By Gbemisola Adebowale
“There is hunger in the land.” This refrain has become alarmingly common as Africa’s food security crisis worsens. According to the UN, one in five Africans suffers from chronic hunger and has little or no access to food. Nigeria’s food security is at an overwhelmingly low rate, with over 30 million people projected to be food insecure in the coming year.
These depressing statistics reflect challenges such as climate change, conflict, economic stagnation, and antiquated agricultural practices. Despite these challenges, a promising solution—genetically modified organisms (GMOs)—is caught in a web of disinformation and mistrust.
While GMOs have the potential to transform agriculture by increasing crop resilience to pests and climate extremes, the spread of anti-GMO narratives has slowed their adoption. These narratives, often intertwined with anti-Western sentiment, portray GMOs as tools of neo-colonial exploitation. This disinformation erodes trust in biotechnology and jeopardises food security.
The Roots and Impact of Anti-GMO Disinformation
Disinformation about GMOs is not new. Narratives presenting genetically modified crops as poisonous and unnatural have persisted since the early days of maize and cowpea, as well as more recent breakthroughs like TELA maize. In Nigeria, social media platforms are saturated with allegations connecting GMOs to diseases like cancer—claims that lack scientific support. For example, during the 2024 rollout of TELA maize, a prominent politician openly criticised the technology as dangerous, increasing public distrust despite evidence to the contrary.
Beyond health issues, disinformation frequently portrays GMOs as an instrument for economic dominance. A popular argument is that GMO seeds are “terminator seeds,” incapable of reproduction, thereby indefinitely binding African farmers to the West. Although clearly incorrect, such narratives resonate on a continent with a history of exploitation and distrust of foreign interventions.
Past controversies, such as the Pfizer meningitis drug trials in Nigeria in the 1990s, have only reinforced this suspicion. The controversy involved allegations of informed consent violations and impacted public perceptions of foreign-led scientific interventions. Anti-GMO organisations capitalise on these historical frustrations, fuelling concerns that biotechnology represents a new frontier of neocolonial domination.
Anti-GMO Narratives as Anti-Western Messaging
The correlation between anti-GMO misinformation and anti-Western stance is undeniable. GMOs are often portrayed in Africa as a Western imposition designed to undermine local farming practices and agricultural autonomy. These storylines have taken centre stage on social media sites. Pro-Russian influencers, for example, frequently mix anti-GMO rhetoric with broader anti-Western themes, depicting GMOs as part of a Western plot to economically and culturally control Africa. Take, for example, a Kenyan pro-Russian account that claimed GMOs could be weaponised to alter gender and sexual identity—a claim without scientific backing. Similarly, notable Nigerian voices, including political and religious leaders, have utilised their platforms to spread fear about GMOs, using their influence to create echo chambers of disinformation.
These narratives are more than just digital tale-telling; they have real-world consequences. Public opposition to GMOs contributes to government hesitance in approving new biotechnologies. In Nigeria, the approval of genetically modified potatoes was delayed in 2024 following a public outcry fuelled by disinformation.
Missed Opportunities for Food Security
The cost of rejecting GMOs is significant, particularly for a continent already dealing with food insecurity. Genetically modified crops have shown major benefits in various parts of the world. In China, for example, Bt cotton has reduced pesticide use by up to 80% while raising farmers’ profit by 36%. Similarly, in Hawaii, genetically modified papaya saved the industry from devastation by the ringspot virus in the 1990s.
Nigeria has seen success with genetically modified cowpeas, known locally as beans. Developed to resist the destructive pod borer pest, the crop has increased yields while reducing dependency on chemical pesticides. Yet, despite these successes, disinformation continues to cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of GMOs, limiting their widespread adoption.
The implications for Africa’s food security are dire. With climate change intensifying droughts and limiting arable land, the need for resilient crop varieties is more urgent than ever. GMOs provide a pathway to address these challenges, but only if public trust in the technology is restored. This rebuilding of confidence is not just a goal but a necessity for the survival of African agriculture.
Turning the Tide: Solutions to Disinformation
Combating anti-GMO disinformation demands a multifaceted approach. First, governments and research institutions must invest in public awareness initiatives that debunk GMOs and dispel prevalent myths. This involves encouraging balanced reporting in the media to combat sensationalism and ensure the public receives factual information on GMOs. In addition, media literacy programs can assist people in distinguishing between credible and false information, allowing them to make more informed decisions.
Second, collaboration with trusted local influencers—religious leaders, traditional rulers, and community organisers—can bridge the communication gap between scientists and the public. By leveraging their credibility, these figures can counter anti-GMO narratives in a way that appeals to local audiences.
Third, increased transparency in the regulatory process for GMOs can build public trust. This includes clear communication about the rigorous safety assessments that GMOs go through before being approved, which can help dispel fears of health and environmental risks. Additionally, emphasising success stories from other countries can demonstrate the practical benefits of biotechnology.
Finally, collaborative partnerships between science-focused fact-checking organisations and social media platforms can be pivotal in addressing anti-GMO disinformation. By ensuring that debunked falsehoods receive as much visibility as the initial disinformation, these partnerships can help neutralise the impact of harmful narratives. This can be done by integrating real-time fact-checking mechanisms into platforms and creating algorithms that prioritise the dissemination of verified, science-based content to counteract misleading information effectively.
Nigeria’s food security concerns necessitate prompt and inventive answers, but disinformation about GMOs threatens to hamper the progress. Anti-GMO narratives weaken trust in biotechnology while also fuelling larger anti-Western sentiment by presenting GMOs as neocolonial control instruments.
Policymakers, scientists, and community leaders must take aggressive action to reverse this trend. Public education, innovative alliances, and transparent communication can combat disinformation and unlock GMOs’ promise to improve agriculture. The risks are significant, but so is the chance to ensure Nigeria’s food security in the future.
About the Author
Gbemisola Adebowale is a legal practitioner and fact-checker specialising in combating disinformation and influencing public policy. She focusses on addressing information disorder within Nigeria’s intricate political environment.
