The Head, Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Development Agency – NEPAD, often known as AUDA-NEPAD, Prof Olalekan Akinbo, tells TUNDE AJAJA how the federal government can attain its meals safety agenda and develop its meals exports with assistance from genome modifying software for improved agriculture

A couple of weeks in the past, key stakeholders validated the communication advocacy and technique for the deployment of genome modifying to spice up agricultural manufacturing in Nigeria. The AUDA-NEPAD and National Biotechnology Development Agency have been driving the method, what ought to Nigerians anticipate as the end result?

When a job is properly completed, there’s a sense of fulfilment, despite the fact that that pleasure can also be accompanied by a way of problem to do extra. Different stakeholders within the worth chain within the nation made their inputs and ensured that the drafting of the communication advocacy and technique for deploying genome modifying software for improved productiveness within the agricultural sector was successful. The nationwide system from totally different member states, together with this nation, are already fascinated by implementing the suggestions vis-à-vis whether or not there shall be sufficient assets to realize the milestones set, and to finally ship on the promise of improved agricultural productiveness. Countries are additionally conscious of the negativity that confronts new improvements. However, Nigeria has made progress, from the drafting of the communication and advocacy doc and technique to the assessment and its validation by key stakeholders within the worth chain. That was a milestone. The nation now has an implementation plan with timelines, and the nice factor is the buy-in of the Nigerian authorities, having been concerned from the outset. However, the political will that had been proven was vital, however is probably not sufficient. There is a must construct an ecosystem for the supply of this technique. The advantages will overwhelmingly change lives.

Does this should do with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, tagged ‘The Africa We Want’?

Yes, the essence of this innovation is the speedy implementation of Agenda 2063 targets, and that’s the mandate of AUDA-NEPAD, which is the place the Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation is available in; to drive innovation for commercialisation in order that the continent will profit from the innovation. The centre seeks to bridge the hole between innovation and the top customers. Across the continent, together with Nigeria, we all know that scientists are working, however lots of them work in isolation, and because of that, the top customers of the merchandise or improvements they provide you with typically don’t know what the scientists are engaged on, what to anticipate and the way it will change their lives. That was why the communication and advocacy technique was essential for genome modifying as a software, in order to deliver everyone, together with stakeholders, to hurry so they may know what the scientists are engaged on and the various advantages.

The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a number of months in the past declared a state of emergency in meals safety, how will this innovation assist?

It’s an excellent factor the President has declared a state of emergency in meals safety. Generally, the per capita yield of crops in Africa is low, however the excellent news is that it may be improved on. Every crop has its potential yield and precise yield. Actual yield is what you harvested whereas potential yield is the crop’s genetic manufacturing skill or the inherent capability of the crop as regards what it may produce. When a crop’s precise yield is decrease than its potential yield, it is a sign of gaps that may very well be because of environmental and agronomic administration of the crop. However, genome modifying software may also help in addressing that by maximising a crop’s yield. Genome modifying is among the instruments within the toolbox within the rising applied sciences to enhance agricultural productiveness, resulting in optimum yield. So, to make sure meals safety because the President has instructed all involved, along with institutional constructions that have to be in place, there’s a must embrace innovation that may make sure the manufacturing of higher yielding crops that aren’t tormented by illnesses, pests or low yield. When seeds are wholesome, there’s a excessive tendency to get a bumper harvest. That is what the appliance of this software for crop enchancment will make attainable.

People are sometimes cautious with new improvements, how secure is it?

That is the place the National Biosafety Management Agency is available in; to provide approval after a science-based evaluation utilizing the genome modifying tips developed and accredited by the regulatory company. There are institutional constructions in place, whereby institutional biosafety committees, following the rules prescribed by the NBMA, filter on the early analysis stage those who shall be handled with a stringent biosafety course of and those who shall be handled as a traditional crop based mostly on the rule of thumb from the NBMA.

The state of emergency declared by the President just isn’t the primary of its form, how can the federal government key into genome modifying as a software to realize that focused meals safety this time spherical?

The fantastic thing about the declaration of a state of emergency is that the federal government has indicated that as its precedence. It creates the attention that authorities is considering this sector and is able to go the additional mile. What makes a state of emergency work is the political will; management, as a result of there’ll at all times be blockages, forms and challenges that wish to benefit from the second. And it’s not peculiar to Nigeria or Africa. So, when there may be management that may drive the method, anybody that refuses to maneuver alongside is left behind. On how you can use this innovation to fulfill this want, it’s not that persons are not farming; they’re, solely that the yield is low and their revenue doesn’t take them dwelling. So, genome modifying as a software focuses on enhancing productiveness to enhance livelihood. Like I at all times say, everybody may be handsome if they’re in an excellent surroundings and they’re handled properly, but when the surroundings is hectic, the wonder in its pure sense won’t mirror. So, if a seed is meant to have the potential yield of 20 tons, if it doesn’t get the best enchancment, you can get like 5 tons after harvest. With genome modifying innovation software, it should handle these challenges that trigger low yield that aren’t agronomic, such that as an alternative of getting poor high quality seed, you get good high quality seed and the potential shall be maximised. Getting high-yield seeds helps farmers to navigate about 50 per cent of their downside. Through a state of emergency declared by the federal government, farmers can get incentives like farm inputs for good manufacturing, nonetheless, if we use innovation to get high-yield seeds, by the point the federal government offers all these different issues, they are going to be complementary, and on the finish of the harvest 12 months, farmers would have optimum yield. You can think about the multiplier impact of that for the farmers and households.

Are you assured the GEd merchandise shall be properly acquired in Nigeria and on the continent?

The concept of change is what we have to give attention to. At this level, the product just isn’t accessible but, however communication advocacy concerning the software is ongoing with the stakeholders, together with these within the agricultural sector. There is one thing we name co-evolution; the researchers are doing their work however the consciousness can also be ongoing. It’s like when a girl is pregnant, it’s from the second you understand that you just begin making ready for the infant’s arrival. It’s not the day the infant is born that you just begin making ready. It’s the identical factor for using this innovation. The National Biotechnology Development Agency has began engaged on tomato. They wish to work in collaboration with the National Horticultural Research Institute in Ibadan. It’s a community as a result of NIHORT is the nationwide mandate for any horticultural crop and tomato is one in all their mandate crops.

Since the communication and advocacy technique has been adopted, what are the timelines?

We have quick, medium and long-term timelines, and the plan is to implement these actions within the subsequent three years. NABDA, being the main coverage establishment as a part of its mandate for biotechnology improvement in Nigeria, is driving the method.

Your work has taken you to virtually all African nations, do you suppose Africa is shifting in the direction of self-sufficiency in agriculture?

When you speak of self-sufficiency, that’s why you see the drive for Agenda 2063. We preserve speaking about Agenda 2063, as a result of the Heads of State and Governments have already set a timeline and an agenda that the challenges we’re seeing in Africa now, we don’t wish to see once more by 2063. We wish to be okay when it comes to safety, meals sufficiency, infrastructure and different pillars of Agenda 2063. From the best way issues are within the agricultural sector, it’s time to vary the dynamics. African leaders have been talking on Africa not relying on different continents, which doesn’t indicate isolation, however to scale back heavy dependence on importation. Africa is properly resourced, which may make her self-sufficient and that’s what most of those efforts are searching for to deal with. That was why the implementation of Agenda 2063, utilizing science, expertise, and innovation as a software to drive innovation for commercialisation is vital.

Funding is vital to make this initiative a actuality, are you hopeful there shall be funds to push this by, realizing that analysis is capital intensive?

I’m constructive, as a result of I’m African. The declaration of the state of emergency in meals safety can also be well timed. Governments wish to see what’s in it for his or her residents and after they see that, like job creation and elevated meals manufacturing, they are going to present dedication.

How can Nigeria additional convert its assets to wealth within the agricultural sector, on condition that it presently cultivates lower than half of its arable land and the bulk stay in poverty?

Nigeria has arable land, nonetheless we’re used to subsistence farming. Apart from that, you can’t domesticate hectares of land manually. So authorities assist, entry to loans and low collateral are vital. Supportive techniques are needed for profitable business farming.

Nigeria has totally different forms of cassava and a few nations eat sure species of it, ought to Nigeria introduce such species right here in order to develop the accessible choices?

Nigeria has sufficient forms of cassava. In the North, there are species of cassava that you just harvest and eat with out even cooking. It’s secure and candy, like carrot. However, that selection just isn’t frequent as a result of the yield is decrease and it’s extremely vulnerable to prevalent illnesses and pests of cassava, so individuals don’t domesticate it for business functions. Cassava is sweet and we’ve a number of varieties. During former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, they made a coverage that allow the amount of wheat utilized in bread manufacturing get replaced with cassava by 50 per cent, since it is extremely wealthy in starch. Many individuals planted cassava, however as a result of the worth chain was not there, many individuals deserted it. Look on the genome modifying innovation we’re speaking about, by the point the product is prepared for the market, if the market can not cater for it, it turns into a waste. That’s why there’s a want for a system, in order that by the point the product is prepared, there shall be no wastage, after which we are able to export.

Is Nigeria maximising what it may get from cassava presently?

No, cassava is under-utilised in Nigeria. From one cassava stand, should you course of the leaf, it’s cash, likewise the starch. What you squeeze out of cassava, which is cyanide, should you course of it, it’s cash. You get acid from that water. When you separate the acid from the starch, that starch is pure starch. There are so many issues you will get out of cassava, however we simply use it for garri. If you see the place they course of cassava gaari, the extent of the acid content material within the liquid extracted is very poisonous to kill grasses and others. You can even produce ethanol from cassava and it may survive within the hardest surroundings.

How can Nigeria convert cassava to wealth on a bigger scale?

It is by establishing a system that appears into the totally different parts of cassava. There needs to be a analysis construction past the breeding facet. It appears we’ve not proven curiosity in it as a result of it looks as if a crop of the Global South. However, when industries, particularly the large ones, decide up the parts and switch them round for higher use, then we are going to begin seeing the large potential.