Title: Awareness of and attitudes towards biotechnology and GMOs in Southwest Nigeria: a survey of people with access to information

Authors: John Olatunji Adeoti, Adolphus Adewale Adekunle

Addresses: Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Oyo Road, Ojoo, P.M.B. 5 UIPO, Ibadan, Nigeria. ' International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract: In this paper, we examine awareness of biotechnology and the attitudes towards products and services derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Southwest Nigeria. For this purpose, we surveyed 180 respondents across selected segments of the regional population. The paper demonstrates that while respondents have some awareness of biotechnology techniques, there is little awareness about specific GM crops that include Bt maize, Bt cotton and golden rice. Most of the respondents tend to be in favour of the introduction of GM crops and would eat GM foods if they are more nutritious than non-GM foods. The attitudes of the respondents towards GMOs suggest that though more people are in favour of the introduction of GM crops, they do not consider the current state of Nigeria|s institutional preparedness satisfactory for the approval and release of GMOs.

Keywords: agricultural biotechnology; knowledge of GMOs; biosafety; Nigeria; biotechnology awareness; genetically modified organisms; GM crops; Bt maize; Bt cotton; golden rice.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2007.013052

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2007 Vol.9 No.2, pp.209 - 230

Published online: 06 Apr 2007 *

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