Importance of Modern Biotechnology in enhancing food security and the need for biosafety regulations and its utilization by African Governments

1. Modern Biotechnology
Applications and
Biosafety issues
Mr. Omena Bernard Ojuederie
Department of Biotechnology
College of Food Sciences
Bells University of Technology
Biosafety issues
Bells Tech, Only the Best is Good for Bells

2. OUTLINE
Biotechnology
Modern Biotechnology/ Recombinant DNA
Technology
Applications of Modern Biotechnology (GMOs)Applications of Modern Biotechnology (GMOs)
Global trends
Industrial perspectives (Nigeria)
Biosafety
Cartagena Protocol/Biosafety system in Nigeria

3. Biotechnology

4. Biotechnology
Any technological application that uses biological
systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to
make or modify products or processes for specific
use.
-United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity-United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
(1992)

5. Biotechnology: A 10,000 years journeyBiotechnology: A 10,000 years journey
Bread
3000BC
Brewing /
Fermentation
6000BC
Domestication
of plants
8000BC
Mendel’s laws
1865-1901
Cell theory - 1839
Plant breeding /
Seed trading
1742
Leeuwenhoek
(Bacteria)
1683
Plant tissue cultured
1922 - 1934
Discovery of Agrobacterium - 1907
Bt discovered - 1901
Bt discovered - 1901
Cheese / dairy
products
1000BC
Cheese / dairy
products
1000BC

6. 1st transgenic plants
Clone Bt toxin gene
1981
Plant tissue cultured
1922 - 1934
Watson & Crick
DNA double helix
1st virus free plants
1953
Schell & Van Montagu
Discover plasmids in A tumefaciens
1974
Biotechnology: A 10,000 years journeyBiotechnology: A 10,000 years journey
Virus resistance
1986
1st transgenic plants
1983
Human insulin produced
1982
Herbicide resistant
soybean, maize, canola
Bt cotton
commercialized
1996
Bt cotton field trials
2008

7. • SELECTIVE BREEDING
FOR IMPROVED FOOD
PRODUCTION
• BREEDING FOR
DESIRABLE CROP TRAITS
Conventional breeding as a means of improving agricultural
yield and production of better crops are ancient human
practices of biotechnology
DESIRABLE CROP TRAITS
• BREEDING WILD PLANTS
TO PRODUCE MODERN
ONES
• BREEDING TO ALTER
DISEASE VULRABILITY
• etc

8. Modern biotechnology is defined in the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety to mean the application of in-
vitro nucleic acid techniques, or fusion of cells
beyond the taxonomic family, that overcome
natural,physiological,reproductive / recombination
barriers.
Modern Biotechnology
barriers.
It is unique as it allows scientists to precisely
introduce a desired trait by inserting only specific
genes into plants and animals.

9. Genetic engineering of plants
Genetic engineering of animals
Genetic engineering of microbes
Recombinant DNA technology
Monoclonal antibody production
Embryo transfer in animals
Modern BiotechnologyIncreasingComplexity
Embryo transfer in animals
Plant tissue culture
Biological nitrogen fixation
Microbial fermentation
Traditional Biotechnology
IncreasingComplexity
Increasing Cost
Source: Persely (1990)Figure 1. Gradient of biotechnologies

10. Tools of modern biotechnology
Modern Biotechnology tools in research and
development deal with the following components
Genomics and Proteomics
Bioinformatics
TransformationTransformation
Molecular breeding
Molecular diagnostics
Vaccine Technology
Tissue culture
DNA-marker technology

11. Genetic engineering as well as cell- and tissue
culture technologies with applications in biology,
agriculture, food science, and medicine……
Molecules

12. gene isolation
plasmid DNA
DNA cloning of specific fragments into a self-
replicating genetic element so that the DNA
molecule can be reproduced gene isolation
transformation
transformation
bacteria
Source: Tabien, R. 2000

13. Basic rDNA technology procedures
PCR
Recombinant DNA
Cloning

14. rDNA Technology

15. an organism whose genetic material has been
altered using genetic engineering techniques.
Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are
organisms which have inserted DNA that
Genetically Modified Organism
(GMO)
organisms which have inserted DNA that
originated in a different species

16. an organism resulting from modern
biotechnology broadly equivalent to
genetically modified organism.
Living Modified Organisms are capable of
growing, and typically refers to agricultural
crops.
Living Modified Organism (LMO)
crops.
Genetically Modified Organisms include both
LMOs and organisms which are not capable
of growing.

17. Agrobacterium
tumefaciens that causes
crown gall in plants is
now used to confer
protection (insect and
herbicide resistance).
Applications of modern
biotechnology

18. First-generation Transgenic Crops: This involves
Improvement in agronomic traits, such as better resistance
to pests and diseases.
Second-Generation Transgenic Crops: This includes
product quality improvements for nutrition and
industrial purposes. Examples are oilseeds with improved
Categories of transgenic crops
industrial purposes. Examples are oilseeds with improved
fatty acid profiles, staple foods with enhanced contents of
essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins;
Third-Generation Transgenic Crops: These transgenic
crops are designed to produce special substances for
pharmaceutical or industrial purposes.
Biopharmaceuticals/biopharming.

19. Transfer of
a gene
from a soil
bacteria
that codes
for a
proteinprotein
Protein
becomes a
toxin and
kills
selected
insects

20. Bt Corn resistant to
corn borer
Corn borer damage in
corn
http://www.goldenrice.org/
rice
enriched
in beta
carotene
or
provitamin
AThe first genetically
modified product
was Flavr Savr
tomato developed by
Calgene, Inc, a
biotechnology
company in
Califonia.

21. Some GM Foods on the market

22. Global trends
Adoption of biotechnology for crop improvement
is on the increase

23. Global trends

24. Global trends

25. GM crops have directly contributed to
alleviating poverty for some 10 million farmers
globally
The biotechnology industry has more than
Global trends
The biotechnology industry has more than
tripled in size since 1992, with revenues up to
$39.2 billion between 1996-2010
About 500 publicly held biotechnology
companies in the United States 19 out of 29
biotech countries are Developing-planted 50%
of global area

26. According to the ISAAA report on the global
status of commercialized biotech/GM Crops in
2010, the area used for biotechnology crops
was on the increase
between 1996 to 2010 with only three
Global trends
between 1996 to 2010 with only three
African countries
South Africa,
Burkina Faso and
Egypt
growing biotech crops by small-scale farmers
to meet the needs citizenry.

27. Green Biotechnology: agricultural biotechnology
Red Biotechnology: pharmaceutical and medical
biotechnology.
Antibiotics,
Vaccines,
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Hormone production
Biodiagnostics,
Biopharmaceuticals
Biovaccinces,
Gene therapy.

28. Medical/pharmaceutical applications
Use of modern biotechnology to cure sickle cell anemia

29. Biopharmaceuticals-Production of drugs and
vaccines using plants as bioreactors, e.g human
growth hormone with the gene inserted into the
chloroplast DNA of tobacco plants, hepatitis B
virus.
Development of vaccine against HIV,
Medical/pharmaceutical applications
Development of vaccine against HIV,
Molecular diagnosis for genetic diseases
DNA fingerprinting and paternity testing
Gene therapy-manipulation of DNA to tx diseases
by altering individuals genes. (CF, PKU) ETHICAL
ISSUES

30. White Biotechnology: industrial biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology- the development of large-
scale bioenergy refineries, involves dedicated
genetically modified crops as well as the large-scale
bioprocessing and fermentation as is used in some
Biotechnology Industry Organization
bioprocessing and fermentation as is used in some
pharmaceutical production.
the application of biotechnology for industrial
purposes includes,
Manufacturing: pulp and paper, cotton, leather
use of transgenic plants for phyto-remediation
alternative energy (biofuel production from plants)
Production of biogas from organic wastes.

31. Declining agricultural growth
Population explosion
Worsening economic
development
Widespread poverty and food
The Industrial perspective
(Nigerian Situation)
Widespread poverty and food
insecurity

32. 2001: NABDA established
2003: Six (6) National Biotechnology Centers of
Excellence established in the universities (one each
in the six geo‐political zones across the country)
2003: Nigeria Agriculture & Biotechnology Project
Historical Development of Modern
Biotechnology in Nigeria
‐
2003: Nigeria Agriculture & Biotechnology Project
(NABP) launched
2005: 1st National training workshop on plant
genetic transformation held at the Advanced
Biotechnology Laboratory, SHESTCO.
2005: 1st Biosafety review of application for
confined field trial of transgenic cassava

33. •The project commenced in October 2009
•Funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation& others
•Successful Confined Field Trials completed in 2010
(Beta-carotene); 2011 (Iron)

34. www.supersorghum.org
– The project commenced in Nigeria in 2009
– First Confined Field Trial in July 2011 for introgression of traits into 3
adapted Nigerian Varieties.
– Harvest of the First CFT completed in December 2011
– Proof of concept and Identification of traits ongoing
In terms of tonnage, sorghum is Africa's second most important cereal.
The continent produces about 20 million tonnes of sorghum per
annum, about one-third of the world crop.

35. The project commenced in
Nigeria in July 2008
Funded by AATF aided by
USAID and others
Successful Confined Field
Trials 2009-2011
Maruca-Resistant Cowpea
African Agricultural
Technology
Foundation
Containment Trial in the
Containment facility
commences in 2012
The Nigerian Government approved confined field
trials on cowpea Maruca resistance at IAR-SAMARU
Zaria to stop the menace of the legume pod borer
Maruca vitrata
Maruca pod borer at
work
Source:Larry
Beach
African Agricultural Technology Foundation maruca-
resistant cowpea: frequently asked questions
[http://www.aatf-africa.org/userfiles/CowpeaFAQ.pdf]
webcite

36. NABDA in collaboration
with TRINITY BIOTECH
of IRELAND has set up
locally, a manufacturing
facility for production offacility for production of
HIV/AIDS kits to be
followed later by
Malaria and Hepatitis-B
Diagnostic kits

37. Biosafety
Modern biotechnology has the potential to
generate benefits for humankind and contribute to
sustainable development.
Nevertheless, there are concerns that living
modified organisms resulting from biotechnology
may have negative effects on biodiversity and
Biosafety
may have negative effects on biodiversity and
human health.
Biosafety refers to the need to protect human
health and the environment from the possible
adverse effects of the products of modern
biotechnology

38. Mission
To promote the basic tenets of biosafety as
enunciated in the Cartagena protocol on biosafety
To enforce Nigeria National biosafety regulatory
regimes to ensure the safe application and use of
Mission & Vision of Biosafety in Nigeria
regimes to ensure the safe application and use of
biotechnology products.
o Vision
To ensure that the process and procedures of
modern biotechnology are undertaken within
limits of a regulatory system that assures its safe
use, protection of Nigerian biodiversity and with
minimal risks to human health and environment

39. To determine in advance when hazards to human
health and natural systems will result if any
particular GMO is released into the environment.
To anticipate when a GMO or any of its product(
will be harmful if consumed in food.
To discern whether a GMO actually will yield the
Goals of Biosafety
To discern whether a GMO actually will yield the
benefits it was designed to provide and lastly
To make as certain as possible that hazards will not
occur when GMOs are transported intentionally or
internationally, among different ecosystems and
nations.

40. Risks for animal and human health: toxicity &
food/feed quality/safety; allergies; pathogen drug
resistance
Risks for the environment: gene flow; invasiveness( of
GMOs might become predominant); susceptibility of
non-target organisms , changes to biodiversity.
Topics of concern
non-target organisms , changes to biodiversity.
Horizontal gene transfer : genetic pollution through
pollen or seed dispersal & transfer of foreign gene to
micro-organisms (DNA uptake) or generation of new
live viruses by recombination (transcapsidation,
complementation, etc.)

41. Risks for agriculture:
resistance/tolerance of target
organisms; super weeds; alteration of
nutritional value (attractiveness of
the organism to pests),loss of
familiarity/changes in agricultural
practice
Topics of concern
General concerns: ethical issues (eg.
labeling); risk assessment/risk
management; general biosafety;
public attitudes, perception;
legislation, monitoring; socio-
economics (eg. situation of poor
farmers in developing countries); IPR
(Intellectual Property Rights); GM
traceability / commodity segregation
Biosafety bibliography database
In 2002, US
President George
Bush accused the
European Union of
blocking efforts to
fight famine in
Africa because of
"unfounded and
unscientific " fears
over genetically
modified foods.

42. Biosafety has similarly been defined as “the
avoidance of risk to human health and safety, and
to the conservation of the environment, as a result
of the use for research and commerce of infectious
or genetically modified organisms” (Zaid, 2001).
Relevant scientific disciplines underpin biosafety
studies ---molecular biology, plant breeding,
genetics, plant pathology, agronomy, weed
science, entomology and ecology, among others.

43. In 1992 the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) came into force.
Its objectives include
the conservation of biological diversity,
the sustainable use of its components and the fair
and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out ofand equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of
the utilization of genetic resources”.
o It identified the emergence of GMOs/LMOs as a
group of items produced by modern biotechnology
that required special attention due to their
potential adverse impacts on biodiversity and
human health
http://www.icgeb.org/~bsafesrv/library/intlorg/cbd.html

44. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was
negotiated and became available for signature
in 2000.
It was signed by Nigeria in 2000 and ratified in
2003.
The protocol came into force on the 11th ofThe protocol came into force on the 11th of
September 2003 and as at 2007, has 138
signatory countries.

45. Biosafety Bill
Developed under United Nations Environment Program-Global
Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) National Biosafety Framework
project of 2002-2006.
The guidelines permit for the testing of GM crops for research
purposes but not for commercialization
Passed by the National Assembly (NASS) and presently awaiting
presidential assent.
Biosafety Bill
Passed by the National Assembly (NASS) and presently awaiting
presidential assent.
When passed into law, it will give a holistic approach to the practice
and regulation of modern biotechnology activities in Nigeria and
prevent her from serving as a dumping ground for illegally GMOs.
In the absence of the National Biosafety law, Nigeria may face
international sanctions for failing to abide by the protocol it signed
and ratified. There will be lack of confidence in the practice of
modern biotechnology.
www://nig.biosafetyclearing house.net

46. Biotechnology as a process is not likely to stop, but
its products can be modified and adopted as found
suitable, beneficial or useful
Hence, the issue is not that of total adoption or
rejection of Biotechnology and its products, but
that of determining most suitable and appropriate
Are there alternatives to modern
biotechnology?
that of determining most suitable and appropriate
use
The scientific facts indicate that biotech products
are safe, and that their benefits far outweigh the
risks
The research and development process for
genetically-enhanced foods, drugs etc is extremely
precise, heavily regulated, and carefully controlled.

47. Nigeria’s population is escalating by the day and may
reach 250 million by 2025: Food production must also
increase by 60 % to keep pace.
Technology transfer to Nigeria will strengthen our
technological competence to assimilate, further
Recommendations
technological competence to assimilate, further
develop, and effectively apply the technologies for
enhanced agricultural productivity.
Political will for R&D of biotechnology is imperative.
Policy and institutional arrangements necessary
Biosafety units should be set up at Institutions &
Universities utilizing modern biotechnology
The public need to be educated on biotechnology

48. Biotechnology is set to play a pivotal role in
the future of the medical, agricultural,
environmental, food pharmaceutical and
industrial sectors of the economy.
Conclusion
The concern should be on how to tap into
modern biotechnology, maximize the
benefits of the technology and minimize the
risks in terms of environmental harm and
human health risks

49. Biosafety laws must be put in place to ensure that the
crops released are environmentally safe.
The end users the farmers need to be educated on the
benefits of modern biotechnology in crop improvement
as their confidence in Government would hasten
acceptability.
Well trained scientists in this expanding field of
biological science are therefore required to enhance
economic growth and sustain food security in Sub
Saharan Africa.
For Nigeria to achieve its vision 20:20:20, scientific
research must be taken very seriously and accorded
priority in funding, encouragement, recognition and
utilization of research findings.

51. Bells Tech, Only the Best is Good for Bells