Experts have raised the alarm on the state of Nigeria’s food system, warning that the increasing presence of genetically modified organisms poses significant risks to human health, the environment, and the economy.
The experts advised government to support small-scale farmers, build rural infrastructure, put in place durable systems for storage and processing of local foods for farmers to earn good money. Specifically, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation , Nnimmo Bassey, noted that access to safe and wholesome food is a fundamental human right, yet Nigerians are being exposed to GMOs without their knowledge or consent.
He urged government to invest in supporting small-scale farmers, who produce 70 per cent of the world’s food, rather than relying on industrial farming and GMOs.