What new biotechnology law means to Buhari’s administration
THE impact of the new biotechnology bill otherwise called biosafety bill, which was recently assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, into law cannot be over emphasized. This is because the law is coming at a time the issue of biosafety regulation in Africa is rapidly gaining momentum as more African countries are embracing genetically motivated organisms, GMOs.
Many see the signing of the bill into law by President Jonathan as a milestone in the domestication of modern biotechnology in Nigeria, what science experts also say is a giant stride that will allow the country to join the league of countries advance in the use of this cutting edge technology as another window to boost economic development in Nigeria.
With the adoption, it is expected that the 3 million jobs promised by the incoming President annually will be a walk over, given that the technology has the capacity of creating more employment, boost food production that will put a smile on the faces of farmers and elevate hunger if given good attention by government.
According to the Director-General/CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, the National Biosafety Act is crucial in the management of Modern Biotechnology in the country. She said modern biotechnology has been identified as an important tool that can help countries to achieve food sufficiency/food security, industrial growth, health improvement and environmental sustainability.
While the Biosafety Act will give the legal framework to check the activities of modern biotechnology locally, she said the Act would also give legal backing to imported GM crops into the country as well as providing avenue to engage Nigerian scientist s/experts from different fields to identify and pursue solutions to our local challenges.
According to her, the biosafety law also recognizes the complex issues to be addressed by Central Authorities in the judicious application of modern biotechnology and bases the deliberate release of GMO on Advance Informed Agreement (AIA).
Other legal implications
The biosafety Act defines offences and Penalty for violation of the act; contains powers to authorize release of GMOs and practice of modern biotechnology activities; confers the power to carry out risk assessment/management before the release, handling and use of GMOs; covers all genetically modified organisms/Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and products thereof including food/feed and processing and covers socio-economic consideration in risk assessment.
Benefits
Apart from multiplier effect on food production and job creation, the new biotechnology law experts say has the capacity for improving environmental protection and conservation through production of stress tolerant planting materials for re-vegetation, re-afforestation, soil binding for erosion control as well as genetically enhanced organisms for bioremediation of oil polluted sites.
It can also guarantee improvement in plants and animals yields as well as nutritional values; it ensures production of new breeds/varieties of animals and plants; reduces in the use of pesticides and ensure reduction in farming land area with higher yields, facilitates Job and wealth creation, leads to better health facilities.
With the adoption of this technology, there is high expected for promotion of bioorganic fertilizer and industrial growth through feedstock development; promotion and development of biopharmaceuticals production, Stem Cell technology, biometrics in Nigeria and biodiversity conservation among others.
Immediate Benefits to Nigeria
Following the signing of the bill into law, experts say Nigeria can without delay commercialize Bt-cotton, Bt-maize, herbicide tolerant (HT)-soya beans, which are already in South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt. This they said, can lead to increased yield productivity to ensure food security and industrial growth, especially in the ailing textile industries.
With the adoption, it is expected that the 3 million jobs promised by the incoming President annually will be a walk over, given that the technology has the capacity of creating more employment, boost food production that will put a smile on the faces of farmers and elevate hunger if given good attention by government.
According to the Director-General/CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, the National Biosafety Act is crucial in the management of Modern Biotechnology in the country. She said modern biotechnology has been identified as an important tool that can help countries to achieve food sufficiency/food security, industrial growth, health improvement and environmental sustainability.
While the Biosafety Act will give the legal framework to check the activities of modern biotechnology locally, she said the Act would also give legal backing to imported GM crops into the country as well as providing avenue to engage Nigerian scientist s/experts from different fields to identify and pursue solutions to our local challenges.
According to her, the biosafety law also recognizes the complex issues to be addressed by Central Authorities in the judicious application of modern biotechnology and bases the deliberate release of GMO on Advance Informed Agreement (AIA).
Other legal implications
The biosafety Act defines offences and Penalty for violation of the act; contains powers to authorize release of GMOs and practice of modern biotechnology activities; confers the power to carry out risk assessment/management before the release, handling and use of GMOs; covers all genetically modified organisms/Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and products thereof including food/feed and processing and covers socio-economic consideration in risk assessment.
Benefits
Apart from multiplier effect on food production and job creation, the new biotechnology law experts say has the capacity for improving environmental protection and conservation through production of stress tolerant planting materials for re-vegetation, re-afforestation, soil binding for erosion control as well as genetically enhanced organisms for bioremediation of oil polluted sites.
It can also guarantee improvement in plants and animals yields as well as nutritional values; it ensures production of new breeds/varieties of animals and plants; reduces in the use of pesticides and ensure reduction in farming land area with higher yields, facilitates Job and wealth creation, leads to better health facilities.
With the adoption of this technology, there is high expected for promotion of bioorganic fertilizer and industrial growth through feedstock development; promotion and development of biopharmaceuticals production, Stem Cell technology, biometrics in Nigeria and biodiversity conservation among others.
Immediate Benefits to Nigeria
Following the signing of the bill into law, experts say Nigeria can without delay commercialize Bt-cotton, Bt-maize, herbicide tolerant (HT)-soya beans, which are already in South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt. This they said, can lead to increased yield productivity to ensure food security and industrial growth, especially in the ailing textile industries.
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