Biotech Updates

NBMA Solicits Public Comment on the Application for GM Cassava Confined Field Trial

January 30, 2019

The National Biosafety Management Agency of Nigeria published the application dossier for confined field trial of genetically engineered cassava with increased starch yield. The dossier, submitted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), is available for public comment until February 4, 2019.

The purpose of the confined field trial is to evaluate the performance of GM cassava on the field and gather data on its starch yield, particularly in its storage roots. It is expected that the GM plants to be generated would produce more and/or bigger storage roots with higher starch content per storage root dry weight.

The public display of the dossier is in accordance with the NBMA Act 2015. View the application dossier from IITA.