Mrs Wakama Asifieka, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST), says there is currently no significant evidence to prove that Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds are harmful for human consumption.
Afieka made this known in Abuja at the sensitization seminar on GMOs and Agricultural Biotechnology organised for the staff of FMST by the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA).
According to her, there are schools of thought with the perception that GMOs are harmful to humans and the environment.
“It is imperative for us as staff of the ministry with statutory mandate for research and development to correct this impression due to the fact that there are no significant empirical evidences to show this.
“There is no doubt that we are the custodians of scientific facts regarding the safety of GMOs. This seminar is therefore organised to sensitise staff of the ministry in order to be well informed about GMOs.
“it is therefore imperative that at the end of the seminar, staff will be better informed and enlightened about this new technology,’’ she said.
In her key-note address, Mrs Lucy Ogbadu, the Director General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) described GMOs as organisms which the genetic materials had been altered.
According to her, such transformation does not occur naturally because it is otherwise referred to as modern biotechnology or genetic engineering to enhance the former characteristics of the organism for a specific purpose.
“Apart from high yields, the plants grown using GM technology require fewer pesticides, less water and keep production costs down.
“GM technology helps reduce the price of crops used for food such as corn, soya beans and sugar beets by as much as 15 to 30 per cent,“ she said.
She listed some of the regulatory agencies and organisations that studied the safety of the food supply chain to include; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, American Median Association and World Health Organisation.
Others are the National Academy of Science and the National Bio-safety Management Agency (Nigeria).
Ogbodu said that the regulatory agencies found genetically modified food ingredients safe with no negative effects associated with their usage.