Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and attached Biosafety and Biosecurity Concerns: Field practitioners’ perspective

Abstract

With an agency established to oversee and regulate GMOs, the extent to which field practitioners align with the biosafety and biosecurity measures of GMOs in Nigeria remains a critical question. This study seeks to explore the perspectives of field practitioners with GMOs concerns with the technology, political and safety aspects within the Nigerian context. This research evaluation was conducted over four months (March to June 2022). It involved the distribution of questionnaires to 234 individuals, encompassing biosafety, biotechnology, and biosecurity practitioners in Abuja, Nigeria. The loadings of items have intrinsic consistency within the range of 0.733 to 0.875. Majority of the respondents expressed the view that Nigeria politicians and public interest groups were concerned about the potential allergenicity and antimicrobial resistance associated with GMOs. Three predictors: Perception on GMOs (Wald=0.031), GMOs safety assessment (Wald=0.674), and Regulation of GMOs (Wald=0.004) at df=1 have no significant effects on attacks related to GMOs as 92.3% of the respondents claimed not to suffer any attack related to GMOs products. Working experience [F (4, 233) =0.228, p=0.923] interaction with perception on GMOs was statistically not significant. The political class and public interest groups worries about GMOs products (Covariance= 5.509) share positive but not significant correlation at p=0.057 with Regulation of GMOs (Covariance= 7.841). Finally, GMOs and their products exist in Nigeria alongside a reliable regulatory body which had put up biosafety and biosecurity guidelines in controlling all GMOs related activities in order to make the environment safer and boost the populace confidence in GMOs