Nigeria has commenced a historic process of leading other African nations on smart and innovative agriculture with the recent application seeking the commercial release of the genetically modified insect-resistant cowpea.

If approved, the pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea will become the nation’s first genetically modified food crop. It is expected to increase yields and massively reduce the use of pesticides in cowpea production.

Cowpea — commonly referred to as “beans” — is an indigenous food crop and cost-effective primary protein source for Nigeria’s urban and rural poor. It is also beneficial to agriculture because of its nitrogen-fixing properties and uses in livestock feed.

Globally, an estimated 5.4 million tonnes of cowpea are produced annually. Nigeria accounts for about 3.1 million tonnes, or more than 58 percent, of this total output. Aside from being the world’s largest producer of this crop, Nigeria is also the highest consumer, requiring some 3.6 million tonnes of cowpea annually.

Nigeria continues to rely on countries like Cameroon and Burkina Faso, which are primary net exporters, to bridge the gap between production and demand. This places a significant burden on the economy, as............

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