Director Allays Fears On Infected Crops

The Director, Agric Biotechnology and Bio-resources, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Dr Andrew Keswet  has advised that the virus Gene VI, found in 54 Genetically Modified (GM) crops, should not cause panic among Nigerians.

Dr Keswet said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), recently raised safety concerns about Genetically Modified crops, after an independent research uncovered a toxic virus gene, called Gene VI, in 54 of the 86 approved for commercial growing in the US.

The study, conducted by the EU, showed that standard tests for GM foods might have missed a gene potentially poisonous to humans.

The EFSA researchers concluded that the presence of segments of Gene VI “might result in unintended phenotypic changes”.

A phenotypic change, the reports said, include changes that could cause the creation of proteins toxic to humans or cause changes in plants that could make them vulnerable to pests, which they were recreated to be protected from.

Kewswet said the EU discovery, which has made experts to call for a review of regulations for conducting standard tests for GM crops, did not invalidate Nigeria’s Bio-Safety Bill drafted before the finding in 2013.

“If you have seen our Bio-Safety Bill, you will find out that all the concerns being raised have been taken care of, and so, there will be no need reviewing it.

“Nigerian Scientists will not put Nigerians into any bad situation. We will do our best and make sure that whatever we are giving to the public stands the test of time.

“Be rest assured that what we are doing in biotechnology is the best for our people, and we will only follow internationally approved procedures,” he said.

The Director said that some people were apprehensive of GM products because they did not understand that in one way or the other, they might have consumed a GM product, such as GM wheat, corn and soya, in one form or another.

He said that the discovery of the virus gene did not mean that GM food were unhealthy for human consumption.