…seeks collaboration with international organizations on food security
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to nurturing in-house capabilities for the advancement and application of biotechnology innovations in the improvement of crops.
This declaration was made on Monday during the inauguration of the inaugural conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) held in Abuja.
Kalu also expressed the Assembly’s keen interest in collaborating with international organizations to bolster food security efforts.
The Deputy Speaker emphasized that significant strides had already been taken in this direction with the recent enactment of the Plant Variety Protection Act 2021. This legislative milestone serves as a testament to the government’s commitment to fostering innovation in the agricultural sector, particularly in biotechnology, to facilitate precise and efficient enhancements in crop cultivation for sustainable agricultural development.
The conference, themed “Advancing Plant Breeding Through Biotechnology Innovation: Fostering One Health and Nigeria’s Agenda 2050,” underlines the urgency for Nigeria to embrace innovation, particularly in biotechnology, to drive accurate and efficient crop improvement, thereby ensuring sustainable agricultural growth.
Kalu praised plant breeders for their dedication, which enables farmers to access diverse crop varieties. He underscored the government’s responsibility to provide funding for agricultural innovations, as this would serve as motivation for breeders to continue their essential work.
Kalu also urged Nigerian plant breeders to explore ways to contribute to global food security by collaborating with international organizations and sharing best practices, a step he believes is pivotal in achieving the Agenda 2050 goals.
In his address, Kalu stated, “It is with immense pleasure that I stand before you today to extend a warm and hearty welcome to all participants, both in person and those joining us online, to this groundbreaking event—the maiden conference of the Nigeria Plant Breeding Association (NPBA). The Association is a collective of brilliant minds who have dedicated themselves to the noble cause of enhancing agriculture in our nation. I must emphasize that ‘plant breeding is a profoundly noble profession.’ By this, I mean that no individual can excel in any other profession without the foundation of adequate and nutritious food.”
“These crops, in turn, nourish our citizens, contributing to their overall well-being. We must underscore the vital role that plant breeding plays in ensuring food security and addressing malnutrition. With the global population steadily increasing, we need crop varieties that are not only resilient to climate change but also capable of providing higher yields and improved nutritional content. It is incumbent upon the government to commit to funding agricultural innovations in plant breeding, thus motivating our breeders to continue their crucial work of creating novel crop varieties capable of mitigating the challenges posed by our ever-changing climate.
“Biotechnology is the key to unlocking the full potential of plant breeding. Embracing biotechnological advancements allows us to accelerate the development of crop varieties with desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and enhanced nutritional value.
“The integration of cutting-edge technologies like gene editing and precision breeding techniques should be at the forefront of our efforts. Nigeria’s Agenda 2050 encapsulates the hopes and aspirations of our nation for the future. Among these aspirations is the development of mechanisms to ensure a sustainable environment in alignment with global concerns about climate change. We should explore ways in which our nation’s plant breeders can contribute to global food security. Collaborations with international organizations and sharing best practices will be instrumental in achieving this goal.
“I stand here today, on behalf of the House of Representatives, to solemnly declare our unwavering commitment to developing our in-house capacity for the advancement and utilization of biotechnology innovations in crop improvement. We have taken significant strides in this direction with the recent passage of the Plant Variety Protection Act 2021. In essence, this legislation is designed to ensure that all plant breeders reap the benefits of their painstaking work. I anticipate that this will serve as a powerful incentive for our breeders to continue bringing their best to the table, resulting in the development and dissemination of the finest crop varieties to Nigerian farmers, with tangible effects on our nation’s economy.”
