Nigerian farmers await breakthrough in genetically modified potatoes

NIGERIA – Genetically modified potato varieties are currently undergoing field trials and regulatory assessments in Nigeria, promising significant improvements for the country’s potato farming sector.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of the Feed the Future Global Biotech Potato Partnership, the project has completed its first-year multi-locational confined trial across three locations.

The results are promising, showing that these biotech potatoes could play a crucial role in mitigating the devastation caused by recurrent late blight outbreaks in Nigeria’s potato-growing regions.

Experts highlight that these varieties are designed to combat diseases that have long plagued Nigerian potato crops.

Dr. Charles Amadi, Principal Investigator of the Global Biotechnology Potato Partnership (GBPP), shared insights during a session with journalists at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Jos, Plateau State.

According to Dr. Amadi, the partnership aims to conduct field trials and regulatory assessments to ensure the safety and efficacy of the genetically modified potato varieties.

The GBPP focuses not only on improving potato varieties but also on building capacity and providing training for farmers, extension workers, and regulators.

This initiative aims to support the adoption and proper management of these biotechnological advancements.

“We work on capacity building and training to support the adoption and proper management of these innovations,” Dr. Amadi explained.

He emphasized the project’s broader goal of enhancing food security by increasing potato yields and reducing losses due to diseases and pests.

Furthermore, the GBPP aims to improve food security by increasing potato yields and reducing crop losses due to diseases and pests.

Regulatory and Performance Trials

Before the genetically modified potatoes can be widely cultivated, they must undergo extensive regulatory, national performance, and on-farm trials. Dr. Amadi detailed this rigorous process.

“We are required by law to do regulatory, national performance, and on-farm trials before they can be released. We must submit dossiers from the regulatory trial to the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) for consideration for environmental release.”

One of the key benefits of these new potato varieties is their resistance to late blight disease. Dr. Amadi highlighted that eliminating this disease could lead to increased and stabilized potato crop yields, providing more food and income for farmers.

“By eliminating late blight disease, your potato crop yield will be increased and stabilized, enabling you to have more food and make more money,” he said.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

The genetically modified potatoes have demonstrated remarkable results in trials, with a yield advantage of over 300 percent compared to the best-performing conventional varieties, even without the use of fungicides.

This significant yield increase could drastically reduce the cost of growing potatoes by cutting down fungicide use by 90%, thereby lowering labor costs and reducing environmental impact.

Dr. Amadi further noted that the late blight-resistant potato is safe and can reduce the cost of growing your potato crop by reducing the need for fungicides by 90%, leading to less labor costs, stable yields, and better livelihoods for your family.

He also pointed out the environmental benefits: “It reduces the harmful effects of fungicide use on the environment.”

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