Stakeholders at the 51st Annual Conference of the Nigerian Society for Plant Protection (NSPP) have raised concerns over the growing threat of pests and climate change to food security in Nigeria, calling for urgent adoption of science-driven solutions to safeguard agricultural productivity.
The conference, themed “Plant Protection and Biotechnological Solutions for Sustainable Food Production in Nigeria,” was held on Monday at the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in Ibadan.
Participants noted that shifting climate conditions are accelerating the emergence of new pests and pathogens, intensifying pressure on crop production systems across the country.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of NIHORT, Prof. Muhammed Attanda, said biotechnology is providing new pathways to strengthen plant protection and enhance food sustainability.
He urged Nigerians to embrace biotechnology, highlighting NIHORT’s mandate to drive research into genetic improvement, production technologies, storage, utilisation and marketing of horticultural crops.
According to him, the institute has developed a range of technologies across the horticultural value chain aimed at improving productivity and achieving self-sufficiency.
Attanda said NIHORT has released several improved crop varieties, including two pepper varieties (HORTIPEP 1 and 2), seven tomato varieties (HORTITOM 1–7), six onion varieties across dry and wet seasons (HORTIONI 1–6), and three eggplant varieties (HORTIPICUM 1–3), all designed for higher yield, heat tolerance and pest resistance.
He added that the institute has also developed improved plantain (HORTIPLAN 1 and 2) and banana varieties (HORTIBAN 1 and 2) to support food security and economic empowerment.
On pest management, Attanda disclosed that NIHORT has introduced eco-friendly solutions such as the Tuta-trap technology, alongside biopesticides including NIHORT-Lyptol and NIHORT-Raktin, to tackle the destructive impact of pests on crops like tomatoes.
He further noted that the institute has upgraded its biotechnology, virology, pathology, soil and agronomy laboratories to enhance research capacity and innovation.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, said Nigeria faces the dual challenge of increasing food production while addressing the impacts of pests, diseases and climate change.
He warned that without effective plant protection strategies, efforts to achieve food security would remain constrained.
Dabban stressed the need for innovative and sustainable approaches, particularly the integration of biotechnology and digital tools, to protect crops and ensure stable food supply for the country’s growing population.
He added that ARCN is strengthening research and collaboration through its network of National Agricultural Research Institutes, focusing on capacity building and ensuring that innovations reach farmers.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NSPP, Dr. David Olufolaji, called for the practical implementation of ideas generated at the conference, noting that translating research into action is critical to achieving food security in Nigeria.
Stakeholders at the conference emphasised that strengthening plant protection systems and accelerating the adoption of biotechnology will be key to building climate-resilient agriculture and ensuring long-term food sustainability.
