HOMEF, Unilag Geo-Farm challenge GMO, pesticide, fertilizer health concerns

The collaborative one-day training workshop jointly organised by University of Lagos Geography Farm (Unilag Geo-Farm) with supported from the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and GMO-Free Nigeria, brought together smallholder farmers from all the three senatorial districts in Lagos, to demystify their understanding on the growing presence of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), hazardous pesticides and harmful fertilizers in the Nigerian’s food system.

The workshop was a stepdown practical agroecological training implemented initially at the University of Ibadan in December, 2025 to enlighten and enhance the capacity of  Lagos farmers about the controversies surrounding GMOs, chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides and their impact on human health, local farming systems and food sovereignty. Aside, concerns over food safety, environmental health and Nigeria’s export record were raised. As stated in the welcome address of the Head of Department of Geography, University of Lagos, Prof. Olusegun Adeaga, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to participate in this call for food and environmental safety as, it is almost impossible to distinguish between genetically modified and organic foods  in the open marketm and consumers are making everyday food choices without knowing the source of their food, indicating  a serious gap in our food system.

The training brought together smallholder farmers, students, civil servant medical doctors to examine the growing presence of GMOs, harmful fertilizer and hazardous pesticides in the country’s food system. Speaking at the opening session, Professor Vide Adedayo, Coordinator of Unilag Geo-farm offered a detailed critique of current agricultural practices, warning that the country may be trading long-term health and ecological stability for short-term gains in form output. She emphasized that most consumers remain unaware about the economic, social, health, environmental and psychological challenges associated with the use of these inputs due to weak enforcement of product labelling which presents a deeper structural risk.

In her opening remark, Prof. Adedayo explained that GMOs are products of laboratory processes in which the genetic material of crops is altered to produce traits that do not occur naturally. In Nigeria, it was noted, Bt cowpea, Bt cotton and Tela maize have already received approval for commercial use in recent years, placing genetically engineered seeds within the reach of farmers and consumers alike. According to Mr. Eric Anosike one of the Facilitators at the workshop, GMO seeds are patented in a way that keeps farmers tied to external suppliers year after year, and that has serious implications for seed sovereignty. This is due to the fact that patented GMO seeds could increase farmers’ dependence on multinational seed companies, as such seeds are typically not designed for replanting. In his sessional remark, Mr. Anosike warned of the GMO potential to affect traditional crop varieties through cross pollination, with implications for biodiversity and long-established farming systems. “When these modified crops cross-pollinate with local varieties, we risk losing indigenous seeds that communities have preserved for generations.

According to Mr. Emmanuel Agaji, a facilitator, field data has shown that a large number of pesticides and fertilizers registered in Nigeria fall into the Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP)category, with a significant number already banned in parts of Europe and other regions. He opined how research linked exposure to pesticide and fertilizer chemicals with a range of health conditions, including cancers, kidney disease, reproductive complications and hormonal disorders revealing more immediate and visible threat.  At the training workshop, issues relating to residues from pesticide and fertilizer use were discussed to have been detected in soil, water bodies and agricultural produce, posing risks not only to human health but also to biodiversity. “We are finding residues not just on food crops, but in water sources and soil, which means the entire ecosystem is affected”, Prof. Vide Adedayo stated.

For farmers, the risks are compounded by limited access to information, high cost of GMO seeds, chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and protective equipment. Many rely on agro-dealers for instructions, often without clear understanding of dosage or safety measures. The use of personal protective gear remains low, largely due to cost and availability. According to data shared at the training, more than 70 per cent of food exports to the European Union and parts of Asia have been turned back over the past decade, often due to excessive pesticide and fertilizer residues and failure to meet safety standards. Products such as beans, sesame seeds, groundnuts and palm oil have all been affected, with significant implications for farmers’ incomes and the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Against this backdrop, the workshop has hand-on practical session with farmers on organic pesticides and fertilizer production. It also advocated that debates around the long-term safety of GMOs remain unsettled in some quarters, and called for stricter oversight and more transparent regulatory processes, especially given the mandate of the National Biosafety Management Agency to safeguard human health and the environment. It argued that agroecology practices present locally adaptable alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This is because agroecology offers a path that works with nature, not against it, while still ensuring farmers can produce enough food, and further applies ecological principles to agriculture, with an emphasis on soil health, biodiversity and reduced reliance on synthetic inputs. It also draws from traditional knowledge, combining it with modern research to create systems suited to local environments.

Practices such as mixed cropping, crop rotation, biological pest control and agroforestry were highlighted during the training. These methods, participants heard, can improve soil structure, reduce pest outbreaks and increase resilience to climate pressures. One example cited was the use of natural predators, such as parasitic wasps, to control crop pests, as well as “push and pull” techniques that repel harmful insects while attracting them away from farms.  Participants also called on government to develop a clear national policy to support agroecological practices, including access to land, credit facilities and extension services tailored to smallholder farmers. “We need policies that support farmers to transition, not policies that leave them exposed to costly inputs and uncertain outcomes.  Agroecology, they argued, places control of seeds, land and production methods back in the hands of farmers, allowing communities to define how their food is grown and consumed.

It was also argued that such approaches can match, and in some cases exceed, the productivity of conventional systems. Evidence shared at the session suggested that agroecological projects have recorded significant yield increases while also reducing chemical use and restoring degraded soils. Equally important, was the emphasize on the the concept of food sovereignty. According to them, “Food sovereignty means farmers should have control over their seeds and how they farm, not depend entirely on external systems. For many at the Unilag Geo-farm training workshop, the message was direct. Nigeria’s food system, they said, stands at a crossroads, with choices that will shape public health, environmental sustainability and economic resilience for years to come