By Dele Ogbodo
The Country Director, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria Chapter, Dr. Rose Maxwell Gidado, has applauded President William Ruto, of Kenya for his stance on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) push and Biotechnology applications to address Africa’s suffocating food crisis and nutritional challenge.
Gidado, while reacting via her twitter handle on Thursday, said: “I feel highly elated and encouraged to read from the President of Kenya Mr. William Ruto’s very supportive statement on the consumption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in his country.
The GM technology, Gidado, went on further to explain is a technology that comes with the potency to revolutionalise agriculture in Africa, adding that the technology is practically evidenced based.
She was indeed ultra-excited at the fast-expanding ground and the breathtaking achievements as recorded by the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) in Nigeria’s adoption of biotechnology to drive food security among others for the growing populace.
Meanwhile, this is coming even as is widely reported in The Standard and Nation newspapers of Kenya, of Thursday of President Ruto’s advocacy for the consumption of GMO crops and use of biotechnology to drive food security in Africa is without ambiguity with claims that GMOs food is safe for consumption.
According to The Standard: “President William Ruto ruled out any quick fixes to the high cost of living, and defended the decision to lift the ban on GMOs, noting that the President sarcastically chided those who opposed GMO foods, dismissing claims that they pose as adverse health effects.
“All the food we import is GMO, to some percentage. The kenya Bureau of Standards requires the percentage to be 1%. But that leaves us paying up to 40% more for our imports.
According to him, and as reported in the paper, Kenya’s scientists agreed that GMOs posed no health challenges.
“South Africa and US are 100% GMO. Have you heard anyone growing horns because of consuming GMO?”
“I am scientist…I would not endanger the lives of those who elected me.” Ruto said.
In similar reportage, the Nation newspaper quoted President Ruto, as saying that the: “GM technology will help address the problems and challenges of food shortages saying that it was a big indictment on African leaders that its people were sleeping hungry decade after independence.”
