BY AUSTIN ECHEREOZO.
The open forum on agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB)in Africa Nigeria chapter under the Auspices of the national Biotechnology research development agency (NBRDA)in collaboration with the global initiative for youths advancement and peace (GIYAP) has organized a one day agricultural Biotechnology youth vanguard workshop for young Imo Students and farmers.
The event took place on Thursday the 23rd day of May 2024 at Rockview hotel Owerri Imo state. The theme of the workshop is referred to as cultivating tomorrow’s agricultural innovators.
The programme commenced fully with the introduction of the workshop objective by the head OF ABBA unit of NBRDA Mrs Iweajunwa Sarah, and that was followed by a lecture on agricultural Biotechnology delivered by DR ROSE M. GIDADO director of agricultural Biotechnology department of NBRDA. Another lecture was also given on the enhancement of Nigeria global competitiveness and food security and that was delivered by Prof. Tochukwu E. Ogbuile who happens to be a professor of biotechnology director of center for research innovation and development (CRIDI) federal university of technology Owerri.
Speaking to newsmen after the programme, the director general and chief executive officer of National Biotechnology Research development Agency (NBRDA) Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, hinted that biotechnology is the use of modern scientific techniques including genetic engineering to improve or modify plants, animals and micro organisms. He stated that the origin of biotechnology dates back to ten thousand years ago when wild plants were domesticated and artificial selection of animal breeding was carried out. PROF Mustapha went further to explain that agricultural
Biotechnology is simply the application of biotechnology to agriculture so as to make , modify or improve on a product for the benefit of mankind. He said that Nigeria as a whole is a beneficiary of agricultural Biotechnology and that the technology will make a significant economic impact on the populace and by contributing immensely to job creation, wealth creation and eradication of hunger and malnutrition.
He went ahead to enumerate the branches of biotechnology which is mainly four, agricultural Biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, industrial and medical biotechnology.
He hinted that agricultural Biotechnology is a range of tools including traditional breeding techniques using living organism or parts of organism to make or modify products, improve s plants or animals or develop micro organisms for specific agricultural uses.
Environmental biotechnology according him is defined as a branch of technology that addresses environmental problems such as the genetic rescue of species,removal of pollution, renewable energy generation or biomas production all by using biological process for the protection and restoration of the quality of environment. Industrial biotechnology according to him produces a wild range of products, chemical materials, food and beverages from bio-based raw materials, hence medical biotechnology is a branch of medicine that uses living cells and cell materials to research and then produce pharmacist ical and diagnosing products. He said that there is a need to educate young people on the application of agricultural Biotechnology,and that was why participants was drawn from young farmers and students of agricultural Biotechnology from various institutions.
The event also witnessed other stakeholders in agricultural sector, government officials, captains of industries and other professionals etc.
Other people that spoke at the occasion are Professor Jude Nzeako the director general Imo investment promotion agency and He is the facilitator of the program, Dr Ngozi Okereke head of department of agricultural extension federal university technology Owerri and JN Okereke head of department of agricultural extension FUTO.
