A 13-month investigation by Premium Times followed Nigeria's first genetically modified maize, known as TELA maize, from research laboratories all the way to farms, markets, and the dinner tables of everyday Nigerians. The findings paint a picture that is both encouraging and unsettling, depending on where you sit in the food chain.
On the farming side, the crop is gaining ground. Farmers are increasingly adopting TELA maize, and the investigation found no verified evidence linking it to health problems among those who have consumed it.
The more striking finding, though, is what consumers simply do not know. Many Nigerians eating this maize have no idea it is genetically modified, raising real questions about food transparency and who gets to decide what lands on the family table.
This is the first installment of the report, and the conversation it opens is one every Nigerian household deserves to be part of.
Originally published by Premium Times.