The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has renewed its opposition to the adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria, urging policymakers to prioritise agroecology as a sustainable pathway to food security while safeguarding indigenous seeds, biodiversity and farmers’ rights.
The call was made during a one-day farmers’ training on agroecology held at the Be The Help Foundation Farm in Dama-Kusa Village, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where participants were introduced to environmentally friendly farming practices aimed at improving productivity without relying on genetically modified seeds or synthetic agricultural chemicals.
The training forms part of HOMEF’s broader advocacy for agroecology, a farming approach that promotes biodiversity conservation, healthy ecosystems and the preservation of farmers’ ability to save, exchange and replant indigenous seeds.
Speaking with journalists after the event, HOMEF’s Director of Programmes, Joyce Brown, said the organisation is committed to demonstrating that sustainable agricultural productivity can be achieved through ecological farming systems rather than genetically modified crops.
According to Brown, one of the greatest risks associated with GMOs is the potential loss of Nigeria’s indigenous crop varieties through gene flow during pollination, which could gradually erode the country’s agricultural biodiversity.
“One of the major implications that GMOs pose for Nigeria is the risk of losing our indigenous crop varieties. Through pollination and other mechanisms, genes can transfer from GMOs to our local crops, and in the long run we risk losing our own varieties. The loss of biodiversity is also a major implication,” she said.
Brown argued that genetically modified crops do not address the underlying challenges affecting agriculture in Nigeria, including inadequate extension services, climate change and limited government support for smallholder farmers.
Instead, she maintained that farmers require greater access to climate-resilient farming techniques, sustainable agricultural knowledge and policies that strengthen local food production systems.
“We brought farmers here to see for themselves that there are alternatives to GMOs and synthetic pesticides. The agroecological system being practised here shows that we do not need GMOs to increase food productivity. What farmers need is greater support, better extension services and climate-resilient farming practices,” she stated.
Brown also expressed concerns about what she described as weak regulatory oversight of genetically modified products in Nigeria, calling on the Federal Government to adopt a clearer policy framework on biotechnology while strengthening support for local farmers.
She noted that several countries have introduced restrictions on the cultivation or importation of certain genetically modified crops to protect indigenous farming systems and biodiversity, urging Nigeria to develop policies that reflect its own agricultural priorities.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Be The Help Foundation, Samuel Kwasari, described agroecology as a practical solution for achieving sustainable agriculture, restoring degraded ecosystems and strengthening long-term food security.
Kwasari explained that the foundation operates a regenerative agriculture model centred on agroforestry, combining crop cultivation with tree planting to improve soil fertility, conserve water, capture carbon and generate additional income through timber, firewood and carbon credits.
“Our practice is regenerative agriculture through agroecology, using agroforestry as our major model. We want to produce food sustainably without harming the environment or human health. What you eat is what you are, so food should be safe and free from synthetic chemicals,” he said.
He distinguished between food sufficiency and food sovereignty, arguing that true food security extends beyond simply having enough food to include farmers’ freedom to determine what they grow, how they cultivate it and the seeds they use.
“Food sufficiency means you have food to eat. Food sovereignty means you have food and choice. It means you control what you grow, how you grow it and what you eat. Agroecology helps us achieve that because farmers remain in control of their seeds and production systems,” Kwasari explained.
He attributed Nigeria’s recurring food shortages to years of inadequate planning and insufficient support for indigenous food producers, calling for policies that prioritise domestic food production before exports.
Kwasari further stated that HOMEF’s campaign against GMOs is based on years of practical demonstrations showing that agroecology and agroforestry can sustainably improve agricultural productivity while preserving farmers’ control over seeds.
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The foundation also highlighted its integrated ecological approach to pest management, which relies on biodiversity, natural pest control and locally produced bio-fertilisers instead of synthetic pesticides.
While HOMEF reiterated its opposition to genetically modified crops, supporters of GM technology—including several scientific institutions and regulatory bodies—maintain that approved genetically modified crops can improve yields, enhance resistance to pests and climate-related stresses, and are considered safe following established scientific risk assessments.
The debate over GMOs therefore remains one of the most significant issues in Nigeria’s agricultural policy, balancing concerns over food security, environmental sustainability, scientific evidence, biodiversity conservation and farmers’ rights.