The United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has commended Nigeria for the achievements it has recorded in the area of biotechnology development.
The USDA said Nigeria has shown capacity with the deployment of biotechnology crops such as the recently launched TELA maize.
The acting counsellor, USDA FAS, Mr. Chris Bielecki, disclosed this at the “Sharing is Believing” Biotechnology Outreach Workshop, which was one of the activities at the 2024 International Conference on Biotechnology.
Bielecki encouraged scientists, researchers, policymakers, and regulators to share what they are doing with specific crops.
He said, “This international conference on biotechnology is really about sharing and believing because when you launch something, you might believe it halfway, but when you have to share it with other people, it is something that you really have to know deeply.
”Representing the USDA, I am willing to share what the USDA is doing regarding biotechnology regulation and agricultural trade and production.
Also, the Director General of the National Biotechnology Research Development Agency (NBRDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, said that the theme “Sharing is Believing” resonates deeply in biotechnology, where collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential.
He said the advancement of biotechnology alone requires concerted efforts from governments, research institutions, private sector stakeholders, and the global community.
”At NABDA, we champion collaborative research and open exchange of knowledge to drive biotechnology development and application, improve lives, and contribute to the global knowledge economy. International cooperation has led to significant breakthroughs, such as the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines. This reinforces our belief that sharing knowledge and resources is imperative.
”Today, let us embrace the spirit of collaboration, explore new avenues for cooperation, identify common goals, and work towards sustainable solutions to pressing challenges”.
The Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Department at NBRDA, Dr. Rose Gidado, stated that, in recognition of Nigeria’s sustained leadership in biotechnology, the outreach project will allow stakeholders to review their successes and share policies, regulations, and best practices that make these success stories possible.
She explained that the project would provide a platform for sharing advances, challenges, and next steps across various projects and their development stages, fostering a comprehensive approach to leveraging biotechnology for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.
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