FUNAAB VC Advocates for Biotech Tools to Enhance Productivity in the Agricultural Sector

Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Tunde Kehinde, has called for implementation of biotechnology tools to enhance agricultural productivity and food security in the country.

Kehinde made the call while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a two-day workshop and broader stakeholders’ meeting on the review and validation of the National Biotechnology Policy on Tuesday in Abuja.

Biotechnology tools are scientific techniques like genetic engineering, molecular markers, tissue culture and bioinformatics used to modify organisms like plants, animals and microbes, for improved food production, nutrition, pest resistance and sustainability.

The vice-chancellor said that every player in the agricultural food chain, from farmers and seed producers to processors, distributors and retailers, must actively identify and implement opportunities for biotechnology tools to increase outputs.

He recalled that upon assumption of office, President Bola Tinubu had declared a national emergency on food security, adding that efforts had since been ongoing in using every possible means to meet up Nigeria’s food requirements.

“Agricultural biotechnology can enhance production in terms of yield per hectare, and biotechnology should play a significant role in the whole agricultural value chain, including processing, storage, among others,’’ he said.

The vice-chancellor stated that it was not enough to simply know that the tools existed, but that players needed to develop a specific strategy for integrating biotechnology into their business models.

He also stressed the need for training, investment and research and development at every stage.

According to him, using biotechnology for enhanced productivity is more than just increasing crop yield, but also means improving resource use efficiency, which implies fever pesticide.

“Enhanced productivity also relates to nutritional value (bio-fortification) and sustainability, which translates into reduced carbon footprint and improved soil health,” he stated.

Kehinde called for a holistic, industry-wide digital and biological transformation where biotechnology would not be a ‘siloed’ field but an integrated utility for operational improvement at all stages of bringing foods from the field to the consumer.