The Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha, emphasized the pivotal role of biotechnology in transforming agriculture in Nigeria. Represented by Dr. Rose Gidado, Director of Agricultural Biotechnology at NABDA, Mustapha highlighted how the conference’s theme aligns with NABDA’s mission to create a sustainable and food-secure future.
He stated, “As the Director General of NABDA, I am convinced that biotechnology is a powerful tool for revolutionizing agriculture. By leveraging modern biotechnology and advanced plant breeding techniques, we can develop crops that are resilient to climate change, improve their nutritional value, and boost productivity across the sector.”
Mustapha praised the Nigeria Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) for organizing the event and fostering collaboration between researchers and policymakers. He stressed that the conference aimed to provide a platform for exchanging ideas, best practices, and strategies to revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He reaffirmed NABDA’s commitment to driving economic growth through biotechnology, mitigating climate change, and ensuring food security in the country. “Our agency is dedicated to supporting research and development initiatives that expand the boundaries of biotechnology to improve the lives of Nigerians,” he added.
He concluded by envisioning a future where no Nigerian child suffers from hunger and the agricultural sector flourishes.
The conference is expected to inspire significant changes in Nigeria’s agricultural policies, encouraging the integration of plant breeding strategies with modern biotechnology to meet future food needs and counter the effects of climate change.
Held over two days in Abuja, the Second International Conference of the NPBA, themed “Revolutionizing Agriculture Through the Integration of Plant Breeding Strategies and Modern Biotechnology,” brought together key figures in agriculture and biotechnology to explore solutions to Africa’s food security challenges.
In his keynote speech, the Chairman of the Biotechnology Development Association of Nigeria (BDAN) underscored the urgency of advancing plant breeding technologies to address food shortages in sub-Saharan Africa. He noted that, to achieve the productivity levels seen in regions like Asia and South America, significant investments in irrigation and fertilization are needed. However, he questioned the sustainability of these solutions in the face of climate change and the growing need to produce more food with fewer resources.
He emphasized that integrating modern plant breeding techniques with biotechnology is essential to bridging the food gap in the region. Describing plant breeding as “the active science of genetically improving plants,” he noted that it plays a crucial role in tackling global challenges such as food security, malnutrition, climate change, and social inequality.
He also shared that the global seed market is expected to surpass $100 billion by 2030, with maize projected to contribute $40 billion and soybeans $15 billion. These projections, he noted, highlight the economic importance of plant breeding in feeding the world’s growing population.
