The United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, says it will continue to work collaboratively with local partners to support the development of Nigeria’s domestic agricultural systems. United State Department Agricultural Counselor , U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, Mr Christopher Bielecki stated this at the Agricultural Biosafety/Biotech Communication workshop, held in Abuja the nation’s with the theme “strategic communication training for influencers/reporters on Biosafety and Biotech regulations. “....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
He said the US Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is proud to partner with the NBMA, to organize these series of trainings with the aim of supporting the country in advancing its agricultural biotechnology and biosafety regulations.
Mr, Bielecki said advancing these agricultural biotechnology and biosafety regulations in Nigeria would help play a critical role in boosting food safety, rural livelihoods, and adaptation to climate change.
He said supporting the workshop is USDA little way of upholding a standard of excellence for communication experts and opinion influencers.
“We believe advancements in agricultural biotechnology, coupled with a science-based, transparent, and timely regulatory framework can give farmers more tools to produce food, which will help not just drive economic empowerment for farmers and rural communities, but also reduce food insecurity in Nigeria, just as it is doing in the United States.
“Nigeria has become a continental leader in developing and evaluating new crop varieties for its local farmers utilizing modern agricultural biotechnology and as such, today’s specialized communication training is aimed at enlightening participants to the science of agricultural biotechnology and on the regulatory frameworks of NBMA to ensure safe use and application of modern biotechnology. “
He explained.
Mr Bielecki said the USDA is happy to be supporting Nigeria by providing fellowship and exchange programs such as this.
“The first edition of this training was held in Lagos state two weeks ago and we received feedbacks on how the workshop helped media professionals increase their scientific knowledge of these novel technologies, and their understanding of the role of NBMA in ensuring safety in the use and application of modern biotechnology.”
“We hope this second edition achieves same purpose as well and more. Sometime in July, we also partnered with the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency to organize a national symposium on agricultural biotechnology and food security titled: “Sharing is Believing”. The symposium was a platform for Nigerian agricultural biotechnology researchers and experts to share advances, discuss challenges, and debunk myths and misconceptions about the technology. “
He said.
He hoped that the insightful discussions and enlightenment will ultimately foster a network of informed journalists and opinion influencers who can contribute to not just the national, but the international, dialogue on biosafety and modern biotechnology.
The United State Department Agricultural Counselor , U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, Mr Christopher Bielecki noted that Nigeria is one of the continental leaders in biotechnology and as such, the U.S. is willing to support the country in its quest to achieve its biotechnology and biosafety goals.
In her remarks the Director General, National Biosafety Management Agency in Nigeria NBMA, Dr Agnes Asabgra reiterated the agency’s commitment in ensuring the safe use of biotechnology, while also minimizing risk to human health and the environment.
Dr Asabgra said the event becomes imperative following the impression the general public have regarding the use of GMOs.
She further stressed that the workshop will foster a network on informed journalists who can contribute to the National dialogue on Biosafety and biotechnology.
Dr Asabgra also stated that the workshop will also empower opinion influencers to effectively communicate science benefits and regulatory frameworks associated with biotechnological products.
“This event has become very important because there has been a lot misinformation and misinterpretation, so we decided that we needed to have a communication programme for journalist and influencers, and this programme is jointly sponsor by NBMA and USDA.’’
She said.
She said that the Agency will continue to pioritise biosafety, adapt to emgering challenges and seize new opportunities in the biotechnology field.
According to her, biosafety is not well known hence the need to educate the public, because it is very easy to pass the wrong message.
The Program officer, OFAB Nigeria, Mr Abraham Isah, urged journalists to believe in the work of scientists, stating that Science is all about data and research.
“Evolving technologies such as this, you can’t do without misconceptions because of personal interest, but I will urge the journalists to believe in scientists, especially, research on GM crops, because a scientist who has done such research will be in a better place because of their research findings”. He said.
The workshop was aimed at providing in-depth knowledge of NBMA’s role and activities in regulating agricultural modern biotech.
It will also helped enhanced the media’s capacity to communicate complex Biosafety topics to the public, accurately, while promoting scientific literacy and dispelling non-science-based narratives about agricultural biotechnology.
