereignty.

According to him, prioritising food production alone without considering consumer safety and farmers' autonomy could create long-term challenges for the country's agricultural system.

Casmir warned that increased reliance on proprietary seed systems could marginalise smallholder farmers and weaken local food production structures.

"If you take away control and make access to seeds very difficult and cost-prohibitive, you have destroyed our food system. Smallholder farmers are the people who feed the world, and they must not be pushed aside through proprietary control of staple crops," he stated.

He further expressed concerns about the potential environmental and health implications linked to herbicides and pesticides, which are commonly used in some GMO farming systems.

Stakeholders Advocate Precautionary Approach

Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, urged the government to apply the precautionary principle when making decisions regarding genetically modified crops.

He noted that several countries continue to exercise caution over GMO adoption due to concerns about possible long-term health and environmental consequences.

Oluwafemi stressed the need to protect indigenous seeds and traditional farming systems, arguing that food production is closely connected to culture, identity and national heritage.

Presenting the communiqué issued at the end of the training, CAPPA Associate Director Ogunlade Olamide Martins said participants resolved to campaign for a comprehensive review of GMO approvals and biosafety regulations in Nigeria.

The announcement called for greater transparency, public participation and independent scientific assessments in biosafety-related decision-making. Participants also urged the government to suspend new GMO approvals pending independent, long-term and peer-reviewed assessments covering feeding trials, environmental impacts and social consequences.

In addition, stakeholders asked for stronger legal protections for farmers' rights to save, exchange, and reuse indigenous seeds, while advocating increased public investment in agroecological research, innovation and farmer training programmes.

Nigeria at a Crossroads on Food Security Strategy

In her closing remarks, HOMEF Programme Director Joyce Brown said Nigeria faces a critical decision regarding its approach to food security and climate resilience.

She noted that while some stakeholders continue to promote agroecology, others are pushing for broader GMO adoption, making it necessary for policymakers to establish a clear direction for the country's agricultural future.

The advocacy groups maintained that increasing food production should not come at the expense of biodiversity conservation, farmers' rights or long-term environmental sustainability. They argued that agroecology offers a pathway for improving food security while protecting ecosystems, strengthening rural livelihoods and preserving Nigeria's agricultural heritage.