VALIDATION OF NATIONAL BIOSAFETY GUIDELINES ON GM PLANTS WITH STACKED GENES

The National Biosafety Management Agency today validated it's National Biosafety guidelines on GM plants with stacked Genes has been validated by stakeholders. The Director General/ CEO National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr. Rufus Ebegba, in a speech said the essence of the development of the document was to remedy many challenges facing agricultural capabilities that have engendered national food insufficiency and the country and Africa.

“The sole responsibility of the Agency is ensuring that the deployment of this technology does not pose threat to human health and the biodiversity”

DG/CEO of NBMA, Dr. Rufus Ebegba

Dr. Ebegba explained that “stacked genes refer to the combination of more than one gene for plant disease resistance and enhanced crop productivity, stacked genes are primarily engineered to protect crops from many diseases and pests ravaging agriculture’’. He said the global happenings including climate change is already taking its toll on food production and emphasized that safe science and technology remains a vital tool to better human lives and must be properly regulated.

The Director General stated that these guidelines remain reference instruments for decision making for those who will deal in plants with stacked genes as the Agency is mandated to see that the processes are not compromised and the safety of human health and environment are top priority.

Mrs. Bello Scholastica, Deputy Director Planning Research and Statistics NBMA, while unveiling the purpose of the validation meeting stated that the Agency will remain committed to ensuring the realization of the Agency’s mandate. “We will continue to put our competence to work, we are trailblazers and we will continue to set the pace for the rest of the African countries”.

The validation meeting was attended by partners via zoom, representatives of line ministries, agencies and the media.