By GABRIEL EWEPU

AS controversy continues to trail the proposed use of bio-technology in food production in Nigeria, one of the worldfs largest seeds companies, Monsanto, had persuaded Nigerians about the benefits of bio-technology and Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO, in food production and its safety for human consumption, as other countries were accepting the technology.

Vice President, International Raw Crops and Vegetables, Mr. Michael Frank, who made the call in Abuja also disclosed that it was the right time for Monsanto to invest and establish in Nigeria following transformation in the nation’s agricultural sector.

Frank said: “Monsanto is a 100 per cent agriculture based company and $50 billion company, and most people around the world know us as seed and bio-technology company. We are focused on four main crops, maize, soybean, cotton and oil seed-grape.

“We have been in Africa for 40 years and never established our presence in Nigeria, but a number of visits had been made, and we feel now that this is the right time to come to Nigeria, to make investments, develop partnerships, and help small-scale farmers here in Nigeria. Especially to increase the yields of maize and we have interest in that.

“A lot of people ask about bio-technology or Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO, and that is definite part of our business. Bio-technology is a technology that helps farmers to farm efficiently and do it environmentally sustainable way.

“A lot of questions is been asked in Nigeria, and that debate and conversations on GMOs are going on right now in Nigeria, and that is a decision the people and the government have to make in Nigeria. And we will support the decision. “If you look at bio-technology all crops are advanced to sophisticated breeding technologies, and there have been zero cases of health problems anywhere in the world. There is no health risk.