Since the advent of biotechnology, the number of countries that cultivate genetically engineered (GE) crops continues to increase globally. While fast-developing economies such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa have for a long while joined the global group of countries that are growing GE crops and increasing agricultural productivity, Nigeria the most populous country in Africa, is yet to begin to reap the benefits of modern biotechnology. Although the Federal Government, as part of its transformation agenda, has continued to make tremendous effort in the development of agriculture in the country, some issues such as the low crop yield and high level of losses due to pests, diseases and flooding, continue to pose serious challenges to attaining food security and sufficiency in our country. Biotechnology, which is the most rapidly developing science around the world, has thus been strongly recommended by experts as the needed springboard for Nigeria to meet the increasing needs of its burgeoning population.
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