CSO coalition demands end to introduction of GM potatoes by Nigerian government

A coalition of over 100 civil society actors, farmers, scientists, legal practitioners and academics representing 100 million Nigerian consumers have demanded a discontinuation of plans to introduce genetically modified potatoes by the Nigerian government.

They have also called for the outright ban of Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs in the country, insisting they violate fundamental human rights and degrade the country’s food system.

This demand is contained in a press statement by the coalition in reaction to the announcement that the federal government plans to release a report on clinical trials of genetically modified, GM potatoes.

The statement signed by Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, warned that any further release of GMOs in Nigeria would be seen as a deliberate effort to destroy the Nigerian food system, jeopardise consumers’ health and degrade our environment.

He noted that the House of Representatives had in May 2024 halted the introduction of new GMOs, mandating an investigation of the approval processes.

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He said, however, that to date, 4 months later, there is no information on the findings or results of this investigation, yet the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) continues its plans to release new GM potatoes.

“It is clear that there are indeed vested interests on the side of the transnational corporations producing these GMOs and their allies in government undermining the health and safety of the Nigerian populace.”

On the GM Potatoes, Bassey warned that it is a narrow and short-sighted technological fix that is inappropriate for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, which could lead to an irreversible contamination of indigenous potato varieties.

‘‘GM potatoes are banned in Peru and elsewhere and have been continuously spurned in developed countries. It is a wonder that Nigerian farmers are already being painted to the clamour for the Potatoes. This was the same strategy used in Uganda and Rwanda’.

Meanwhile, Dr Ifeanyi Casmir, a Molecular Biologist noted that just like Bt Cotton, Bt Beans, and TELA Maize, the GM Potatoes represent a gradual yet sure erosion of the original germplasm of Nigerian crops.

‘‘We are being misled by half-baked parochial “scientists” toward adopting a technology, whose products are mostly used as biofuels and feed for animals in other countries – not for human consumption. What our government needs to do is to address the instability in Plateau State and other potato-producing states where banditry has caused farmers to abandon their farms – leading to poor productivity and the rising cost of potatoes across the country.

According to Joyce Brown, Public Health Scientist and Director of Programmes at HOMEF, “There is no information as to whether there have been long-term feeding studies conducted on these GM Potatoes varieties.

It is not sufficient to carry out field trials or short-lived clinical trials. This GM potato is the same which is being pushed in East Africa; a “cisgenic” variant of the Victoria variety that was originally from South America but selected for use in Africa.

Lovelyn Ejim, a farmer and founder of the Network of Women in Agriculture noted that Nigeria does not need genetic modification to address the late blight disease.

She said, “The disease is not new and simple organic methods have over time proven to be effective including choosing naturally
resistant varieties, crop rotation, mixed cropping, providing proper crop nutrition, crop spacing, quick removal of blighted plants etc.

‘‘Nigerian farmers have not asked the government for GMOs. We are very concerned about the lack of participatory stakeholder engagement with farmers and consumers and the limited information available on the long-term consequences of GMOs, as well as the proprietary issues concerning GM seeds, she said.