THE Federal Government, on Thursday, said it will collaborate with universities and research institutions so as to ensure food security for the nation.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnya Onu stated this while playing host to the Director, Cornell Alliance for Science, Professor Sarah Davidson Evanega in his office in Abuja.
He stressed that Nigeria is almost self-sufficient in rice production from the position of the highest importer of same in 2014, commending Alliance for working with agencies in the ministry to communicate science effectively.
Earlier, Professor Evanega said that Cornel Alliance for Science is a global communication initiative with a mission to promote global food security, improve environmental sustainability and raise the quality of life globally.
To achieve this mission, she said Alliance was working to ensure science and evidence-informed policies that would advance agricultural innovations.
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“Since its inception in 2014, the Alliance for Science has worked in close collaboration with National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Open Forum for Agricultural Biology in Africa to ensure access to biotechnology innovations in order to enable scientists have to access the tools of biotechnology in order to innovate to meet the great challenges of today.” He stated.
Professor Evanega said that the collaboration was to promote science communication by using innovative tools and forward-leaning strategies.